aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South

Friday, April 28, 2006

Limbaugh cops a plea

Now that’s a drug deal he won’t be ranting on the radio about:

Rush Limbaugh, the conservative talk-radio host, was charged yesterday with prescription drug fraud and turned himself in to Florida authorities as part of a deal to resolve a lengthy inquiry into whether he improperly obtained painkillers. [...]

As part of the agreement, which Mr. Black said would be filed with the court on Monday, the charge would be dropped in 18 months if Mr. Limbaugh continued to undergo treatment for drug addiction.

Mr. Limbaugh is also required to refrain from breaking the law during the 18-month period, pay $30,000 to Florida officials to offset the cost of the investigation and pay $30 a month for the cost of supervision, Mr. Black said.

Chump change for the man who “before his own problems with painkillers surfaced...had regularly told listeners that drug users should be jailed.”

I’d like to see the poor everyday Joe get treated that way instead of just this one pampered loudmouth rightwing hypocrite celebrity. But, oh, right, this is crime-fighting America.

Do you detect a little bitterness there? Because of my hearing loss, everyone (read: my mother!) mentions his to me. Mine is from a totally different cause, not self-induced through drug abuse (mom!).

Everyone also mentions his cochlear implants. I note that he could afford them (piddling fines not withstanding), while insurance won’t pay for one for me unless I’m totally deaf in both ears.

SEE ALSO: Holly on the happy-face mug shot; I can agree with James on what should be legal; and a TPM Reader says “Don’t get bamboozled. In criminal cases we don’t call them ‘settlement agreements.’ They are plea bargains… Oh, and the money being paid is called a fine. Black can call it reimbursement, but that’s BS.”