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Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Our View: Who sacked Limbaugh? Capitalism

We support radio host's First Amendment rights, but there are consequences.

Talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who was tossed from an ownership group trying to buy a National Football League team, continues to paint himself as a victim of everything that's wrong with America.

But the decision not to have the bombastic Limbaugh in the NFL ownership circle was done for a very simple capitalistic reason. The NFL hierarchy feared Limbaugh's connection would hurt this multi-million dollar business.

It was a business decision, not a political decision. The NFL fiercely guards its image, and the divisive Limbaugh is not part of the league's business plan, which is to appeal to as many fans across America as possible.

But Limbaugh seems to think he is entitled to be a member of the ownership group trying to buy the St. Louis Rams. In a commentary in the Wall Street Journal, Limbaugh said he was driven out of the ownership group by those who use racism as a "sledgehammer" to get their way.

"And it is being used to try to keep citizens who don't share the left's agenda from participating in the full array of opportunities this nation otherwise affords each of us," Limbaugh wrote.

Limbaugh, of course, is the one who raised the race issue.

During a short period doing football commentary on ESPN, Limbaugh got into trouble by saying that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because "the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."

McNabb is well known to be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, and he's been a frequent Pro Bowler. He took the Eagles to four consecutive NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl.

So we suppose it's the media's "fault" that McNabb is the quarterback of the Eagles? Most fans and NFL owners stopped worrying about the color of their quarterbacks and coaches years ago.

It was Limbaugh's words that set the stage for his rejection by the NFL. We staunchly defend Limbaugh's First Amendment right to express his views, but even he must know that this precious right comes with responsibility -- and sometimes consequences.

When word leaked that Limbaugh was part of the ownership group trying to buy the Rams, some players said they would not play for a team owned by him.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell got nervous over Limbaugh's involvement, and said the talk show host had made "polarizing" comments. Owners expressed concerns and Dave Checketts, the head of the ownership group trying to buy the Rams, and his investors decided Limbaugh was a liability in getting the team.

In response, Limbaugh had this to say in the Wall Street Journal: "My critics would have you believe no conservative meets NFL standards."

It's an amazing statement.

In Limbaugh's view of the world, the NFL owners are a bunch of liberals and the league is not a business, but a vast left-wing conspiracy.