Politics

Paging Rush Limbaugh…

Matt K. Lewis Senior Contributor
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Imagine a world where Rush Limbaugh channels Bill Buckley — and embraces his leadership responsibility on the right. That’s the thrust of my latest column at the Daily Beast. I’m picking on Limbaugh only because he’s the one guy who has the moral authority on the right to play the role of pope and excommunicate apostates and phonies the way Buckley did so many years ago.

After Trump’s comments about John McCain and not asking God for forgiveness, Trump was on the ropes. Limbaugh could have delivered the coup de grâce, but chose not to. In my Daily Beast column, I call this an abdication of responsibility. In fairness, it’s not Limbaugh’s job to police the right — but he is the one guy who could have used his stature and influence to enforce some kind of standards or “blue ribbon seal of approval” that would make it impossible for a liberal like Trump to assume the role of conservative hero the way Rachel Dolezol appropriated her blackness.

(And, let’s be honest, Trump’s high jinks are merely a microcosm for what has been happening on the right for a decade. Selfish people manipulate the system and there are no adults willing to tell them to sit down and shut up.)

Again, Limbaugh’s not the only one who has enabled Trump. I name him specifically because he’s the most important voice on the right who could help fix this problem. So why are so many conservatives aiding and abetting Donald Trump? There are theories: They either fetishize the virtue of “fighting” over honesty and integrity and conservative philosophy — or they are pandering to their followers for ratings (some of these guys were big George W. Bush apologists when that was popular, and now they are vehement anti-establishment voices!).

… Or, I suppose, maybe they’re stupid and naive — but that doesn’t seem likely. And I would certainly hope that his penchant for saying mean things about Mexicans isn’t the the magic ingredient that covers a multitude of sins. But who knows? I’m open to suggestions.

* * *

Because perverse incentives usually mean that bad behavior is rewarded with attention, and good behavior is ignored, I want to name some conservatives who have displayed courage in calling out Donald Trump. There are many, but I think Erick Erickson, Greg Gutfeld, and Noah Rothman have recently earned some kudos. Likewise, George Will, Charles Krauthammer, and Jonah Goldberg have also been steadfast on this. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal and the Club for Growth have been truth tellers. I’m sure there are many others …

But while the above names represent prominent and important conservative opinion leaders, institutions, and outlets, these voices of reason are shouted down by Trump and his minions. That’s why I’m urging Rush Limbaugh to get in the arena and put a stop to this destructive process.

Nobody can force Trump out, and I’ve even argued that it would be counterproductive for the RNC to try to strong-arm him out of the debates.

One man has the impeccable credentials among Trump’s base of grassroots conservatives to pull the rug (no pun intended) out from under him.

Help me, Rush Limbaugh, you’re my only hope