Fans took umbrage to my apathy, disparaging words about their national hero of modern conservatism
“What’s wrong with you?”
These are the first words of reader feedback I received about
Limbaugh’s followers took umbrage to my apathy and to my disparaging words about their national hero of modern conservatism. Dozens of angry “Dittoheads” — defined as anyone who agrees with Limbaugh’s opinions without question — contacted me to share their hatred of me.
“Only a pathetic little man would write such a nasty column about a recently deceased guy known for his generosity toward charitable organizations,” wrote Tom R. “Rush was an American icon who truly was a voice for the voiceless.”
“I’m not surprised an elitist (expletive) like yourself wrote such a column,” wrote Robert A. “I find people of your ilk get what they deserve sooner or later. I get the point you hate us. We hate you. I personally wish you no harm but I don’t wish you well either. Go to hell.”
“You are a pompous (expletive)!!” wrote Wendy M. “Your writing clearly identifies that you possess ALL of the nasty qualities for which you have so wrongly accused Mr. Limbaugh. You are a disgusting excuse for life and it is YOU that will rot in hell for saying, thinking and expressing such hatred.”
The torrent of animosity from Limbaugh’s loyal followers intensified after my column was picked up by Yahoo News.
“Your (sic) a piece of (expletive) that couldn’t wear Rush’s jock strap,” Lawrence H. wrote. “Your parents have to be ashamed to have a little (expletive) for a son. Eat (expletive) and die maggot.”
“Dummy — you are a (expletive) and unlike Rush Limbaugh’s death, you will die without any fanfare or hatred … because you’re a zero,” another reader told me.
“I listened to Rush for 30 years and never heard him say anything racist, politically incorrect, yes. Congratulations on your wokeness,” Mary K. wrote.
She never heard him say anything racist? Other followers insisted they never heard Limbaugh say anything hateful, bigoted, divisive or misogynistic. Or not once did he shamelessly spread baseless lies, ridiculous conspiracy theories or immoral attacks on innocent victims.
“Apparently, as most liberals/leftists, you do not possess a sense of humor,” wrote Mary Rimmer, of San Diego. “In fact, I have never met a ‘progressive’ in my life who wasn’t miserable, humorless, controlling and depressed. Rush was none of these things.”
Limbaugh portrayed himself as a moralistic patriot whose “jokes” were laced with poison toward anyone whom he deemed didn’t deserve his so-called morality. These people were typically Democrats, liberals and Americans who didn’t fit into his world outlook.
“Did Rush take millions of listeners and make them full of hatred for this group or that? Is he the Jim Jones of Conservatism?” wrote Bob B. “I’m not writing a thesis here about understanding Rush Limbaugh. I’m suggesting your appraisal by my guess has been spawned from glimmets and glommets of phrases plucked by editorial convenience to convince you that Rush is who THEY want you to believe he is.”
Bob raises an excellent point. Too often we cherry-pick qualities from people — dead or alive — that mirror
“Hi Mr. Davich, never have I responded to a column such as yours so this will be my first,” a reader wrote. “Was it really necessary for you to respond in any way at all? The guy is dead for goodness sake! I cannot understand the hate.”
I’ve been saying those same five words for many years.
“Limbaugh brought out the worst in his followers,” a reader wrote. “He left behind a lot of really gullible, mean and hateful people. Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.”
Yes, I also heard from readers who didn’t mourn Limbaugh’s death, or the death of his radio show, which routinely spewed false claims to listeners who believed them hook, line and sucker.
For example, Limbaugh told listeners on Feb. 24, 2020, “The coronavirus is the common cold, folks.”
“Politifact has a piece summarizing their fact-checking of Limbaugh since 2009,” wrote Don Warner, of Maumee, Ohio. “And 81% of Limbaugh’s proclamations and ‘theories’ were found to be mostly false, false, or ‘pants on fire’ (lies). Truly impressive statistics.”(You can find this at
“Isn’t it interesting how ‘those people’ on Fox & Friends can calmly talk about his supposed greatness while criticizing those who would point out Limbaugh’s true nature as being overly biased and ‘sick,’ ” Warner wrote. “Their ability and willingness to ignore the negatives, and more importantly, to celebrate some of it as if they were offering an unbiased account of his importance, is mind boggling and upsetting.”
“I feel (your column) was a perfect blend of mild tone and facts, while thoroughly portraying the cultural villain that Limbaugh was,” Warner wrote. “Your lack of vitriol in articulating the areas of his villainy was very impressive. Most who have had negative opinions of Limbaugh, including me, would struggle to be so matter-of-fact in laying out the case for his legacy of negativity. Thank you for calming me down with your fair, and calm, review of this man’s true nature.”
His email to me stood out from others like this one, from a reader who described himself as a born again Christian: “You are pure evil hiding behind the facade of a totally fake industry. America hates you. Believe me.”
I have only one question for these people: What’s wrong with
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