Legacy of Michelle Wie will far exceed Rush Limbaugh's

Rush Limbaugh’s statements regarding Michelle Wie showed why ESPN was willing to take the risk on him as a football analyst. Limbaugh is nothing if not an intelligent, charismatic speaker.

As an entertainer, Limbaugh demands respect. He’s taken what Tokyo Rose, Wally George, Morton Downey Jr., and some others have done, and really made it into an art form. It’s a helluva shtick, as I’m sure his paycheck’s attest.

That shtick – making simplistic ideological points while shouting down those that oppose – has been copied by the likes of Anne Coulter, Bill O’Reilly and Michael Savage, and is now a basic entertainment niche.

That it helps breed a spirit of divisiveness is an unfortunate side effect.

Winning elections is now much more important than policy, and points can’t be made unless the words “you idiot” are attached to them. And truthfulness is secondary to the ability to get a reaction, and larger audience.

One look no further than responses to Tim McDonald’s blog for Limbaugh’s legacy:

“I’m sure cnn Al-Jazeera will be calling you soon for that interview … “

“Tim, there are some very serious Nazi and Communist sympathizers in the U.S., not unlike youself … “

“you are ignorant.”

This is Limbaugh’s basic contribution to his era – giving grown men and women the freedom to feel impressed with themselves for calling someone “Tim Mcpoo.”

But even that is hard to hold against Limbaugh. There are plenty of other entertainers that would sell their soul as well to achieve his success. And many of us have that “hey-look-at-me!” gene to a point, so it seems wrong to be too harsh in regards to an entertainer.

Nonetheless, his cashing in on partisanship has been an ingredient in creating a nation that’s lost its focus.

So, in the end, what Wie will have over Limbaugh is that her stardom will be for all the right reasons. I mean, who would you rather be, Tiger Woods, or Rush Limbaugh?

–WKW