The hoopla surrounding the ABC News interview with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s second ex-wife, Marianne Gingrich, has raised a question for conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh: How come journalists aren’t held to the same standard they hold those they investigate to?
On his Thursday show, Limbaugh asked that question and said that it was appropriate to do so since the media is no longer just reporting, but passing judgment as well.
“That’s another thing, this always gets me — are journalists monogamous?” Limbaugh asked. “Are journalists faithful? Are they as clean and pure as the wind-driven snow? This is what has always fascinated me. These people — the sportswriter guys, the news media guys — they all get to sit in judgment as though they live perfect lives. And then when you try to turn the focus on them, ‘Oh no, no, no, no, no. I’m just a reporter. It doesn’t matter.’ It certainly does because you’re not reporting. You’re passing judgment.” (RELATED: Limbaugh proposes $50k bounty for proof of sexual harassment by Politico employees [VIDEO])
Limbaugh suggested an investigation into ABC News’ Brian Ross, the reporter who interviewed Marianne Gingrich for the segment that is set to air tonight.
“But there’s never been an investigation of say Brian Ross and who he is, how did he get his grades, where did he go to school, how did he get the job at ABC, who does he, whatever. We never get that about journalists,” he said. “And when you try, they have a conniption fit.”
Limbaugh predicted that the Gingrich story, along with other stories that have damaged the Republican Party presidential field, will cause a backlash.
“At some point — and we’ve seen it before — at some point there is going to be a mainstream media backlash,” he said. “Now I don’t know whether this is enough to cause it. But at some point, if this keeps up, there will be a huge backlash against the media. Do not let them clear our field. We’ll see. We’ll see how it manifests itself.”