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Limbaugh’s remarks taken out of context
The latest political correctness imbroglio to grip the national media is centered on a pundit to whom controversy is no stranger: arch-conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Appearing on an ESPN football show this past week, Limbaugh was discussing Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and said he was overrated as a player and that media outlets were over-praising him because they liked the idea of cheering on a black quarterback.

Though Limbaugh claims his comment was directed at the PC nature of the media, it was instantly dismissed as racist, and Limbaugh quickly resigned from ESPN to avoid the ensuing public relations fallout.

Whether or not Limbaugh is an appropriate and knowledgeable sports commentator is one thing. Whether or not his comment was racist is certainly another — and one that the national media, among others involved, has blown immensely out of proportion. While there were definite racial overtones in Limbaugh's criticism, his comments were not directed at McNabb, himself, and instead were an opinion on the nature of media bias. The fact that the incident resulted in Limbaugh's resignation from ESPN and a one-and-a-half-hour press conference from the normally reticent McNabb indicates that indulging an overly politically correct ethos in America has made people overly and painfully sensitive.

Rush Limbaugh is an easy target for racism labels. An acid-tongued conservative and often-shameless political fire starter, he is the type of celebrity who is almost expected to spur controversy with every comment he makes. Limbaugh should have realized his unique position before he made the comment, and done a better job of clarifying what he meant, but when commentators like Limbaugh make comments that involve controversial topics, the tendency is to isolate the associated word(s) and automatically pass judgment.

Labeling Limbaugh’s comment as racist is sensational overreaction — it was an opinion of the media, not of McNabb himself or black athletes in general. While Limbaugh's typically firebrand attitude did not give him enough foresight to lighten or better explain his comment, it is still an indication of media outlets jumping all over an opportunity to indulge a skewed, PC view.

This is a staff editorial from The Daily Free Press at Boston University.
This editorial was distributed by U-Wire.