Limbaugh Asks: If Civil Rights Activists in 60s Owned Guns "You Think They Would Have Needed Selma?"

[kpete]

Rush Limbaugh: If Civil Rights Activists In The '60s Had Owned Guns, "You Think They Would Have Needed Selma?"

"If John Lewis Had Had A Gun, Would He Have Been Beat Upside The Head On The Bridge?"

LIMBAUGH: .............................(hot air)..................

Try this. If a lot of African-Americans back in the '60s had guns and the legal right to use them for self-defense, you think they would have needed Selma? I don't know, I'm just asking. If John Lewis, who says he was beat upside the head, if John Lewis had had a gun, would he have been beat upside the head on the bridge? Anyway, that's what we're -- and these people that think like Brokaw are all over the media. This is the way they're looking at this.

more hot air:
http://mediamatters.org/video/2013/01/18/rush-limbaugh-if-civil-rights-activists-in-the/192322

[patrice]

1. Proof positive that Rush Limbaugh is a FASCIST. He understands nothing but the power of FORCE.

[frazzled]

2. They would be dead

The civil rights movement was successful largely because it advocated nonviolence. That was the mainstay of the entire movement, and the pledge to nonviolence had to be renewed time and again ... because it's hard to maintain in the face of violence.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

3. Wasn't John Lewis beaten by a police officer?

Is Limbaugh suggesting people should be out there shooting police officers?

[CBHagman]

17. Worse, Limbaugh says that John Lewis "says" he was beaten...

The transcript doesn't convey what Limbaugh does on the audio, which is A) imply that Lewis's account is all we have, not actual evidence, and B) put on a faux African-American accent to mock the reference to the beating John Lewis took.

From the National Archives:

[url]http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/html.php?section=2[/url]

With Hosea Williams of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) leading the demonstration, and John Lewis, Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), at his side, the marchers were stopped as they were leaving Selma, at the end of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, by some 150 Alabama state troopers, sheriff ’s deputies, and possemen, who ordered the demonstrators to disperse.

One minute and five seconds after a two-minute warning was announced, the troops advanced, wielding clubs, bullwhips, and tear gas. John Lewis, who suffered a skull fracture, was one of fifty-eight people treated for injuries at the local hospital. The day is remembered in history as “Bloody Sunday.” Less than one week later, Lewis recounted the attack on the marchers during a Federal hearing at which the demonstrators sought protection for a full-scale march to Montgomery. A transcript of his testimony is presented in the following pages.

Skull fracture. But Limbaugh emphasizes that John Lewis "says" he was beaten.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

20. The major difference between Democrats and the right wing hate mongera

is that Democrats insist on using facts to fight hyperbole and nonsense. It's also why we keep losing the messaging wars.

Frankly, if I had any type of public platform I would embellish Limbaugh's nonsense. I believe that fighting fire with fire is called for in this case, just as the forest service uses fire to head off fires.

I would ask if Limbaugh is saying African American civil rights protestors would have been exercising their constitutionally protected right to self defense if they had opened fire on those troopers? I would go on to ask if he thinks everyone should exercise those same rights when the police come calling? Should we arm everyone, particularly those who most frequently find themselves the target of police activity?

[CBHagman]

40. We're not losing the messaging wars.

Rush Limbaugh appeals to a certain segment of the population, not all of it or even the majority of it. He's an aspect of the worst traits of corporations and of human nature, nothing more.

He won't last forever, and he won't be long remembered.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

41. Of course we are....

We began losing that war decades ago. If we hadn't, taxes would have gone up for everyone.

Limbaugh and his fellow hate mongers simply tweak the republican message of lower taxes for those who have and nothing for those who don't. They blame women, gays and minorities for all of the nation's problems.... But if you read the GOP platform, you'll find that is exactly what it says and millions of Americans continue to vote republican. Limbaugh is neither the first, nor will he be the last.

The modern Democratic Party, is simply a kinder, gentler version of the GOP.

[CBHagman]

46. "We began losing that war decades ago."

You're talking as though losing were some sort of inexorable process, rather than an occasional result.

Progressives can and do win messaging wars -- for example, when voters pass marriage equality legislation.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

47. I'm old enough to know that it has been an inexorable process

over the past 40+ years. 9 states have legalized some sex marriage, meanwhile 30 states ban it in their state constitutions and 9 by statute. While there has been progress, it's not a win. Furthermore, look at what is happening to a woman's right to direct her own reproductive choices.

I also remember when no self-respecting Democrat would have voted to keep the Bush Tax cuts in place for over 98% of the income earners. They are now the Obama tax cuts, Even if we return to full employment, lower wages will keep the government short funded.
When a Democratic president buys into the "debt" problem meme, it can only be viewed as a lost messaging war. When a Democratic president buys into the modern interpretation of the second amendment, one that didn't come to life until 1977 or so...it's a lost messaging war. When the Democrats had to become GOP lite...it's due to the lost messaging war.

[JoePhilly]

4. The government would have slaughtered them.

Non-Violence was the better choice because killing unarmed people protesting peacefully looks bad.

Rush would have preferred all out race war.

[Blue_Tires]

5. Limbaugh now supports a violent black overthrow of the state?

Maybe I've been wrong about him all these years!

[OKNancy]

6. he is disgusting

I'm sure many here could write volumes about why this is ridiculous, but for me... I need to keep my blood pressure down.
So I'll just say Rush is an idiot slimeball.

[Gregorian]

7. It wouldn't have been Selma, but more like Baghdad.

Every one of them would have been dead.

You know Limbaugh isn't dumb enough to actually believe what is coming out of his own mouth. That's what makes him such a horrible man. He hates himself. Which explains the drug use.

[CBHagman]

18. Hate, brought to us via a corporation.

And he's well paid for sitting on his rear and vocally disparaging people.

May we all live long enough to see Limbaugh either A) change his ways or B) fade into obscurity.

[nick of time]

8. If John Lewis had a gun back then

He would have been shot by the cops for being BWAG.

Limpballs is a real jerk off.

[backscatter712]

9. See what happened to the Black Panthers.

The FBI and Chicago PD murdered the fuck out of them, for doing roughly what the Tea Party did in recent years.

[winstars]

23. +1,000,000 Ask Fred Hampton when he never wakes up in his bed... nt.

[oldhippydude]

29. bingo i was thinking about the Panthers when i Saw the thread....

glad someone else remembers

[KeepItReal]

33. And the NRA helped Cali pass laws *Against* open carry of firearms

Only when black men were the ones with rifles.

[Johonny]

37. +1

[kpete]

42. nice to see some

truth in the morning
thanks backscatter712


and
peace, kp

[bluestateguy]

51. Yep

Only the Black Panthers could make white conservatives favor gun control.

[marmar]

10. If Civil Rights Activists had guns, they wouldn't have made it across the bridge period.

nt

[Rex]

11. Gush will never tire of being the trashcan of fame.

He loves it imo.

[JoeBlowToo]

12. What Rush is really doing is positioning gun nuts as morally superior civil rights protestors...

His screed has little to do with those brave people who sacrifice themselves in the Civil Rights Movement.

[Blue_Tires]

15. ^^^^^^^THIS

It's all part of the "framing"

[lpbk2713]

26. He's got his work cut out for him.

Just trying to think of these types as rational activists makes me LMAO

[Laf.La.Dem.]

28. NEVER - NEVER - NEVER

Never show this picture again - my eyes are burning

[lpbk2713]

36. So sorry.

Will include a warning if there should be a next time.

Do I owe you a lunch?

[BumRushDaShow]

13. -

And when these guys did brandish guns -



Rushba the Hutt transposed them onto the modern group and gloriously descended into his race-baiting fetish.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/19/limbaugh-invokes-nbpp-to-race-bait-obama-democr/187249

[CreekDog]

14. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have told them to leave them at home or put them away

is Rush the most willfully ignorant man to command such a large audience?

i swear the nation gets dumber and meaner whenever he's on the radio.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

16. They would've been massacred, you lardy waste of human filth! nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

19. Dumbass, Dumbass, Dumbass.

Trying to make that shit of an argument on MLK Weekend, no less.

The Limbaugh Limbo continues...

[edbermac]

21. And if Jesus had a gun, he wouldn't have been crucified. Right, Rush?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

22. Jesus: He died for our guns. nt

[union_maid]

24. Some may have had guns - at home.

I knew some civil rights advocates in the 80's. The ones located in southern states who counted the Klan (which often meant local law enforcement as well) as their opposition had guns. But they were just for attackers who might come in the night, invading their homes, not for when they were out in the world fighting their battles.

[Pyrzqxgl]

32. I spent two summers in Mississippi (McComb & Jackson) with SNCC Freedom Schools in the 60's.

I never knew any civil rights worker that had a gun.

[Zen Democrat]

25. Does that jackass understand non-violence at all? What an evil man.

[Paladin]

27. DU Gun Enthusiasts: Do You Ever Get Tired Of Filth Like Limbaugh Fronting Your Cause? (nt)

[Whovian]

48. +1000

[JI7]

30. they would be Dead and Civil Rights would NOT have passed

[onenote]

31. Was there some law that prevented Civil Rights activists from having guns?

The answer, of course, is no. So the question that rushbutt needs to ask is why civil rights activists didn't arm themselves? Maybe because they knew that if they had to rely on guns to get their message across, they'd all be dead pretty quick.

[Arkana]

34. Yes, Rush--only difference is a lot more people would have died.

But I guess your fat, greasy, pill-popping ass doesn't give a shit, right?

[kestrel91316]

35. Limbaugh would have spit in Gandhi's face.

[Initech]

38. What did Stephen Colbert say about Limbaugh last night?

Something like "To make it in this country you need to have a heart and class - thankfully Rush Limbaugh lacks both of those things!"

[Zoeisright]

39. Fuck off, you ass cyst Limpballs.

God, I hate that waste of oxygen.

[WinkyDink]

43. HE WILL SAY ANYTHING. Limbaugh is well-aware of the CHOICE for Civil Disobedience.

[MrScorpio]

44. The sheer ignorance of this person is mind boggling. nt

[ljm2002]

45. Some civil rights activists owned guns...

...but those black organizations who armed themselves (e.g., Black Panthers) experienced a huge crackdown by law enforcement and many of them were killed. Their guns did not make their movement succeed. The nonviolence that MLK espoused really was the right strategy in the long run. And the proof is the success of the movement in integrating our society -- granted not perfect yet but a hell of a lot better than it was when I was growing up, that's for sure.

Apparently Rush thinks a hot civil war would have been preferable.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

49. I hate Rush with every fiber of my existance, BUT, he has a slight point.....

Case in it, I have met and spoken to a Kent St. survivor of the National Guard shooting incident, and we talked about the ramifications soon after the incident. Since Kent, after a while, he became a gun owner and always have it on him (which is where I got the idea from) to every protest and rally he has been to. Be careful what you wish for, Rush.

[Sunlei]

50. don't think Mr. slut has the education to discuss Am.history, his mom said, "he flunked everything"

[Buzz Clik]

52. Black Panthers.

Limbaugh is a moron.

[Initech]

53. How is that POS still on the air?