Rush Limbaugh has obviously learned nothing from the outrage and anger unleashed by Don Imus’ unfortunate “nappy headed ho’s” remark. Never one to shy away from unfunny “humor”, Limbaugh recently played a song parody on his radio show in which an Al Sharpton impersonator (played with stereotypical gusto) sings a song filled with idiotic assumptions about black people and dripping with ignorance called “Barack the Magic Negro”.
Perhaps this kind of garbage (set to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon”) is someone’s cup of tea. Limbaugh does have millions of listeners and they do adore of much of what the man says. Whether he’s lampooning former President Clinton’s daughter or suggesting Michael J. Fox is exaggerating the effects of his Parkinson’s disease. So I don’t expect his listeners to desert him over this. What does surprise me is that Vice President Dick Cheney among other major conservatives is still a regular guest on Limbaugh’s show and I don’t anticipate the kind of repudiations that Don Imus received over his transgression from him or anyone else on the right with regards to Limbaugh.
It is true that Imus was chided because he was on a national cable news network and was perhaps less associated with being a provocateur than Limbaugh. But I still think Cheney and his ilk should refuse to appear on Limbaugh’s show from now on. I wonder, will there be any outcry? Are people becoming so desensitized to this now that they just don’t care about the inevitable phony apology and/or Al Sharpton protest. I’d like to see calls for Limbaugh’s removal not just from the black community but from the supporters of the president and vice-president who are not racist, who don’t find “jokes” like “Barack The Magic Negro” funny.
But this will never, ever happen. Limbaugh’s entire career and success is based on being petty and juvenile, so one more stupid act will most likely change nothing. Personally, I’m just disheartened that so soon after the Imus controversy came and went the so-called shock jocks and right wing nuts went right back to business as usual, didn’t blink an eye and continued to use racism to insult and humiliate.
