How Rush Limbaugh Helped The Democrats In 2012

There are a lot of talking heads making news. They make extreme incendiary comments and the Internet lights up with commentary.

I have addressed the issue of “ignore the extremists and they will go away” in a different article but this issue continues to be a common lament.

I would like to present a perfect example of why ignoring them is not beneficial. Case in point: Rush Limbaugh. Business Insider reported in 2008 that he would receive $400 million dollars to rant through 2016.

Most people understand who and what Limbaugh is. He is a man who makes his living by making idiotic statements, but here’s the rub. Republican politicians take his cues. Money talks. Only now are they starting to realize this cost them the last election.

When Limbaugh attacked Sandra Fluke and lied about her testimony to Congress, he got the attention of the entire nation. Until then, the chatter about the attack on women’s reproductive rights was not as pronounced. News of the Susan G. Komen Foundation defunding Planned Parenthood was making headlines but let’s face it, we are a nation of sensationalist headlines. We’ve become so used to hearing how the conservatives are destroying the country, that unless it’s a jaw-dropping headline, we tune out. Not everyone falls into this category but too many do.

Calling Sandra Fluke a slut was all over the news. Everyone talked about it. CNN, MSNBC, FOX; there was no escaping it. Women were pissed to say the least, and Limbaugh was the last straw for many women who had not yet been moved to action.

Shortly after his three-day diatribe and demanding that Fluke videotape herself having sex so he could watch, new women’s groups and Facebook pages were popping up left and right. Rock The Slut Vote, UniteWomen.org and One Million Sluts Against Rush Limbaugh are just a few examples.

67% of single women also paid attention and voted for Obama. Rush Limbaugh’s big mouth played a huge part of why women woke up and started paying more attention to the War On Women. News programs reported on his drivel daily and it all shook out it in the voting booth to the benefit of women, exactly the opposite of what Limbaugh intended.

Paying attention to the misogyny that came out of Limbaugh’s mouth helped Democrats. It also added to the momentum of Tea Party extremists such as “Legitimate Rape” Todd Akin and “Rape babies are a gift from God” Richard Mourdock. Look what happened to them.

Ted Nugent is in the headlines a lot these days. There are plenty of gun owning NRA members who see Nugent for the lunatic he is but may be overlooking the fact that Nugent sits on the board of the NRA. The dues the NRA collects, help Nugent to have his voice and his seat. Let’s not forget he has made threats against President Obama. Ignoring Nugent isn’t going to make him go away. Pointing out what a batcrap crazy man he is will help to slowly erode the NRA and their current agenda. Responsible gun owners who see him for who he is may no longer wish to pay the organization dues as long as he sits on the board. This is what will make Nugent go away. It’s about informing the public, even when the news is about a person who appears to have no worth.

Kimberley A. Johnson – A.K.A. The Anti Coulter is the author of The Virgin Diaries and an activist for women’s rights. Like her on Facebook, Twitter or friend her on FB HERE. Check out her campaign to raise money for her next book on Women’s Rights and The Importance Of Voting.