More Rush
A politician is a person who approaches every problem with an open mouth. Adlai Stevenson, as quoted in The 2548 Best Things Anybody Ever Said
Wow. We knew that Rush Limbaugh was a lightning rod and that making him the subject of our Final Exam in August would be, um, electric. But we didn't know how electric. The rush to bash Rush (or politics in our pages in any form) continues. Because these were sent as letters and not as comments, I'll post here:
Don't get me wrong. I don't have any delusions about the politics of the typical Golf Digest reader but I do take exception in offering his worn-out act any additional air play. Golf is in fact one of the few places I can co-mingle with my friends from the dark side and still enjoy the afternoon without tripping over some hot-button issue. Would prefer that Golf Digest do its part in continuing its fine coverage of golf and leave politics out of your pages. What's the problem was Ann Coulter busy? Or are you saving her for an annual Women in Golf issue? Then again that might not work for a whole different set of reasons, but I digress.
Gary Parks
Seattle, WashingtonSo, what should we call Rush Limbaugh's home course? Prescription Fraud National? You'd be well served to keep golfers and others political views out of your magazine. If I want to hear that crap, I'll watch Fox News Channel.
David Loftus
Overland Park, KSMy friends and I play golf together, never mentioning politics, and have a great time. For that reason I feel that it?s best that the two are never mixed. On the other hand you decided to introduce Rush Limbaugh in your August "Final Exam" and it occurs to me that it was because of who he is off the golf course, not on. Since it was your decision to do so I suppose I could go on about what an odious buffoon Mr. Limbaugh is, often misstating an issue or using a ?red herring? to dishonestly manipulate his listener. Instead I would caution you about using controversial personalities in your pages. Someone might get annoyed and find another magazine.
Steve Leyndyke
Carmel, IndianaDear Editor,
Do not assume your readers are Republicans. That theme has come through your magazine lately. Seeing Limbaugh on the back page was the last straw. I am always interested in golf tips and storys; but I don't want that kind of conservative junk coming into my house. Thank you,
Mark Kahnke
Scottsdale
Mark, Gary, we do not assume you are all Republicans, nor should you assume we are. David, that was very unkind. Steve, we generally do not mix politics into our pages. But an interview on a celebrity's golfing habits once in a while, is that so terrible? I'm of the liberal persuasion myself and call me a softee, but I almost get a warm feeling knowing that at least Rush was right about our great game. But then he's right about most everything. Nonetheless, your points, as they say in Washington, are candid, constructive and certainly well-taken.
Now the real question is, can we get an American to win this Open Championship?
--Bob Carney
And there's a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Doug says we must have "tolerance for ALL Americans", except for those he doesn't like - like Rush Limbaugh. And magazine editors who choose to run Rush Limbaugh interviews. And "right wing idealogues". And...
I was shocked and disgusted to see an interview with Rush Limbaugh in your magazine. It made me sick to see that you treated him as just another celebrity, no different than anyone else in the public eye.
This man is a racist. He is a bigot. He is a cruel bully. This is the man who said of the torture of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers: ?they just needed to blow off a little steam?. This is the man who said of Michael J. Fox?s Parkinson?s disease: ?he?s moving all around and shaking?it?s purely an act?. This is the man who simply makes up ?data? to support his vicious right-wing ideology. He intentionally fans the flames of intolerance and hatred that still exist in America today. He is the worst kind of ?celebrity? because he uses his notoriety to encourage cruelty, hatred, and the destruction of civility in our country. To treat this villain as a normal person is to ignore all of the past abuses of women, minorities, and gays that have occurred in this country for so long.
Worse yet, by including this man in your magazine, you are reinforcing the long standing bigotry and discrimination that has plagued the game of golf for decades. It wasn?t too long ago that the only black man in a country club was the bathroom attendant. Jews, Asians, Latinos, and women were asked to leave. Golf was, and in some places still is, a place where only wealthy white men are allowed. Given this embarrassing and reprehensible history, including Limbaugh only encourages the racists that are still among us. It?s like laughing when some idiot on the golf course starts his joke off with, ?There was this nigger, wop, and spic?.?
You can cancel my subscription to Golf Digest. Do not send anymore copies of your magazine to my house. I will monitor the web for your apology to all of your readers, particularly to your female readers, and your minority readers. Until that apology is heard, loud and clear, I will also start a campaign, asking all reasonable people to boycott Golf Digest, and to boycott advertisers who support Golf Digest.
The destruction of our country by the likes of Limbaugh must stop. It is our duty as citizens to end this vicious hatred and create a new culture of acceptance and tolerance for ALL Americans.
Doug Phillips
Tucson, Arizona
Yes, Bob - stop with the controversial personalities. No more Geoff Ogilvy, Colin Montgomerie, Walter Driver, Frank Hannigan, Hootie Johnson, Paul Casey, John Daly - ignore all these people. Ignore the Tom Doaks of the world. Don't bother talking to Bill Clinton or George HW Bush, despite their involvement in the game. We don't need to hear from the likes of these people - it might hurt somebody's feelings with the comments they say.