UPDATE AT END OF POST: Limbaugh responds to today's hearing.
During Wednesday's Congressional hearing about head injuries in football, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) ripped NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell over the decision to not allow conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh to own a team when pop artists Fergie and Jennifer Lopez do.
As NewsBusters reported on October 17, Fergie and J-Lo are part owners of the Miami Dolphins despite having incidents in their respective pasts that are far more offensive than anything Limbaugh was accused of.
With this obvious hypocrisy in mind, King gave Goodell quite a tongue-lashing (video embedded below the fold with partial transcript):
I would ask Commissioner Goodell this question: Your position on owners having the right image, I would direct it to your statement on the 13th of October where you said, "I think it's divisive comments are they not what the NFL is all about. I would not want to see those kinds of comments from people who are in responsible positions within the NFL. No, absolutely not."
Now, I take you as a man of your word, but I would point out you have a couple of owners that have performed lyrics in songs that are far more offensive. In fact I don't think that anything Rush Limbaugh said was offensive.
But, with Fergie and with J.Lo, they have between the two of them, alleged that the CIA are terrorists and liars, they've promoted sexual abuse of women, they've used the N-word, verbal pornography, recreational drug use, etc., and they are owners of the Dolphins. And it's also ironic that Fergie was approved as an owner on the very day that you made your statement against Rush Limbaugh.
King went on to point out to the Commissioner that the comments Limbaugh made about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb a few years ago were actually critical of the media and not McNabb.
King continued:
So, if you're concerned about this, Mr. Goodell, then I'd ask you are you prepared to level the same charges against Fergie and J-Lo, or are you prepared to apologize to Rush Limbaugh today?
Not surprisingly, Goodell had no worthwhile response for the Congressman. Quite the contrary, he told King, "I'm not shining any kind of a light on Rush Limbaugh here. I'm not an expert on his, on all of his quotes."
Then how did he conclude Limbaugh didn't warrant ownership? On exactly what did he base his decision that Limbaugh had made "divisive comments?"
As no logical answer appeared forthcoming, King said he would provide Goodell with details about Fergie and J-Lo's offensive lyrics, and asked the Commissioner to come back and address them.
Stay tuned.
*****Update: This is what Limbaugh posted at his website concerning this hearing...
Of course, Goodell's a total weasel. He had no answer about the Dolphins' owners so wouldn't even address the question, and he got on his high horse about how McNabb is a fine player and a fine person and it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, when I (a) never said he was not a fine person; (b) never said he was a bad QB -- just that he was overrated (which no one should deny); and (c) said the MEDIA was obsessed with the color of his skin (which is also undeniable), not that I was. -- Rush Limbaugh
Full trancript of King's grilling of Goodell available here.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Comments Policy
Why not take the time you
October 28, 2009 - 15:59 ET by notonmywatchWhy not take the time you would spend donating money to this libtarded NFL, and organize a local community action group to reach local media and expose the 0bama administration's socialist agenda?
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KO will say...
October 28, 2009 - 16:04 ET by PeterD"... and today's number one worst person in the world is Rep Steve King of Iowa, who had the audacity to ask NFL comissioner...."
that segment adds to the
October 28, 2009 - 16:33 ET by notonmywatchthat segment adds to the weight of proof that dem politics are 100% based on "Alinsky's Rules for Radicals".
In this case "pick the target, polarize it," etc.
Leading to "In war the end justifies almost any means".
They are at war with us. If decent people ever recognized that fact en masse, the left would already have lost.
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you made me laugh
October 28, 2009 - 17:12 ET by RoussePeterD: you make me laugh outloud.
Too bad King....
October 28, 2009 - 16:05 ET by Prester John....didn't bring up Olberdork's comments about Michelle Malkin and asked Goodell if he had spoke with ESPN executives about it, and if not, why not?
Stay tuned...
October 28, 2009 - 16:20 ET by B-townGiantif Goddell comes back, let's make sure King asks the commish THAT question! Everyone e-mail Rep. King and remind him!
Oh, to watch Goddell squirm....
Jimmy Buffett
October 28, 2009 - 16:13 ET by BayshoremanThe Miami Dolphins have also brought on Jimmy Buffet as a "Business Partner" (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/dolphins/2009-05-01-buffett_N.htm). He's the writer and singer of "Why don't we get drunk and screw?" which some might consider offensive but then again, Goodell would probably spin that as song dedicated to bringing people together which is what the NFL is all about.
Yogi said
October 28, 2009 - 16:17 ET by Jerry MackAs Yogi Berra once said: " It ain't over, until it is over. " Did these media flat heads actually think that the lies that they told about Rush would be instantly forgotten? Many, many congressmen/women and Senators have been helped by Rush. He could be calling in some markers.
Promoted sexual abuse of
October 28, 2009 - 16:27 ET by balboaPromoted sexual abuse of women? How?
Verbal pornography? What is that.
Balboa, A couple of
October 28, 2009 - 16:45 ET by BettendorBalboa,
A couple of examples:
Fergie: "My Lumps" with the Black-Eyed Peas; "London Bridge" (solo artist)
J-Lo: Features a lot of skin in music videos (offensive to some).
Jimmy Buffet: See "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw"
These are merely examples of offensive (to some) lyrics and image from these owners, yet Rush Limbaugh is a no-go.
"You just don't get it." - Pa Grape, "Veggietales"
I don't see how that's
October 28, 2009 - 17:04 ET by balboaI don't see how that's promoting sexual abuse of women. The woman is not a victim here. She's in charge.
In charge...
October 28, 2009 - 17:15 ET by jdlybrand...enough to know to use the bathroom before she goes on stage? Nice career move!
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
Bal, are you actually satisfied with Goodell's answer?
October 28, 2009 - 20:39 ET by pahuberI know that you know it was a heaping pile of steaming excrement.
Do you want to be associated with Goodell's answer that he provided to the honorable congressman?
pahuber, Goodell's answer
October 29, 2009 - 10:20 ET by balboapahuber,
Goodell's answer was gobbledy-gook, but I don't buy King's characterization of Fergie and J-Lo.
Bal, I thought the congressman's characterization of fergie & J
October 29, 2009 - 14:21 ET by pahuberwere pale in comparison to how Limbaugh has been unfairly characterized.
After peeling away the lies and coming down to the only legitimate quote which was not racist the goodell's answer was shameful and transparently obvious.
Wouldn't you agree that Limbaugh has been shamefully wronged much more than fergie or J?
Verbal pornography? What is that.??
October 28, 2009 - 19:53 ET by MightyMouthOh I don't know bal, try posting every 4 letter word you know and see if you get banned for verbal pornography! Sheesh you know what it is! Don't act like a six year old!
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
That was rhetorical. "Verbal
October 28, 2009 - 19:55 ET by balboaThat was rhetorical. "Verbal pornography" is a term used when you're engaged in "verbal grandstanding."
Scroogle it dude...
October 28, 2009 - 20:01 ET by MightyMouthYou wont find one reference to "verbal granstanding". Unless of course the posts we just made hit!
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
But, MM, you should see a
October 28, 2009 - 20:03 ET by balboaBut, MM, you should see a picture of Steve King.
Not if you scroogle it! (that's not "google") notice the diff.
October 28, 2009 - 20:07 ET by MightyMouth"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Put your crash helmet back
October 29, 2009 - 04:22 ET by HockeyKidPut your crash helmet back on, bal. If you don't get those points, you're not ready for the Big Bad World.
I now sit back and wait to watch you get dope-slapped by the women here...
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Roger Goodell
October 28, 2009 - 16:29 ET by HoosierEmYou may already know this but Roger Goodell's wife is none other than Jane Skinner from Fox News.
Goodell went to congress with Jerry Jones, the owner of the NFL network, and tried to get congress to force cable companies to carry the NFL channel. The NFL network made some absolutely outrageous demands - they wanted to be on the lower tier of channels and they wanted the cable companies to pay per subscriber what they pay for ESPN. The cable companies wanted to make the channel available for those who were willing to pay a few extra bucks for it but the NFL network said no - all customers would have to pay for it.
And the NFL network employs
October 28, 2009 - 17:54 ET by Dan DiegoAnd the NFL network employs Bryant Gumbel
Gumbel on Winter Olympics: "Count me among those who don't care about them and won't watch them... So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the winter games look like a GOP convention."
The Gumbels
October 28, 2009 - 19:39 ET by UnsaneTo add insult to injury, Bryant Gumbel can't even announce football games. In Hell, all NFL games are announced by Chris Berman, Pat Summerall and Bryant Gumbel.
Greg Gumbel seems to have inherited all of the talent out of that pairing.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Hey, you left Chris
October 28, 2009 - 20:24 ET by Dan DiegoHey, you left out Chris Colonworthless. Greg watched his brother and said "If I get a break, I ain't doin that crazy batsh!!"
Why the NFL won't do anything about Fergie and J-Lo
October 28, 2009 - 16:50 ET by Anneke9... because they're women. Goodell and the NFL want to look like champions of multiculturalism and diversity. God forbid they should axe two women from the ranks of owners. Quelle horreur!
Camouflage conservative in Baghdad-by-the-Bay
Anneke9 - It's not so much that they are women, but that they
October 28, 2009 - 19:11 ET by Rush Fanare women who are also LIBERAL. It's the fact that they are LIBERAL that shields them from criticism. Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann would probably be treated similar to Rush Limbaugh if either of them attempted to purchase a sports franchise.
-------------------------------------------------------
“Understand something about liberalism. They never stop until they get what they want, and when they get what they want, it's never enough. That's why it's a constant thing to have to oppose them. You can't join forces with them, you can't moderate them, you can't slow them down by joining them, you can't make them like you and have them change their agenda. They have to be stopped.” ~ Rush Limbaugh
HALF TIME SHOWS...
October 28, 2009 - 19:45 ET by danybhoyAs bad as J-Blow & Fergie suck, their money is minimal to the cause. But I do see the point about why them & not Rush. How much can the NFL rush to judge anybody else after getting into bed with Mtv for the Super Bowl haftime show that ended up with the Janet Jackson moment with Justin Timberlake. This all about being politically correct, rather then having a big tent.
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
What a Performance!
October 28, 2009 - 17:04 ET by Tyler DurbinCongressman King was very polite and respectful. This Goodell character answers questions like Nancy Pelosi: Rambling, evasive and demagogic. He better come up with some damned good answers soon, or the owners may deem him a divisive influence upon the NFL.
All right, let me try to
October 28, 2009 - 17:05 ET by FranksamAll right, let me try to explain this to you knuckle-dragging defenders of Rush Limbaugh. Yes, Fergie and J-Lo have used a word that is in disfavor that starts with 'n'. But they are fond of negros, so it is okay. Rush is a racist who says that he doesn't want Obama to socialize major parts of our economy, although it is obviously already too late.
Now if you can't understand that distinction, I'm afraid that I am just not going to be able to help you. I've stopped watching whole games of the NFL. I DVR them and it's only takes about ten minutes to watch every play that means anything. Just how interesting is a punt from the 45 yard line that results in first and ten at the opponent's 20 yard line? Make them go for it on fourth down and the game might become interesting again.
"knuckle-dragging defenders"
October 28, 2009 - 17:30 ET by jdlybrandNice slur, from the most tolerant among us. I need no help from the likes of you.
"What a revoltin' development this is!"
Chester Riley
Jdly, perhaps you actually
October 29, 2009 - 05:02 ET by FranksamJdly, perhaps you actually were complimenting me for the parody of the DKos posts. Okay, those who didn't get it, I forgot that for some NB readers it's important to point out that my comment was sarcastic. (That was kind of sarcastic, too, wasn't it?)
I really don't care to watch the fourth quarter of a game when the score is 56-7, though. Do you?
Thank you for demonstrating
October 28, 2009 - 21:29 ET by BeukeboomThank you for demonstrating your complete and utter ignorance and lack of class on this topic.
I can accept either
October 29, 2009 - 05:49 ET by FranksamI can accept either 'ignorance' or 'lack of class', but not both. The topic is whether the NFL Commissioner is being hypocritical, so I'm more comfortable with being accused of lacking class.
What lyrics is he referring to?
October 28, 2009 - 17:13 ET by MadRatJennifer Lopez and Ja Rule had a #1 song in 2001 called I'm Real were the N-word (spelled with an "A" at the end instead of "er") was used between two and four times, depending on the mix (http://www.thelyrica...).
I can't find the Fergie song Sen. King is referring to unless he's thinking of her time with Black Eye'd Peas. Could someone tell me which song Sen. King is talking about?
This is a perfect example
October 28, 2009 - 17:17 ET by bigtimerThis is a perfect example of why I love Steve King...always will too.
Not holding my breath for any logic, let alone the real truth of why he let Rush get the boot...using his own boot to do it.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
More bovine excretions from the left
October 28, 2009 - 17:26 ET by Patriot IIThis crap is as racist as it gets "against" Rush Limbaugh....but its perfectly ok when they do it, the hypocritical clowns!!!
Jay-z
October 28, 2009 - 17:52 ET by azwildcatsAgain, what about Jay-Z and Nelly for the National Barack Association?
"the CIA are terrorists and
October 28, 2009 - 19:12 ET by chessplayer"the CIA are terrorists and liars, they've promoted sexual abuse of women,"
Perfectly permissable because they`re libs.
"they've used the N-word,"
Perfectly permissable because they`re libs. Just ask "Sheets" Byrd.
Another Idiot Caves to Maintain Perceived Prestige
October 28, 2009 - 19:55 ET by BondPlainBondAmong the liberal loons.
Goodell can go to hell.
A weasel, yes, and a liar.
Bond, and add the obvious... Goodell NEVER answered the question
October 28, 2009 - 20:37 ET by pahuberInstead, the typical B.S. about the NFL bringing everyone together... what a bunch of crap.
Rush and the Messiah Term Paper
October 29, 2009 - 06:32 ET by TylerPDawgsRule!!!! I think it is so funny that every commentator made fun of Rush for reading a fake news story about the GREAT ONE'S essay. He commented on it, telling his listeners that it was fake, and then said that even if it was fake, that he still believed it to be true because it sounded like the essay was something that our Messiah would write. Didn't the most respected Dan Rather do the same thing about a made up story of George Bush ? And even after the story proved to be a hoax, the libtard media and Rather himself explained that the story was not true, but the idea behind it was true?
That's my Representative people!
October 28, 2009 - 20:48 ET by Iowa BoyAnd I'm damned proud to know him!
"Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain." Official Motto of the State of Iowa
You should be :) He did an excellent job exposing the smears
October 29, 2009 - 14:23 ET by pahuberagainst limbaugh and making goodell look like the fool that he genuinely is...
The reason the NFL and Roger
October 28, 2009 - 20:53 ET by 24enakThe reason the NFL and Roger Goodell distanced themselves from Rush Limbaugh and his comments is because of how much the public disliked the idea of Rush as an owner in the NFL. If there was no public protest to Rush becoming an owner of the Rams then the NFL wouldn't have commented on the issue. There was no public outrage when J-Lo, Marc Anthony or the Williams' sisters became part owners of the Dolphins so thus the NFL didn't have to comment on the issue. The only reason there is outrage over J-Lo and Fergie now, is because Rush Limbaugh got booted off of buying the Rams. Why didn't Conservatives protest when J-Lo became an owner earlier this year?
All that "public protest" you speak of was
October 28, 2009 - 20:57 ET by MightyMouth..MSM and race baiters like Sharpton driven, you sir, are an idiot!
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
That's simple 24enak ...
October 28, 2009 - 21:36 ET by metaphorsbwithuRE: " Why didn't Conservatives protest when J-Lo became an owner earlier this year?"
Because Conservatives aren't like Liberals who want to force everyone to do as they say and/or destroy anyone who disagrees with them.
The fact is that there is no "outrage" about Fergi and J-Lo. I'm surprised that anyone would not know that. There is only outrage about the hypocrisy and the double standard regarding Rush, and the fact someone like Keith Olberman can spill his venom on a nightly basis and still appear on NBC football broadcasts.
metaphorsbwithu
Really? Both sides try to
October 28, 2009 - 22:44 ET by 24enakReally? Both sides try to destroy anyone whom they disagree with.
There is no comparing Rush and Keith Olbermann regarding the NFL. Keith Olbermann is a commentator who doesn't interject politics during his sports commentating. Rush was aloud to be a commentator at ESPN and he couldn't last a season before he was asked to step down. If Keith Olbermann tried to become an owner of a major sports franchise then you can make that comparison.
You miss an important point 24enak.
October 28, 2009 - 22:48 ET by MightyMouthKeith Olbermann is an Idiot at least 165 hours a week!
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
Nope, 24enak, I don't think
October 28, 2009 - 23:13 ET by metaphorsbwithuNope, 24enak, I don't think so. It's Liberals who want to control what we eat, what we drive, where we live, what kinds of lightbulbs we use, how much water our toilets flush, what we can say, how much money we can keep, and so on.
They are perpetual busy-bodies and when someone happens to say something they don't like, they demand they be fired ... or worse.
We don't demand people like Olberman be fired - we just *click* them away - as I do when I see him on an NBC football broadcast. If the NFL wants to hire a loud-mouthed and divisive left-wing shill for the Democrat Party, that's their choice. But they shouldn't pretend certain people are persona non grata because they are controversial.
And I will make any comparison I please!
*CLICK*
metaphorsbwithu
I think you're missing the
October 28, 2009 - 21:40 ET by BettendorI think you're missing the point here. The reason conservatives are speaking out about Fergie and J.Lo being owners when Rush was pushed out is because of a double standard that is being displayed. There was an uproar about Rush Limbaugh becoming an owner because of words he said (right or wrong, he has a right to say them), but then the NFL has no problem with musical artists who tend to be a little more liberal buying into teams. That's the main reason for the uproar from conservatives about the Dolphins' part-owners - the double standard.
"You just don't get it." - Pa Grape, "Veggietales"Check out my blog.
The NFL doesn't have a
October 28, 2009 - 22:53 ET by 24enakThe NFL doesn't have a problem with it because the there was no uproar being made at the time that J-Lo was becoming a part owner of the Dolphins. Of course Rush has the right to say anything he wants, but that doesn't give him immunity from backlash of what he, or any other person says. Politics has nothing to do with who becomes an owner in the NFL, because Rush is conservative had nothing to do with why he was rejected, it was because of Rush's rhetoric and offensive comments. There is no double standard, Rush has made his bed with all of his comments and now he has to lie in it.
You forget the <\sarc> tag.
October 28, 2009 - 23:01 ET by MightyMouth"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
That whooshing sound was
October 29, 2009 - 04:30 ET by HockeyKidThat whooshing sound was the point sailing, once again, straight over "24enak"'s head.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
"If Keith Olbermann tried
October 29, 2009 - 06:55 ET by chessplayer"If Keith Olbermann tried to become an owner of a major sports franchise then you can make that comparison."
If "mashed up bag of meat" Olbermann wanted to buy into an NFL team, the NFL would welcome him with open arms.
Great question! The Rocky
October 29, 2009 - 08:05 ET by wiwfGreat question!
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
The
October 29, 2009 - 10:19 ET by jessieHThe liberals just wanted to destroy Rush. It had nothing to do with any comment from Rush, real or imaginary. TheDolphins play as bad as ever. Jlo & Fergie are as bad as ever. NFL is being destroyed from the inside.