• Conservative talk radio pundit Rush Limbaugh hosts the Rush Limbaugh Show, syndicated daily nationally by Clear Channel.

  Shortly before the inauguration of Barack Obama to the presidency, Limbaugh said he hoped that the president would fail. Since that time, a struggle for leadership within the Republican party has ensued, with members such as Michael Steele and Newt Gingrich questioning Limbaugh's message and influence. On Meet the Press on March 8, 2009 Newt Gingrich called Limbaugh "irrational" for wanting Barack Obama to fail. Limbaugh responded that debating with Gingrich publicly was "a pointless exercise."Politico: Rush whacks Newt: 'He wishes they were running TV ads against him' (March 9, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: January 12, 1951
  2. Birth name: Rush Hudson LimbaughBiography.com: Rush Limbaugh
  3. Birth place: Cape Girardeau, MissouriBiography.com: Rush Limbaugh
  4. Divorced 3 timesSourceWatch: Rush Limbaugh
  5. Brother: David LimbaughSourceWatch: Rush Limbaugh
  6. Listenership: Up to 20 million per week
  7. Carried on over 650 radio stations, as well as the Armed Forces Radio NetwoRK
  8. 2003: Entered rehab for OxyContin addictionSourceWatch: Rush Limbaugh
  9. Named one of Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People in 2008
  10. George W. Bush hosted a private birthday lunch for him in January 2009Think Progress: Bush hosted Limbaugh for private birthday lunch yesterday (January 14, 2009)
  11. Scheduled to be keynote speaker at CPAC 2009

• Early Radio Career

  Limbaugh started doing radio as a teenager, broadcasting under the name "Rusty Sharpe." Through most of the '70s, he worked as a DJ on music radio, before taking a break to work with the Kansas City Royals baseball team.

• Powell Bashes Limbaugh

  On May 5, 2009, Powell publicly criticized Rush Limbaugh saying, "I think what Rush does as an entertainer diminishes the party and intrudes or inserts itself into our public life a kind of nastiness that we would be better to do without." Limbaugh said in a later statement that if Powell feels that way he should join the Democratic party.Fox News: Powell Bashes Limbaugh... (May 6, 2009)

  On May 24, 2009, Colin Powell went of CBS's Face the Nation stating that he hopes that Limbaugh becomes a Democrat and rejected the notion that Powell's backing of the President had more to do with racial allegiance, rather than political allegiance.Bloomberg: Powell Takes on Cheney, Limbaugh... (May 24, 2009)

• Fairness Doctrine

  In 1987, the FCC ended the policy known as the "Fairness Doctrine," which demanded that media utilizing the public airwaves (such as radio) to air editorials must provide time for contrary opinions.

  This meant that Limbaugh, currently working in talk radio at KFBK in Sacramento, California, could introduce his personal opinion and style into his show. His audience grew quickly, and soon he was broadcasting the nationally-syndicated Rush Limbaugh Show out of New York City.

• The Rush Limbaugh Show

  Limbaugh's support was considered instrumental in the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, and incoming representatives called themselves "The Dittohead Caucus," appropriating a term for his listeners. More recently, Limbaugh has introduced a proposal called "Operation Chaos," in which he encourages listeners to vote for whichever Democratic primary candidate is currently behind in the polls, in the hopes of extending the fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as long as possible.

• Controversies

  Because Limbaugh's style is purposefully aggressive, even humorously so, many of his on-air statements have sparked controversy. During the 2006 midterm elections, he mocked a political ad featuring Parkinsons-afflicted actor Michael J. Fox, touting Claire McCaskill's support for stem cell research, and implied that Fox was faking symptoms to engender sympathy.

  Limbaugh's personal life is not without scandal as well. The National Enquirer reported on October 3, 2003 that Limbaugh was addicted to prescription painkillers (a charge Limbaugh confirmed to listeners a week later), and in April of 2006, he was arrested for "doctor shopping" to obtain the pills. Later that year, he was detained at Palm Beach International Airport after Viagra pills prescribed under another name were found in his luggage.

• Apology Website

  The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a website on March 4, 2009, that intended to mock GOP leaders that have apologized to Rush Limbaugh for disagreeing with or criticizing him publicly. The site will allow users to send virtual apology letters to Limbaugh on behalf of fellow Republicans Michael Steele, Phil Gingrey and Mark Sanford.CNN:Democrats' 'apology' Web site mocks Limbaugh (March 3, 2009)

• "I Want the President to Fail"

  Just days prior to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, Limbaugh told listeners that he was asked by a "major American print publication" to write a 400-word statement on his "hope for the Obama presidency." Limbaugh then went on to say "...I don't need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails."Official Site: "I Hope Obama Fails" (January 16, 2009) Limbaugh reiterated this theme during his keynote speech at the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference, leading Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele to declare him more an "entertainer" than a genuine GOP leader.CNN: Steele: Limbaugh more a performer than GOP leader (March 2, 2009) Steele later apologized for the comment, claiming he meant no offense to Limbaugh.Politico: Steele to Rush: I'm sorry (March 2, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  I'm Sorry Rush | Limbaugh Phony Soldiers | Al Franken | Ann Coulter | Don Imus | Michael Savage | Sean Hannity | Hardball with Chris Matthews | Steve Dahl | Chip Saltsman | David Buckner | Mancow

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