Rush Limbaugh's Interview on the NBC's "Today Show" (video)

October 12, 2009

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NBC’s Jamie Gangel talks exclusively with Rush Limbaugh, the American conservative most popular radio talk-show host, about his position in the Republican party, his role in John McCain’s failed presidential bid and what he thinks of the Obama presidency. He gave a wide-ranging interview to the Today Show's Gangel, which NBC is airing over two days (on 12 and 13 October). The video segments below and transcript are from 12 and 13 Oct. 2009.

Rush Limbaugh realizes you don’t become America’s most popular radio talk-show host without having the hide of an elephant. And he’s long subscribed to a theory: His 21 million listeners know him and love him, and the other 280 million Americans, well, they don’t pay the bills.

"I want the largest audience I can get, because that's how I can charge the highest advertising rate," he said. "Which means what else do I want? Money. I am trying to earn a profit. It's capitalism."

“My objective is to satisfy [my] audience so they come back the next day,” Limbaugh told TODAY national correspondent Jamie Gangel in a wide-ranging, three-hour interview, excerpts of which air on TODAY Monday and Tuesday.

“Most of my critics don’t even listen to me; they are clueless,” Limbaugh said. “They just go to Web sites that report what I say out of context. I’m amazed at the Democrats and the media who do not know what’s going on in my world. I know what’s going on in theirs. I study ’em. I watch ’em every day.”

"I am not the leader of the Republican Party," he said. "Don't want to be the leader of the Republican Party. It's silly for them to keep talking about me being the leader of anything, it's only creating more curiosity for me. 21 years, more popular than ever? Lord, thank you for my enemies."

Limbaugh rose to prominence during the 1990s as host of a nationally-syndicated talk-radio show, The Rush Limbaugh Show, which he began in 1988 in New York Cit on WABC radio. A frank advocate of conservatism, Limbaugh attracts a large audience and is regarded as one of the most influential talk show personalities in the United States. Limbaugh frequently accuses the American mainstream media of having a strong liberal bias.

His three-hour program made Limbaugh well-known. His distinctively styled program featured no guests, relying exclusively on his emblem of conservative political analysis. In the 1990s Limbaugh’s fame grew beyond radio and into other media, such as publishing and television. He became a bestselling author with his books The Way Things Ought to Be (1992) and See, I Told You So (1993).

Part 1 (12 Oct. 2009)

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PART 2 (13 oct. 2009)

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Transcript: Part One (aired on 12 October 2009)

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

MATT LAUER: Now to the first part of our exclusive interview with controversial conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Normally he does not like to give interviews, but he agreed to sit down with Today's national correspondent, Jamie Gangel, who can be very persuasive. Jamie, good morning to you.

JAMIE GANGEL: Good morning, Matt. Fan or critic, Rush has become more than just the number one radio talk show host in the country. He is considered an influential political player, from his attacks on President Obama to Democrats who call him "the leader of the Republican Party." So we started by asking him, just how powerful does he think he is?

BEGIN TAPED INTERVIEW

JAMIE GANGEL: Are you the leader of the Republican Party?

RUSH: I am not the leader of the Republican Party. I don't want to be the leader of the Republican Party. These people think that they can discredit the Republican Party by making me the head of it. All they're doing is elevating me. It's silly for them to keep talking about how I'm the leader of anything. It's just creating more curiosity about me. It's twenty-one years, more popular than ever. Lord, thank you for my enemies.

("My City Was Gone" EIB theme song)

JAMIE GANGEL: It is vintage Rush. Provocative...

RUSH ARCHIVE: Barack Obama has the inside track on becoming the worst president in the nation's history.

JAMIE GANGEL: Outspoken...

RUSH ARCHIVE: It's the Democrats who have always politicized war.

JAMIE GANGEL: Always making headlines...

RUSH: Obama gives speeches trashing his own country. And he gets a prize for it. This is a greater embarrassment than losing the Olympics bid was.

JAMIE GANGEL: Usually for his political attacks...

RUSH: I want Barack Obama to fail.

JAMIE GANGEL: (dramatic music) But sometimes it's been his personal life. Married and divorced three times, in 2001 he lost his hearing and now wears cochlear implants. He publicly struggled with an addiction to prescription painkillers and went through rehab.

RUSH ARCHIVE: Following this broadcast, I will check myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days.

JAMIE GANGEL: But these days, Rush is happily dating, has lost 85 pounds -- and, oh, by the way, he recently signed a new contract reported to be worth $400 million. It's good to be Rush.

RUSH: I'm 58 now, and I can tell you that every year has been better than the year before.

JAMIE GANGEL: Mmph.

RUSH: I've never been happier than I am right now.

JAMIE GANGEL: (sad music) But the road to success wasn't easy. Raised in a small town in Missouri, the son of a prominent family of lawyers and judges, Rush did not fit in.

RUSH: I started being interested in radio when I was eight years old because I hated school. Second grade, whatever it was, I despised it. It was prison. I wanted to be like that guy. I wanted to be the guy on the radio having fun.

JAMIE GANGEL: His father didn't approve, forced him to go to college. After a year, Rush dropped out and then bounced from job to job.

RUSH: I got fired seven or eight times. I've lost count.

JAMIE GANGEL: (bouncy music) Finally in 1988, he got his break, and ever since it's been "the world according to Rush." Three hours a day holding forth...

RUSH ARCHIVE: I am the all-knowing, all-caring, all-seeing Maha Rushie.

JAMIE GANGEL: Taking on liberals.

RUSH: Their agenda is damaging to the country.

JAMIE GANGEL: Mocking feminists.

RUSH ARCHIVE: For all of these, years the feminazis have been beating up women in this country.

JAMIE GANGEL: And reporters...

RUSH ARCHIVE: Journalism is dead as we've known it.

JAMIE GANGEL: Of course, these days his favorite target is the president of the United States.

RUSH ARCHIVE: America will once again succeed when Obama admits his policies and his arrogance have failed.

JAMIE GANGEL: Beyond politics, were you moved in any way to see an African-American elected president?

RUSH: Yeah, but I got over it very quickly. I mean, he's president of the United States. His skin color doesn't matter to me. His policies are what matter. The idea that we've had a very historic thing was wonderful when it happened, absolutely. But I'll be honest with you. I predicted to you it was going to exacerbate racial problems, and it has. Any criticism of President Obama is going to be said to be oriented in racism. And if you don't like his health care bill, it's racist. I opposed when Clinton and Hillary were trying to do it, and they aren't black. It's all about ideas. I think these are dark days for the country. I think his economic policies are... I think he is shepherding the decline; he's not observing it.

JAMIE GANGEL: Is there anything good he's done?

RUSH: (long pause) Hmmm. (scratching his chin) Maybe. I can't think of it, but, let's see.

JAMIE GANGEL: Anything good you would say about him?

RUSH: He's got a great voice.

JAMIE GANGEL: Mmm!

RUSH: Great, great voice. Reads a teleprompter like no one I've ever seen read a teleprompter. I am dazzled by that.

JAMIE GANGEL: You caused a firestorm --

RUSH: (chuckling)

JAMIE GANGEL: -- before he was even inaugurated by saying the four words.

RUSH: I hope he fails.

JAMIE GANGEL: Right. And then just recently, again, when you were gloating that Chicago didn't get the Olympics.

RUSH ARCHIVE: Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man! The worst day of Obama's presidency, folks. The ego has landed.

JAMIE GANGEL: Your critics -- here we go --

RUSH: Yeah, my critics.

JAMIE GANGEL: Your critics --

RUSH: Who are impotent and powerless, yet they... It's like shooting a battleship with BBs, but go ahead. Tell me what they're saying.

JAMIE GANGEL: Your critics say it's unpatriotic.

RUSH: Oh, it's quite the opposite.

JAMIE GANGEL: Because?

RUSH: Trust me, Jamie. Every one of these "critics" knew and knows exactly what I meant. They are taking this as yet another opportunity to say, "Whoa! Limbaugh wants America to fail!" and that's such BS. I want this country to succeed, and it won't happen if he succeeds with his agenda. So perhaps a more politically correct way to say this: "I want health care under Obama to fail. I don't want Obama owning automobile companies. I don't want him running Wall Street and setting compensation levels."

JAMIE GANGEL: Then why don't you say it that way? Is it for ratings?

RUSH: I just did!

JAMIE GANGEL: I know, but --

RUSH: I do every day. I say it every day.

JAMIE GANGEL: But --

RUSH: When I now say "I hope he fails"' it's to tweak the media. I know how to do it. I know how to yank their chain. I know how to send them into insanity. I know how to make them spend the next two days talking about me.

JAMIE GANGEL: (Banking Queen parody song) Rush's brand of satire also keeps everyone talking. Parodies like this one of liberal congressman Barney Frank, who also happens to be gay.

BARNEY FRANK IMPRESSIONIST: I am the Banking Queen!

JAMIE GANGEL: ("Barack the 'Magic Negro'" parody song) And this one about race and candidate Barack Obama.

AL SHARPTON IMPRESSIONIST: Barack, the "Magic Negro" lives in DC.

JAMIE GANGEL: Rush says it was inspired by a column in the LA Times written by an African-American.

AL SHARPTON IMPRESSIONIST: The LA Times they call him that 'cause he's black not authentically.

JAMIE GANGEL: Critics say they are offensive. Rush is unrepentant. (Returns to Rush) You know it's going to elicit a strong reaction, and you know --

RUSH: Would you ask anybody who writes for Saturday Night Live these questions?

JAMIE GANGEL: When your critics say these things are racist or they're homophobic --

RUSH: They're none of that!

JAMIE GANGEL: Are you a racist?

RUSH: No. Are you?

JAMIE GANGEL: Are --

RUSH: Why are you asking?

JAMIE GANGEL: Are you a homophobic?

RUSH: No. Are you?

JAMIE GANGEL: No.

RUSH: Well, good. Then we're both clear.

JAMIE GANGEL: Do you think you ever cross a line?

RUSH: Do I think I ever cross a line? Yeah, probably. Look 15 hours a week, no script, no guests, some phone calls thrown in. Anybody who does that is going to say some things, "Oh, wish I hadn't said that," but you just come back and apologize for it.

JAMIE GANGEL: But these days, some of Rush's biggest critics are other Republicans. Someone recently called you kryptonite for the Republican Party, that if Rush Limbaugh defines the Republican Party and politics, moderate Republicans say they will never be able to attract the moderates, the independents, the women to win national election.

RUSH: Well, look --

JAMIE GANGEL: They are saying you are ruining the Republican Party.

RUSH: (yawning)

JAMIE GANGEL: Okay, your turn.

RUSH: Oh, you're through? The Republican Party nominated the ideal, the perfect Mr. Republican Candidate in 2008, John McCain. He was the guy that was going to go get the moderates; he was going to get the independents; he was going to walk across the aisle; he could work with the Democrats. The Republicans got shellacked. The Republican Party is not a party of liberal, independent moderates. The Republican Party wins when it is unabashedly conservative. And it's going to continue to lose. It's going to continue to lose until it realizes that.

JAMIE GANGEL: You do scare Republican politicians. I mean, GOP Party Chairman Michael Steele, at his peril, he criticized you, he said you were just an entertainer --

RUSH: Yeah?

JAMIE GANGEL: -- and he said you were incendiary and divisive.

RUSH: That's right.

JAMIE GANGEL: You went after him.

RUSH: Yeah.

JAMIE GANGEL: I've never seen anyone apologize quite so quickly.

RUSH: Well, you know, you'd have to ask him why he apologized, but the reason I went after him is not because he said those things about me. It's because he's off message. Michael Steele should be out there raising money and planning on ways to get people to vote for Republicans.

JAMIE GANGEL: Should a radio talk show host have that much power? Is that a good thing?

RUSH: Well, I dispute that there's that much power. But I'll accept the premise of your question in order to give you an answer. Should a talk show host have that kind of power? I believe in the free market. And if the free market creates that, with my participation in it, then it is what it is.

JAMIE GANGEL: I hate to ruin your reputation.

RUSH: (laughing)

JAMIE GANGEL: But off camera you are polite, you are courteous, you have old-fashioned manners.

RUSH: Absolutely, Jamie.

JAMIE GANGEL: What happens when that microphone goes on?

RUSH: I am the same guy.

RUSH ARCHIVE: Our president, "Barack Hussein Obama! Mmm, Mmm, mmm!"

RUSH: I'm one of the most fun-loving, outgoing guys, and I'm not an actor.

JAMIE GANGEL: How much of what you say is entertainment and how much do you believe?

RUSH: Well, I believe everything. But there's satire. One thing I do that you won't find anywhere else in the media, I combine two different elements: satire, irreverent humor with serious commentary. I go back and forth within a moment's notice. I'm not controversial. Everybody that listens to me agrees with me.

JAMIE GANGEL: You're not controversial?

RUSH: No. I'm not controversial, bombastic, outrageous. You know what? I think that's just a factor of political correctness. I do not allow myself to be constrained by people saying, "You can't say that." So I say nothing that's shocking or surprising; it's just nobody else has the courage to say it anymore because they're afraid that they'll offend somebody. I don't have those fears. I'm a communicator. I'm a broadcaster.

JAMIE GANGEL: No apologies?

RUSH: No. No, of course not.

END TAPED INTERVIEW

JAMIE GANGEL: And, Matt, that's just the beginning. Tomorrow, Rush unleashed. He talks about his personal life, why he says his addiction to painkillers was the best thing that ever happened to him. And, in his usual blunt style, he's gonna tell us what he really thinks of everyone, from Hillary Clinton to Sarah Palin to Glenn Beck, former presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. And a special guest dropped by during the interview, someone who sounds an awful lot like former President Bill Clinton. Take a look.

RUSH: (doing Bill Clinton impression) I hear Bill Clinton's name and I can't help it, I just start channeling the guy, and I can't -- look, do you realize how quick and shafty I am, Jamie? The Democrat Party's going to be really, really sad when I'm gone, because I'm the glue holding 'em together. I mean -- I mean I'm wealthy, I sold a lot of books, I tell people I'm rich all the time, how my tax rate is, and I still scored two million bucks from that stimulus plan that was supposed to create jobs. Ha-ha. How clever am I?

JAMIE GANGEL: He is something else, Matt. He just jumps out of the screen. Matt?

MATT LAUER: He's fascinating, there's no question about it. It was a great interview Jamie, thanks --

JAMIE GANGEL: Thank you.

MATT LAUER: -- and we look forward to more of it tomorrow.

MEREDITH VIEIRA: Terrific interview. He is so out there. Says what he thinks.

MATT LAUER: No question.

END TRANSCRIPT

# # #

Transcript: Part Two (aired on 13 October 2009)

BEGIN PART TWO TRANSCRIPT

MATT LAUER: And now more of our rare and exclusive interview with conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. This morning, his thoughts on his past addiction to painkillers and some of the most powerful names in politics. He sat down with Today national Correspondent Jamie Gangel. Jamie, good morning to you.

JAMIE GANGEL: Matt, good morning. Get ready. Here it is: What Rush really thinks about everyone, from Sarah Palin to Hillary Clinton, what he would say if President Obama invited him to the White House, and why he says his struggle with addiction is actually the best thing that ever happened to him. But we started by asking his thoughts on the next presidential race.

BEGIN TAPED INTERVIEW

JAMIE GANGEL: Give me your top three picks for who will be the Republican --

RUSH: I have no idea. I'm certainly not in charge of picking them. The only thing I could do is recite names from 2008 that probably want back in it: Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Huckabee. Tim Pawlenty is probably going to go in.

JAMIE GANGEL: Mmph.

RUSH: But at this stage, as the "anointer" of the Republican nominee --

JAMIE GANGEL: (chuckling)

RUSH: -- I'm not going to go out there now and destroy the chances of three or four other people.

JAMIE GANGEL: Oh!

RUSH: I have more compassion than that.

JAMIE GANGEL: Do you think the Republicans can win?

RUSH: Yes.

JAMIE GANGEL: Do you think they will win?

RUSH: (sigh) Too soon to say, but I think it's entirely possible. But we do have Obama, and he's truly polarizing the country. [snip] So there will be a significant vote against, but you gotta have somebody to vote for at the same time.

JAMIE GANGEL: If he invited you to the White House, would you go?

RUSH: Absolutely.

JAMIE GANGEL: And what would you say to him?

RUSH: Well, it depends on what he wanted me there for.

JAMIE GANGEL: Well, if he wanted [to] sit at the picnic table and make up and --

RUSH: Have a beer? (laughing) A beer?

JAMIE GANGEL: -- less -- less polarizing, more unity.

RUSH: I'll be honest with him. I'd be... Look, the President of the United States is the President of the United States. He's my president, too. You know, I want this country to succeed. And if he invited me up there to chat, I would owe him the dignity and honor of being honest.

JAMIE GANGEL: (off camera) Never one to hold back.

RUSH ARCHIVE: This is a joke of an administration except it's very, very real.

JAMIE GANGEL: We asked Rush to play word association. (on camera) I say, "President Obama." You say...?

RUSH: Disaster.

JAMIE GANGEL: Michelle Obama.

RUSH: Garden.

JAMIE GANGEL: Garden?
RUSH: Yeah. She plants a garden out there.

JAMIE GANGEL: Jimmy Carter.

RUSH: An utter disgrace and embarrassment. Sorry for the four words, but I needed them all.

JAMIE GANGEL: Sarah Palin.

RUSH: Misunderstood and underestimated.

JAMIE GANGEL: You love her.

RUSH: Well, no. Love? I admire her. People have tried to destroy her. She's got more of a backbone than any man in the Democrat Party.

JAMIE GANGEL: George W. Bush.

RUSH: He's just the most decent, down-to-earth, real man you could ever hope to meet.

JAMIE GANGEL: Glenn Beck. (rolling Glenn Beck b-roll) Do you worry about the new guy on the block?

RUSH: No. In 1988, I'm the only national conservative voice. Now look at conservative media. Look what I have spawned. Glenn Beck to me is, "Right on, daddy-O!" Glenn Beck is the result of my success.

JAMIE GANGEL: Hillary Clinton.

RUSH: (laughing) Nurse Ratched.

JAMIE GANGEL: Bill Clinton.

RUSH: (Clinton impression) (chuckles) You know, when I hear Bill Clinton's name, I can't help it. I just start channeling the guy --

JAMIE GANGEL: (stifling laughter)

RUSH: -- and I can't help it. Look, do you realize how quick and shafty I am, Jamie? Look at what I managed to pull. The Democrat Party is going to be really, really sad when I'm gone because I'm the glue holding 'em together. I mean, I'm wealthy, I sold a lot of books, I tell people I'm rich all the time, how high my tax rate is -- and I still scored two million bucks for that stimulus plan that was supposed to create jobs. Ha-ha-ha. How clever am I.

JAMIE GANGEL: You're bad.

RUSH: It's all true. See, great comedy has to have an element of truth in it.

RUSH: ARCHIVE: "Barack Hussein Obama! Mmm, mmm, mmm!"

JAMIE GANGEL: (off camera) Chances of that White House invitation: Not likely. But President Obama has been good for Rush. His ratings are soaring.

RUSH: ARCHIVE: The more Obama makes himself known to the public, the more the public rejects what he is selling.

JAMIE GANGEL: And personally, he says he's never been happier. He's lost 85 pounds and talks freely about his past struggle with addiction to prescription painkillers. (on camera) Do you struggle with any of it anymore?

RUSH: With the opiates?

JAMIE GANGEL: Yeah.

RUSH: The painkillers?

JAMIE GANGEL: Yeah.

RUSH: No.

JAMIE GANGEL: Yeah.

RUSH: I haven't. I haven't had a craving --

JAMIE GANGEL: Hmm.

RUSH: -- which is odd, they say, but I haven't. I haven't had any. No struggles with it at all.

JAMIE GANGEL: What did you learn from rehab?

RUSH: You know, I actually thank God for my addiction, because I learned more about myself in rehab than I would have ever learned otherwise. There was a time where I desperately cared what people thought of me. Desperately.

JAMIE GANGEL: Hmm.

RUSH: Not professionally. I always somehow knew that that didn't matter. But personally. When you're worried about what people think, you stop being who you are.

JAMIE GANGEL: Mmm.

RUSH: And you start tailoring yourself to everybody else so that they'll like you.

JAMIE GANGEL: You don't worry what people think about you?

RUSH: Oh, I'd be insane if I did.

JAMIE GANGEL: Mmm.

RUSH: I don't even give people the power to offend me.

JAMIE GANGEL: Oh.

RUSH: You cannot offend me.

BEGIN TAPED INTERVIEW

JAMIE GANGEL: As you know, Matt, Rush is in the news this week because he wants to buy the St. Louis Rams. It's causing quite a bit of controversy from some of the players and his critics. But Rush says he is misunderstood and he will continue with the bid. Matt?

LAUER: All right. Jamie Gangel, fascinating interview. Thanks very much.

JAMIE GANGEL: Thank you.

END PART TWO TRANSCRIPT

Source: NBC, Wikipedia; Rush Limbaugh

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Rush Limbaugh's Interview on the NBC's "Today Show" (video)