# What has been Rush Limbaugh's take on plea bargaining? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 29, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735 "2006-04-29T13:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/1 "2006-04-29T13:38:57Z")
I must confess to a good bit of Schadenfreude in the current state of affairs with Rush Limbaugh copping a plea over “doctor shopping” where he allegedly obtained several thousand pain pills from many doctors in a few months via overlapping prescriptions. What I’m curious about is if he is on the record on the whole question of plea bargaining. It seems that is probably one of the targets he’s railed about over the years. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t suggested that we do away with that aspect of the justice system, and just throw the book at the criminals, etc. Does anyone know of his position on this issue? Any documentation? xo, C. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/2 "2006-04-29T13:43:36Z")
I am a little confused- I heard last night that as part of the deal, Rush pleaded not guilty. WTF?!? IME, a plea bargain involves pleading guity to _something_. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/3 "2006-04-29T14:24:25Z")
Well, it seems that in my zeal, I jumped the gun. It appears that the deal that has been struck is not, strictly speaking, a plea bargain, I think. It calls for the charges to be dropped without a guilty plea if he continues treatment. To me, this is still a plea bargain of sorts and I still wonder what his position has been on these types of arrangements. He has been charged with breaking the law, and now has been given an opportunity to do something so that he doesn’t have to plead guilty OR innocent and have to face those charges and the consequences of his behavior. And I wonder what he might have said about someone ELSE in that situation from his throne behind his microphone three or four years ago. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/4 "2006-04-29T15:47:01Z")
I believe it is a agreement not to prosecute if R L continues treatment. Sort of being let off with a warning. The news came after his Friday show, so we will have to wait till Monday. You could try his website for his take if anything was put on it about this. > [@CC](#): > > He has been charged with breaking the law, and now has been given an opportunity to do something so that he doesn’t have to plead guilty OR innocent and have to face those charges and the consequences of his behavior. I don’t think you can plead innocent, just guilty or not guilty. > [@](#): > > And I wonder what he might have said about someone ELSE in that situation from his throne behind his microphone three or four years ago. I have heard what he has said about recreational use of drugs, but even the most hardent anti-dittohead liberal must admit that there is a difference between self medicating for pain and recreational use. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/5 "2006-04-29T16:00:09Z")
I listen to Rush Limbaugh occasionally. I don’t recall ever hearing him espouse a position on plea-bargaining, which doesn’t mean he hasn’t done so. As a conservative and a long-time reader of The National Review, I can tell you that plea-bargaining is generally understood by conservatives as being a normal and necessary part of the administration of justice. I may have read expressions of outrage at a particular instance of it over the years, where it seemed to the writer that justice had not been done, but I can’t recall specifics. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/6 "2006-04-29T16:16:28Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I have heard what he has said about recreational use of drugs, but even the most hardent anti-dittohead liberal must admit that there is a difference between self medicating for pain and recreational use. I would acknowledge that, although I don’t know what His Rushness’s position would have been on someone who illegally acquired thousands of pain pills, even to self-medicate, as you say. I guess I’m intruiged by the moral crusader who finds himself in the position of his former targets. I wonder what his position has been on that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/7 "2006-04-29T16:25:20Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I have heard what he has said about recreational use of drugs, but even the most hardent anti-dittohead liberal must admit that there is a difference between self medicating for pain and recreational use. For an active drug addict, all use is self-medicating to reduce pain. Withdrawal hurts, bigtime! And it also amplifies whatever real physical pain was there in the first place, too. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/8 "2006-04-29T16:28:32Z")
> [@CC](#): > > I guess I’m intruiged by the moral crusader who finds himself in the position of his former targets. I wonder what his position has been on that matter. His main like against recerational drug use is that you don’t live in a vaccume. Meaning that you effect others and your society by your actions. recerational drug usage has some tendancy to destroy productive lives, which is a drain in society (treetment, welfare), as well as the effect it has on that person’s potential. If is was just the person himself who was taking the risk I don’t beleive he would have a problem, but it is because it effects society that he has spoken out against it. In this case Rush was taking these meds to allow him to continue to work and be productive, and has the resources that he would never be a burden to society. Also he has mentioned that medically he is self insured, so he is not effecting heath insurance rates either. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/9 "2006-04-29T16:54:05Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > In this case Rush was taking these meds to allow him to continue to work and be productive, and has the resources that he would never be a burden to society. Also he has mentioned that medically he is self insured, so he is not effecting heath insurance rates either. Spoken like a true co-dependent. Rush scored all those pills because he is an addict. His pain main have been the reason he started, but it sure sounds like you’re trying to paint a picture of a saintly guy who just wanted to be productive. Which I don’t think is the case. Need and want tend to overlap for junkies. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/10 "2006-04-29T17:38:30Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > For an active drug addict, all use is self-medicating to reduce pain. Withdrawal hurts, bigtime! And it also amplifies whatever real physical pain was there in the first place, too. Which is how I though it works. Also I know that people use drugs to self medicate for non-physical reasons, such as emotional pain, or to ‘treat’ a ‘disorder’. In the spirt of the OP, I don’t recall R L comming down on these types of drug users however. I’m not saying he didn’t, just I don’t know if he did. Again his main point agaist drug use was it’s effects on others, not the drug user. The cost to society, through treatment and loss of productivity. So they way I see it R L is consistant on his views, and to put it bluntly, he can afford to use drugs and not effect society. > [@EJsGirl](#): > > Rush scored all those pills because he is an addict. R L scored those pills because he wanted to and have the means to aquire them. He wanted them at first to reduce pain and continue working, then, as these things worked continued to need more to satify his addiction and also deal with the pain. > [@](#): > > sounds like you’re trying to paint a picture of a saintly guy who just wanted to be productive. Which I don’t think is the case. I didn’t want to paint him a a canidate for cantionazation, I am just pointing out as far as I understand R L from his radio show, and former TV show, he is totally consistant on his views on drug use. > [@](#): > > Need and want tend to overlap for junkies I think most people don’t understand the different between wants and needs, but this is correct as I understand it as the drug could become a need if the addictin is bad enough. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/11 "2006-04-29T18:14:06Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I think most people don’t understand the different between wants and needs, but this is correct as I understand it as the drug could become a need if the addictin is bad enough. Meh. It’s always a _need_ for the active junkie. Which is what Rush was. And so was I at one time. But frankly, the medications are not medically necessary in his case, based on what he’s released about his problems (and in my opinion, which is a fairly educated one on this topic). He was indulging his addiction. To do so, he lied to different doctors, who prescribed for him while not knowing that other doctors were doing the same thing. Which is illegal (and immoral) behavior. And he needs to be held accountable for it, just like every addict needs to be held accountable for their behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/12 "2006-04-29T18:24:21Z")
Succinctly put, **QtM**. All of Rush’s victimless crime, poor me bullshit is just that- bullshit. Every junkie can rationalize and explain away his use. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/13 "2006-04-29T18:42:14Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Meh. It’s always a need for the active junkie. Which is what Rush was. I defer to your expertise > [@](#): > > To do so, he lied to different doctors, who prescribed for him while not knowing that other doctors were doing the same thing. Which is illegal (and immoral) behavior. And he needs to be held accountable for it, just like every addict needs to be held accountable for their behavior. This seems a reasonable statement, although not nitpick proof, but what does this have to do with the OP? Rush’s take on the subject and his consistancy on drug use? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/14 "2006-04-29T20:39:37Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Succinctly put, **QtM**. All of Rush’s victimless crime, poor me bullshit is just that- bullshit. Every junkie can rationalize and explain away his use. Well, if you come right down to it, it’s bullshit to demonize addicts who don’t burden the rest of society. Addicts are sick people and they came to this state through their own choices. But if you’ve got the bread to spend on Vicodin an Ex-Lax the rest of your life without hurting anybody else, there is absolutely no moral reason you should be charged with anything. Now in Limbaugh’s case, I’d advocate a similar harm reduction philosophy except for one thing: he also jumped on the addict demonization bandwagon while being a closet user himself. For that, he should have the full force of the law brought down on his smug little head. Had he not said all that stuff about how useless addicts are, I’d agree he should get merciful treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/15 "2006-04-29T23:47:03Z")
I agree 100% about how ridiculous it is to demonize junkies, or to glamorize them. Posted as a former junkie, of course. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/16 "2006-04-30T01:45:34Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > Now in Limbaugh’s case, I’d advocate a similar harm reduction philosophy except for one thing: **he also jumped on the addict demonization bandwagon while being a closet user himself**. For that, he should have the full force of the law brought down on his smug little head. Had he not said all that stuff about how useless addicts are, I’d agree he should get merciful treatment. > Reply With Quote No he didn’t as far as I know, he jumped on those addicts who are a burden on society, along with others who are also a burden on society. To be consistant you would come down on him if is was a addict and has been a burden to society, which he has not, even is paying the cost of the prosacution against him. Again his anti drug message is consistant, your anti Rush statement is not. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/17 "2006-04-30T02:00:34Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > No he didn’t as far as I know, he jumped on those addicts who are a burden on society, along with others who are also a burden on society. Am I missing something? It seems to me law enforcement is a cost to society. By virtue of breaking the law to indulge his habit Rush cost taxpayers money as law enforcement dealt with this (or view it has resources that could have been tracking some other drug dealer/kingpin). I’d call that a burden to society. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/18 "2006-04-30T02:07:31Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > even is paying the cost of the prosacution against him. How noble of him! What would happen if he didn’t pay his $30,000 fine? He’d go to jail. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I’d call that a burden to society. Then there’s the whole ‘Rush as a gateway addict’ problem. Even if his wealth prevents his addiction from posing direct costs to society, someone’s got to worry about all the little-dittos who idolize the man, and want to grow up to be an addict, just like ush. No matter their good intentions, some of them at least _will_ end up being a social burden. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/19 "2006-04-30T02:16:28Z")
To the OP maybe this will help: > [@](#): > > On drug users: > > - Kurt Cobain died of a drug-induced suicide, I just – he was a worthless shred of human debris. > > - (on the death of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia) Just another dead doper. And a dirt bag. > > - And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up. > > - When you strip it all away, Jerry Garcia (former Grateful Dead guitarist) destroyed his life on drugs. And yet he’s being honored, like some godlike figure. Our priorities are out of whack, folks. > > - Too many whites are getting away with drug use…Too many whites are getting away with drug sales…The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too. > > SOURCE: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush\_Limbaugh#Drug\_Abuse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh#Drug_Abuse) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735/20 "2006-04-30T02:18:07Z")
Whoops…I should have noted the above quotes are attributed to Rush Limbaugh (maybe that was obvious but just for clarity). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-been-rush-limbaughs-take-on-plea-bargaining/354735.md?page=2)