Roger Ebert to Rush Limbaugh: 'You Should Be Horse-Whipped'

By Marc Schneider Posted Jan 15th 2010 10:02AM

"You should be horse-whipped for the insult you have paid to the highest office of our nation." That is the opening sentence in a searing open letter from movie critic Roger Ebert to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.

Why is Ebert so upset to suggest an entertainer should be beaten like an animal? As you may have heard, Limbaugh has been critical of President Barack Obama's response to the earthquake in Haiti. On Wednesday, Limbaugh blasted Obama for responding so quickly to the crises, then suggested that your hard-earned dollars could be stolen if you donate to relief agencies listed on the White House Web site.

In a response to a paranoid caller from North Carolina, Limbaugh asked, "Would you trust the money's gonna go to Haiti?" He theorized that if you donate to agencies listed on whitehouse.gov, your name will be added to an Obama mailing list. "Absolutely," Limbaugh said at the prospect of that happening.

This incensed Ebert, who noted that links on the White House site go directly to the relief agencies named, and not a "fake site set up to exploit the tragedy."

"But let me be sure I have this right. You and [caller] agree that Obama might steal money intended for the Red Cross to help the wretched of Haiti," Ebert writes. "This conversation came 48 hours after many of us had seen pitiful sights from Port au Prince. Tens of thousands are believed still alive beneath the rubble. You twisted their suffering into an opportunity to demean the character of the President of the United States." Read the Full Letter

Ebert doesn't touch on Limbaugh's most controversial remarks, made during Wednesday's show: "This will play right into Obama's hands. He's humanitarian, compassionate. They'll use this to burnish their, shall we say, 'credibility' with the black community -- in the both light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country. It's made-to-order for them."

Despite wide-spread condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans for his comments, Limbaugh stood firmly by them during Thursday's show.

"I do believe that everything is political to this president," Limbaugh said. "Everything this president sees is a political opportunity, including Haiti, and he will use it to burnish his credentials with minorities in this country and around the world, and to accuse Republicans of having no compassion."

Obama has called the relief efforts a "top priority" and has pledged $100 million for immediate aid to the rubble-strewn island nation. His press secretary, Robert Gibbs, had this to say about Limbaugh at a briefing on Thursday. "I don't know how anybody -- I don't know how anybody could sit where he does, having enjoyed the success that he has, and not feel some measure of sorrow for what has happened in Haiti."

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Tags: Roger Ebert, rush limbaugh

Comments

(590)

Friday 15 January

By Geefee

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This is so sad. Are white people so miserable that they project what they feel about themselves on everything. You have to pray for Rush and all those who agree with him. Only God can deliver this man. It would seem someone so close to death would get it right at this point in his life.

By roy

How about getting Pat Robertson over to do an exocism on Limburger?? That might be one way to help.

Tuesday 19 January

By ray ryerson

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Sounds to me Rush is back on the pills.And all you that agree with him are just sick.

By vobox3343

What fools, those who would listen to Limbaugh. I applaud the efforts of the "true" Christians who sacrificed their lives to helping others in Haiti. I guess God would have us focus on what "true" Christians say and do, lest we be fooled by Limbaugh and his minions. Limbaugh is one despicable and evil man.

By Rustydobe

Rush Limbaugh is worthless trash.

By drdonaldmd

ditto

By Beautiful

This punk, jackass name Rush Lumbaugh why paying him so much attention. He is a retarded! He almost died last time in Hawaii, but next time he will out of people's face for good. Go to hell, Hitler!

By Brandyglas

Rush Limbaugh is an Ameba. We give him too much credit by even listening and responding to him. Those chest pains he had and was hospitalized for, are symptoms of oxycontin abuse.

By rscott

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When you learn to spell we will care what you have to say.

By Gurbs

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Not that Roger Ebert's opinion on the matter is really worth looking into, but Rush Limbaugh's is not either. Why does anyone care what a movie critic or a drug addict who says outlandish things for attention has to say about relief efforts in Haiti unless they are actually helping them?

By Francisco

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Really people, listen to yourselves. Each man in this article has a right to his opinion. To be fair, you should look critically at all of them, if you support Ebert, fine but don't assume that he is without faults. If you support Limbaugh, fine, again, he is only a man and has faults too. You are all beyond high school and the trendy behavior that requires.

Sunday 24 January

By John

First, Ebert like just about every movie, which shows how much a shill he is of that industry. Most movies today stink.

Second, Rush said to give through the Red Cross and other private agencies. We already have government appropriations and the Obama Administration has been expert in sliding taxpayer money to their friends. Like most Rush fans, we will give to agencies and churches who are doing relief 80% efficent instead of 30% efficient. The left ALWAYS misquotes the guy because they have no integrioty. They should LISYTEN and not take the woprd of his enemies who distrot everything - not just about huim, but about Palin and just about every news item there is. It amazes me how many people trash others they have never listened to personally.

By tim

To say this or agree with, demonstrates the cold self serving, unloving, uncaring feeling which now prevails in the hearts and minds of a large number of the worlds population. If you claim to believe in God, Jesus or decency and this is your view, your in trouble. Greed and hate are your sins. May God help you. Sincerly, A regular non-practicing christian who does not thump the bible but hopes the best for all.

By kenan01

Roger, the President has dishonered the office by apologizing for America, turning his marxist politics loose, failing to have a transparent government, not letting anyone but democrats see the healthcare bill and for buying into the Global warming scam of the liberal quacks like Al "Big Carbon footprint" Gore.

Roger stick to giving your thumbs exercise and stay out of politics.

I give you thumbs down.

By Lori

As someone who has been to Haiti and the Dominican, you can't trust the monies going there. The governments are even more corrupt than our own. We need to make sure the funds going to the people get TO the people. The people who are in need.

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By TEVA

Ebert? I guess that the only way ebert could get press is if he throws a few stones at Rush. Ebert is a movie critic and a author of books that no one reads.So I will echo the general feeling and ask we should care what ebert thinks why???
Rush makes a lot of money by saying outragous things and then everyone is talking about him for weeks or untill he says the next outragous thing. When will you haters of all things right get smart and just stop talking about Rush?

By Jack F. Doyle

Too bad the heart thing was not really serious but then again this drug addicted lying pig has no heart or brain.

By Joe

Ebert is only saying what the majority of Americans (both conservative and liberal) are thinking. The people who follow Limbaugh and continue to follow him are a sick group of people.
I believe both Republicans and Democrats are good people at heart. But I don't believe there are any decent Limbaugh followers.
I am a Christian and pray every day and can't see the difference between satan and Pat Robertsons god.

By HRB

100 Roger Ebert's wouldn't amount to a pimple on the ass of a man like Rush Limbaugh

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