Press Release by Rush Limbaugh on his release from the Broward County Detention Facility
September 31, 2003
First off, I would like to apologize to anyone I've disappointed, and to thank the thousands of listeners who've called and written to offer their support.
My time in rehab, and the thirty-day sentence I've just finished serving for 'possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or distribute,' have allowed me time to reflect on my past and on the views I've expressed in my extraordinarily popular radio and TV programs. And while I'm anxious to get back on the air giving the Dittoheads what they long for, I have realized that I may have been a tad hasty on occasion, and I take this occasion to show that I can recognize the error of my ways, unlike that spiteful little Jew Al Franken.
In particular, when I said that "White people who abuse drugs should go to jail," I was wrong. My drug use was outside of my control, and forcing me to wear an orange jumpsuit and eat macaroni and cheese for thirty days did nothing to change that. In the extremely unlikely event that I happen to have a relapse - which would also be completely beyond my control - another stint here in Broward isn't going to help either. As a corollary, I realize now that the Fdeeral, State and local governments spend far too much money fighting the failed "drug war." My assertion that "we need to spend a trillion dollars if that's what it takes to arrest every trafficker and dry up supplies for good" was simply not clearly thought out. The Drug War has clearly failed, and we should stop wasting time on what is clearly just another pork-barrel quasi-socialist government program and spend the money on anti-terror measures instead.
Similarly, my previous statement that criminals as a class are subhuman trash who should all be locked up for good needs to be re-examined. I met some good men on the inside, some men I am proud to call my friends. Props to Sharkfin, Stinky, and CrackerJack. Peace out. They are in no way subhuman, unlike the rest of the population of C Block. I do, however, continue to believe that these people should be locked up forever, because I'm not looking forward to Stinky crashing on my couch.
Obviously, my previous view that no innocent man has never been sent to jail has been proven to be false. I still think the number is low, but I am proof it does happen. Also, my opinion that ex-convicts should not be allowed to profit from their crimes by writing about or selling the rights their lives does not apply in my case. I have an important story to tell, one that will help people avoid the mistakes I made, and the public needs to hear it.
In light of my experiences over the last 30 days had made it clear that I may have over-used the term "Feminazi." While the feminist movement has in many ways gone too far, and without going into the specifics of what did or did not happen in cell 103D, I realize now that gender roles and power relations are subjects more complicated than I had previously realized.
I regret saying that "anyone who works for the federal government and particularly the Department of Justice is a freedom-stomping, jackbooted proto-nazi." First, that remark was made during the reign of Janet Reno, and second, my good friends at the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of Florida are fine people who are serving their country well, and who know how to make a fine plea bargain. Also, my off-hand comment that "criminals who get off easy through plea-bargains should have their testicles crushed with pliers" was, in retrospect, just plain wrong.
Again, without taking a stand on the pending perjury charges against me, I think it's obvious to even a casual observer that my statement of a few years ago that "anyone who lies under oath ought to have his tongue chewed out by rabid weasels" was clearly an over-broad application of a principle that applied narrowly only to Bill Clinton.
I would like to thank my housekeeper for having the courage to turn me in. You'll be getting your reward soon. To change the subject, my previous position that "anyone who hires a hit man ought to be nailed to a cross and set on fire" probably needs a little fine-tuning.
Finally, can I say a word about the pharmaceutical companies? For years I defended their right to charge whatever the market would bear as an exercise in the free market, a necessary one to spur innovation and research. For the record, I was wrong. Drug prices are way too high.
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