Rush Limbaugh's argument against sending aid to Haiti

Maybe radio's Rush Limbaugh was trying to provide the Rev. Pat Robertson with a little cover when he suggested on-air that people don't need to contribute money to Haitian earthquake relief.

It was Robertson who first suggested that the people of Haiti are paying for "a pact with the devil'' made centuries ago.

But it was Limbaugh -- at a time when President Obama is asking Americans to contribute money to earthquake relief and directing them to the White House website to learn where they can help -- who told a caller that all helping out will do is get someone on Obama's campaign e-mail list.

"We've already donated to Haiti,'' Limbaugh told the caller on his radio show. "It's called the U.S. income tax."

Continue reading Limbaugh's 'really stupid' words: W.H. on The Swamp.

Photo: Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh speaks during a news conference at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 1, 2010.  Credit: AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Comments

[Mark]

To the person who said he would vote for Rush for any office,,,I like the idea. How about running for office against René Préval, the President of Haiti?

[John Bentley]

I have had enough of all the reports and news coming out of Haiti. This country was in crises before the earthquake, now all they want is US dollars and how many of the victims will have their houses rebuilt how many will get the medical aid they require? All the fuss and media frenzy this is not the only country that has had so much damage and lives lost due to natural disasters but it is the only one that the President of the United States has publicly supported, yet again at the taxpayers cost. Well I feel enough is enough; No more there is other news in the world and the USA I would like to see some of that too.

[MrUniteUs]

Limbaugh said he just wanted to tweak the media.
Thousands of people lying in rubble after a massive earthquake.

He lied to his listners about the Whitehouse
See for yourself.

www.whitehouse.gov.

[Dr. Alan Phillips]

Nicholas Kristof's article in the January 15 issue of the New York Times entitled--How Generous Are We To Haiti? 92 Cents Per American Per Year (in 2008), is disappointing. Admittedly, corruption in Haitian leadership-government officials through the years has not helped the nation, yet according to the Center For Global Development's David Roodman, the U.S. over the last three years has given 2.32 per year per American. Canada by contrast gave 12.13 per person to Haiti over the same 3 year period. We rank behind, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium and perhaps others. This is not a record of which we should be proud.

Perhaps what Limbaugh really wanted to say on Haitian assistance was best framed by Charles Dickens's character Scrooge decades ago, ARE THERE NO PRISONS? Frankly, America is far better than that.

Dr. Alan Phillips
Bloomington, IL

[Concerned Citizen]

It's pretty sad when news organizations and the White House will use a tragedy of this sort for political attacks. Anyone who actually listens to Rush and is objective and honest knows that the reporting on this is story is an outright lie.

Rush did not say don't send money to Haiti, he said to donate money via more efficient private organizations, rather than the inefficient federal government that will wast a large portion of the donations on administrative costs.

Anyone who says any different did not listen to the show. THEY ARE LYING! It is time to be grown ups and find out the facts before you try to assassinate someone's character.

[Madison]

You idiot!! We need to help Haiti because they are in trouble! So what if we give are income tax! If you were in the situation of what Haiti is experencing, you would want us to help. Thousands die a year, and people who aren't lazy like Limbaugh are trying to make a difference and save them! So what if you don't believe in "if" senerios, you might be rich and famous, but does that mean you shouldn't do anything at all!? Be grateful for what you do have, and help others who don't have as much! Haiti needs our help and if you are an #*& then go ahead and do nothing, but they need are help, and I intend to help them one way or another!

[ferenc]

let's bring the displaced haitians to the usa, miami and los angeles would be ideal places. these people need help and we are obligated to help them.

[yankcolt]

Rush and his co-workers Beck and Robertson are all about publicity. I don't understand why people do not understand that this is all about making money. Rush et al have neither an understanding of nor a desire to understand issues. The disaster that has befallen Haiti to these guys is a huge business opportunity. The more outrageous the comment the more the attraction...the more the listeners. Therein lies the answer. Turn off the TVs, radios and internet sites and these nuts lose their platforms. That's the answer instead of ranting. They prefer that you rant because it means you are paying attention to them. Just calmly get up and turn the dial to off.

[Jeff for thought]

I think Amy needs to read the hateful transcript from Rush. His mind is definitely clouded with his putrid partisan ideology. He spews forth nothing but stupid wrapped in hatred. The less we hear from Rush the better. Boycott Rush!

[matt]

Why is everyone surprised at his comments. Has he not been praying day and night for the US Government's efforts to fail in every aspect across the globe - in effect praying for the death and destruction of thousands of our brave soldiers. Why is everyone surprised at his comments?

[Freeman]

I find it detestable that people are saying 'screw haiti, america first'. If you were REALLY that concerned with the poor, hungry, and homeless of this country, you'd do something about it. But it's just like every other charity, you're more concerned with yourself than the plight of others. You're the ones who say the poor of this country should 'pull themselves up by their own bootstraps'. So quit trying to say 'take care of americans first' if you really aren't willing to do so. It's just another excuse to not help your fellow man. Is it really going to put you out to donate to a charity to save the lives of someone who was barely existing before what little they did have was taken from them?

As for Rush Limbaugh, he's always been a brown streak in Satan's underwear, and always will be.

[ulyssesmsu]

Oh, so you checked the White House's Haiti-relief website, did you, and there are "no e-mail forms to be seen"--?

So obviously Limbaugh is wrong about you getting on Obama's campaign mailing list if you visit the site . . . ?

You guys are dumber than dirt, or else dishonest--or probably both. Just because there are no email links on the website doesn't mean that the Obama political machine won't harvest the names and email addresses of those who visit the site. There's this wonderful new technology now--it's called a "database."

You guys couldn't be that stupid. But you do think that WE are that stupid.

[mashpaint]

This man claims to be a spokesperson for the right and the right does seem to follow him. What I don't understand is why? Does this person embody Christian beliefs of charity, tolerance and trying to follow in Jesus foot steps? Did jesus say what you do to the least of my people you do to me? Is it not the christian stance that we should treat people less fortunate than ourselves with respect? Did Jesus just come for his people? Would he have ever supported the idea we have to help our own people first and not worry about the gentiles and everyone else. How can people who ader to those ideas call themselves christians when jesus would be so dissapointed in them, even though he would love them as much as he does the Haitis.

[Ann Castleman]

Come on people, even if you are unemployed you can cough up 5 or 10 bucks for these poor people. Think twice about buying that next pack of cigarettes or six pack of beer. Our tax dollars were not necessarily earmarked for this kind of disaster and devastation in Haiti. Where is your compassion? Rush Limbaugh is a disgrace to the human race!!

[JEP]

davidozone wrote: This man speaks the truth ... The truth hurts narrow minded individuals.

The man speaks for ratings and a paycheck... he speaks to any sucker who will listen.

The truth hurts no one - it only sets one free.

[Bryan]

Rush is an egotistical, bombastic, imbecilic, self righteous fool. When he talks he gravels like some demon possessed hate filled soul. I used to respect his commentary however, the political hatred and disdain for the trials of the average lower too middle class American's life and their ability to protect their purchasing power as opposed to the purchasing power his protected and bailed out corporate friends deems his views irrelevant and sophomoric.
This hatred was never more evident than in his statement on how Obama will use the situation of the poor, now homeless black Haitians. If President Obama did not react so quickly we all should condemn him for his lack of diligence. This is a human tragedy and should be reacted upon as such, leaving all political juxtaposing and punditry for a later time. But no, Rush is all about politics, compassion and reality has all but left his soul.
Fellow Republicans, think about what he say's, listen to how he tries to cover his totally inappropriate, ill- timed political statement as a violin master playing the media and don’t be a blind Limbaughcile!!!

[K.Anastasia]

The US needs to help its' own citizens first. I'm sorry about what happened to Haiti BUT I'm sorry about what is happening in my own country first. Too many people are homeless; too many people are hungry and I don't see telephone banks being set up to raise money for them. (at least not in the area I live in) As they saying goes "the buck stops here" and it should stay here, in the United States. Let the private sector help other countries in their time of need but our government needs to help its' own citizens first.

[LaMer]

Mr. Limbaugh has no soul.

[navyboy]

Amy, and all other that feel Rush is right and justified and defend his statements, you're all very foolish. Rush has shown him self to be nothing more then a racist, although not in an overt way.
He is a proven drug addict and he has no credibility and no education.
He talks family values, yet he can't keep his marriage together; any of the 3. He love patting the military on the back, but he has never done anything for the military. Never hosted any charity events, donated any of his $50M a yr salary to any military charity.

It's sad people can't what he really is. A phony and a lier.

[Kuncen]

The links on whitehouse.gov take you directly to the redcross.org website. There's no skimming. It's just a link. Quit with the politics... it's disgraceful in a time like this.

[Anne]

Regardless of whether Limbaugh meant to direct people to donate to non-governmental agencies, the fact remains that he used this occasion as yet another opportunity to slam the Obama Administration. As much as I detest his non-stop negativity, he really crossed the line by using this crisis as an opportunity to spew more negativity and hatred. There is no way to either discount or justify the stupidity and maliciousness of his words.

[Kris Downing]

amy - whoever you are...wake up girl

[ESTRELLA]

HI MY NAME IS ESTRELLA... I AM REALLY ZORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN ON HAITI THREE DAYS AGO I WOULD LOVE TO BE THERE AND HELP THEM GIVING THEM CLOTHES, WATER AND EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE BECAUSE I DONT LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE SUFFERING I LIKE WHEN PEOPLE SMILES. LISTENING THAT THIS GUY IS SAYING IF I HAVE HIM ON MY FRONT I WOULD MAKE HIM CRY FOR THE WORDS HE IS SAYING ONE TIME HE MAY NEED THEIR HELP TOO NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE WORLD SPECIALLY IF IT IS A NATURAL DISASTER. HE SHOULD REALLY SHOUTH HIS MOUTH AND KEEP THOSE STUPID WORDS BY HIMSELF, IF ANY ONE FROM NJ JERSEY KNOW HOW AND WHERE TO DONATE CLOTHES AND EVERYTHING PLEASE TELL ME.
THANK YOU

[alyce]

As bad as things are in the US, it's not nearly a fraction as bad as things were in Haiti, the poorest country in the hemisphere, even before the earthquake. Millions of people around the world live on less than $1 a day. It's insufferable and disgusting to complain about "how bad we've got it here" in the same sentence discussing whether or not our country -- which is still the world's richest -- should aid the earthquake victims. Get outside of yourself for a minute and think about the fact that schools have collapsed on top of hundreds of children and thousands of people are dying in the streets.

As usual, Rush promotes his misinformation campaign trying to scare folks out of their generosity by spreading a rumor that clicking on whitehouse.gov will somehow steal their hard earned dollars and funnel it to the Obama admin. The site merely provides links to the Red Cross, etc. Rush the opportunist and sensationalist twists reality again and provides an easy retreat for the jingoists and selfish among us.

[DSmitty]

Rush simply says don't go through the US Government. He does say to send aid via other means because by the time it reaches Haiti it'll be 30 cents on the dollar. This is true of a number of private organizations however, though not as extreme. I recommend donating through organizations that give 100% of what you give. One such is UMCOR (http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/) "Every dollar you designate for a specific program goes to that program. UMCOR is 100 percent efficient because we receive our costs of doing business from the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering."

[John B]

Which contries have sent us aid when 911 happened or Hurricane Katrine hit, or the fires in California.
Why can't the corporations help the Americans first then help the rest of the world.
We have children goning without food people being kicked out of their home, because they have lost their jobs.

Why does our tax money not serve to better America.
It is not that I do not feel compason but what about the rest of the world helping out. America is like the man who has lost everything but yet still has to pick up the check.
When will we learn GOD helps those whom help themselves.
When are we going to stop handing out help until everyone in the United States has been helped first.

[barry]

funny how the white house has time to make politics at a time like this:
Here is the common sense...that many of you don't have. Do you really think he said don't help these people...are you really that dumb? I don't even watch Rush to know that the White House again is just making stuff up and the media is helping them. Don't believe me go see the video...or would you rather just call names or point out a misspelled word. Do you know what honesty even is? There are plenty of people I don't like...but I don't have to make up stories!

Rush's commentary was to persuade people to donate through non-governmental agencies such as churches/salvation army. If you send your relief dollars through the US government, about 30 cents on the dollar will actually go for aid to the people who need it whereas if you donate to a church the money will go directly to Haiti. Do you want you donations to go to an incompetent bureaucracy or do you want them to go to Haiti? You choose. How efficiently has the government spent your money in the past? Additionally, you should probably reserve judgement on Rush until you have actually listened to his show for a period of time. He has contributed millions to finding cures for Lymphoma and aiding the troops. The media accounts of the content of his show are intentionally twisted to propogandize you. Stop allowing yourselves to be manipulated.

[Tim]

There are 9/11 first responders who still have medical issues that prevent them from working... they are up their necks in medical bills. We have soldiers who have been killed or maimed whose families subsist on the lousy government death benefit. When these people ask for more money, the government says "no, we don't have it." All of the sudden, Obama has all sorts of money to send to a country that has already squandered milliions in aid we have sent them.

Aren't we in a recession with some families struggling to eat and pay the rent? The harsh reality it, American tax dollars should go to helping Americans. We are in a recession. If Haiti can't pay for it's own reconstruction, sorry. That's too bad. Plus, they are setting up road blocks of bodies and rocks so that aid workers can't get to where help is needed. If they don't want it, fine. We can give that aid to grateful American families that don't barricade the streets.

[Brea]

It's amazing that there are people who are trying to defend this idiot - and telling others to "go read the transcript".
I agree with the "go read the transcript" part because it clearly show Rush basically saying "screw Haiti" and trying to twist this into some sort of partisan coup.

The whitehouse *isn't collecting donations and skimming off the top - the links encouraging people to donate **take you to NGOs.

Rush is a complete as*hat and anybody that thinks his antics are OK or can be explained away must be *mainlining* the cool-aid.

[D. Piland]

Here's an email address for aid to the US government.

http://www.usaid.gov/ht/

Maybe, we should react to Limbaugh's idiocy by sending money to
the US govenment, instead of giving Rush more attention.

The US gov. seems to be acting as quickly as they can under devastating circumstances, a disaster so overwhelming reporters are having trouble finding the right words to describe it. They could no doubt use all the help they can get, and this way, Limbaugh will have managed to do some good in spite of himself.

Here's an email address for aid to the US government.

http://www.usaid.gov/ht/

[Hoffmannamps]

Best way to deal with this moron is to stop listening to him. After that, hand him a shovel and force him to help dig out the dead and injured in Haiti. What a insensitive pig.

[D. Piland]

Just read the transcript from Rush's iditotic remarks regarding not sending money to ( he now protests ) the US government. I noted that Rush had nothing to say about sending money via religious organizations until the caller brought it up. I doubt sending a cent to Haiti was anywhere in what passes for Rush Limbaugh's mind. IMO, Some cells on Rush's brainstem stirred and he realized that he had gone too far in telling people not to send aid to Haiti, so suddenly he folded his chubby paws and became a good Christian.
"Wait, I mean't only send money through the churches, folks. I'm human! It's just that the government is sooo evil!"

Question. How does Rush know what percentage of the money we send the government makes it to Haiti? Does anyone really think he bothered to look up this stat? Does the stat even exist as yet? Seems unlikely, what with all the volunteers rushing around trying to save lives and such.

Question. When did Rush begin to hate America so much? Why doesn't he practice what he preaches and leave America if it's so despicable? Hasn't he sucked enough blood out of our nation to fill his bank account yet?

What a pathetic, infantile egomaniac this guy is. I think Media Gould should be his official title from now on.

The demented publicity hound, along with his equally demented buddy, Pat Robertson, should be ignored, for their own good and the good of humanity.

[D. Piland]

Poor little Oxy-Rush. So misunderstood. He's not a hate filled millionaire who couldn't care less about any damage his idiotic rants may do, or any human suffering or lost lives his thoughtless words may cause, just so he can be the center of the world's attention like a spoiled child.

Rush would never use a disaster as awful as the Haiti earthquake to draw attention to himself in another of his "look at me" stunts. Honestly, using a ghastly tragedy for self promotion would make Rush, this poor victim of constant attacks from evil liberals, nothing more than a media ghoul.

He's just telling us that, in his no doubt well informed opinion, religious organizations are more capable of sending aid to Haiti than the vile US government. The US government just doesn't care about the quake victims the way Rush does. I'll bet Rush has sent millions of his own "hard earned" money to quake victims, only in secret. That's his way, staying out of the spotlight.

As someone who has worked with religious charities, I can say many are well intentioned and organized, but they just don't have the resources, the planes, ships, or the sort of money and crack organization as, oh say, the US military.
There's really no contest, as well as people like the Red Cross do in these situations, when the government actually does react, as it has in Haiti.

Poor, poor darling little Rush. He's only trying to help, and once again, he is the only real victim.

[S Hellerman]

I recommend that any one who really wants to understand the greater situation in Haiti read Mountains Beyond Mountains and the work of Dr. Paul Farmer. If you want to get aid to where it will be used well, send a donation to Partners in Health (PIH).

[J Scott]

Why read and promote Rush if you do not believe in his words - go elsewhere become an "audience of eyeballs" on other boards and broadcasts you want to have commerical advertising.

Rush is my hero he teaches me how to promote so I get paid for anything said. He does that for everyone - get ears and eyeballs they will pay - he started with the likes of Snapple, Ug Boots, CompuServ... now look at this success story in America with all his clones who are listening to his show reading Rush postings then splitting the money Rush once got on his own. You will find Rush-clones in skirts yelling into radio, television, and in person gatherings - a whole new industry for the U.S. -- There you go Rush you are an industry - the American way.

[realfactchecker]

Limbaugh did NOT tell his listeners to not send aid. Rtaher, he said to send it through private charities. Get it right before you report it. Your bias is showing...again.

[Joe]

What's even more disgusting than this pathetic human being is all of those who follow such a Narcissist. All the prayers in the world for this man would never change the amount of EVIL that is within Rush Limbaugh, the Hypocrite, Drug user.

[Erik]

Haiti was punished for its devil worshiping Voodoo,praise the lord!he is just!

[lucy2]

It' s pretty clear what he meant. The comments about the link through whitehouse.gov I could give a little more wiggle room, but the comments about already donating to Haiti through US income tax makes it pretty clear. I honestly don't see how anyone could argue about that one.

The whitehouse.gov link simply links to the Red Cross, and gives out contact information for the State Dept. If it were going into a separate fund, then I would very much agree that it's not a good idea, as the govt throughout history is not good at wise spending. But it links to the Red Cross.

Shameful, and embarrassing that any American would say such things. Especially one who has been rather fortunate in his own life.

[Allison]

Pumpkin head is at it again, Rush loves Rush, the kool-aid drinkers keep drinking. There will be a time when Rush needs help...and when it does there will be no one there to help him. Evil catches up to evil men.

[Alain]

What Rush is doing is deflecting attention away from a humanitarian crises and back onto his agenda of criticizing everything our current white house is doing for the sake of getting ratings so he can continue his rampant drug use and belittling of minorities. The fact that you have people like Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck speaking for the right is what keeps people from respecting the Right and it deviates away from the basic tenets of conservatism. Get that joker off the air.

[Don]

Once again the Media and Government shoots the messenger and not the message. In this case they can not "shoot" the message- Rush was right on- when our president "donated" 100 million to aid Haiti, it wasn't out of his own pocket, it is out of our pockets.

Now I personally do not endorse the remarks made byPat Robertson because I believe he's a first cousin to Joe Biden, they speak from the wrong side of their body. :-)

[Dan Rynberg]

Ladies and Gents we have a bonafied 21st century Screwg in Rush L. But is he just hearless and insensitive...maybe he's really moved by his obsession with making our President fail. Yeah, that's the ticket, ole Rushie is of course indifferent towards those faceless hoards in Haiti, with his lust stirred by helping to lower the chances of President Obama to be successful in leading the noble forces of goodness in assisting a neighbor way down in her luck, with 4 major storms and now an earth shaking quake, tearing down the progress made in 2009. Oh, there's a special place for dopers like Rush, but that's not my concern, no, my concern is for our brothers and sisters of Haiti, so let's all give and give again for Rush.

[ApostasyUSA]

“Nature abhors a vacuum, and there is no vacuum in nature as empty as the leadership of the Republican Party today.”
Conservative columnist Richard Viguerie

“A man who is aggressive and bombastic, cutting and sarcastic, who dismisses the concerned citizens in network news focus groups as ‘losers.’ With his private plane and his cigars, his history of drug dependency and his personal bulk, not to mention his tangled marital history, Rush is a walking stereotype of self-indulgence – exactly the image that Barack Obama most wants to affix to our philosophy and our party.”
Conservative David Frum, editor of NewMajority.com.

[azim]

Rush has done more to alienate conservative people from the Republican Party than anyone. & He keeps doing it again.

[NorskeDiv]

I don't know why I waste my time.

But, Rush Limbaugh clearly said later on in the same show that private donations to Haiti are a great idea and wholly endorsed aid to Haiti in the very same show, and even more clearly the next day:

"RUSH: No, it's not "whether or not." That matters. I mean you call here and ask, "Where do I get off suggesting that we don't donate to Haiti because we do in the income tax?" and I tell you I said that, but I also said private donations are going to be much better than a government donation. They're all going, go to the Red Cross, do other things, don't go through the government. It's just going to go through hands and bureaucracies and a dollar is going to end up being 30 cents by the time they get through with it. I did not say, "Don't make donations." That's not a "whether or not" thing. That's why you called."

And he's right, remember Hurricane Katrina? Who was first on the scene with massive supplies and a convoy of trucks - Walmart and the salvation army. Lest you say that was because Bush dropped the ball: The same was the case for hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Granted, he was going off of a wrong assumption that the white house.gov site was the place to donate money, which would then be disbursed by the White house or so some such. In reality all it does is link to the American Red Cross.

The most important question here: The point is - why is Haiti so poor? The simple answer is, corrupt and incompetent government. He hit the nail on the head. Clearly many other Caribbean nations have similar circumstances but are much better off, but receive less aid per person than Haiti. This is not exactly a controversial opinion, Haiti's political leadership (Bébé Doc for example) has been nothing short of disastrous and no less than Rachel Maddow and Chris Mathews discussed exactly the same thing last night on their shows.

Finally, to the SUPPOSED Rush listeners who are turned off after reading this so article. Get real, I don't believe for a second you are actually a Rush listener. If you were you'd understand he loves tweaking the media like this. And if you were a rush listener, you would have listened to the rest of the show, and realize how bunk this article is.

[Nancy King]

I don't think Rush is really saying let the people of Haiti rott for their sins. However, his arguing that by going to the White House website you will wind up on Obama's donation call list is just stupid...the links take you to the Red Cross Website. He definitely seems to suggest that we've given enough in aid and continuing to want to help is futile anyway...done...wipe our hands...back to tearing our own country apart.

[andrea]

In all my days on this earth I have never seen such total disreguard for human life as I have seen with Rush Limbaugh, shame on the companies who continue to let him reach out to others with his hate. What he said does not spark debate it just continues to show the ignorance in this community.

[Larona nelod]

Rush's commentary was to persuade people to donate through non-governmental agencies such as churches/salvation army. If you send your relief dollars through the US government, about 30 cents on the dollar will actually go for aid to the people who need it whereas if you donate to a church the money will go directly to Haiti. Do you want you donations to go to an incompetent bureaucracy or do you want them to go to Haiti? You choose. How efficiently has the government spent your money in the past? Additionally, you should probably reserve judgement on Rush until you have actually listened to his show for a period of time. He has contributed millions to finding cures for Lymphoma and aiding the troops. The media accounts of the content of his show are intentionally twisted to propogandize you. Stop allowing yourselves to be manipulated.

[Lanier]

Maybe if Rush and his caller would do some research they would see that the White House link has contains a link to contribute to the Red Cross. It also has links about what the different departments of government are doing to respond. In today's world we should be thinking of ways to bring us closer together and people like Rush continue to want to tear us apart. It also shows his mindless followers wont do their own research to make sure he is talking facts but they will willingly continue to drink the Kool-aid.