Rush Limbaugh: A Model Of White Male Priviledge

Rush Limbaugh who, on his show made a point to rail against drug pushers and buyers has been arrested for drug possession.

Rush Limbaugh was arrested Friday on prescription drug fraud charges. The talk show host turned himself in to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department, where he was booked on prescription drug fraud charges and released an hour later on $3,000 bail.

The arrest coincided with a settlement between Limbaugh and the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office in which Limbaugh was charged with a single count of "doctor shopping." As part of the settlement, Limbaugh agreed to continue seeking treatment for prescription drug abuse. He also agreed to pay $30,000 to offset the cost of the criminal investigation.

Now if ever there was an example of white male privilege this is it. Here on Garvey's Ghost we have noted the clear double standard that applies when it comes to drugs, race and wealth.

Kemba Smith, who committed no crime, but made the poor choice of getting involved with someone involved in the drug trade, was sentenced to 25 years in a federal penitentiary but got out after serving 6 years on account of clemency from President Clinton. So, just so we are all clear here. Kemba didn't use, acquire, handle or peddle any controled substances.

Rush Limbaugh gets released on $3,000 bail, will pay $30,000 and will get "treatment." Let's get it straight:

Florida authorities seized a heap of Limbaugh's medical records three years ago after learning that, in a period of six months, he had purchased about 2,000 pills prescribed by four different doctors. The fact that all of the prescriptions were filled at the same pharmacy apparently piqued state prosecutors' interest.

In the 'hood you are a "drug dealer" and "scum" for selling cocaine or weed. However, when sold by a white person with a Pharmacology degree, they are a doctor, care-giver and "prescription filler."

Rush doesn't go to "crack houses" he goes to the pharmacy.

Rush isn't a criminal because he gets high off of "designer" drugs, and not the "low class" crack.

Lets state it clear that it is illegal to get oxycotin without a valid prescription. It is illegal to prescribe controlled substances without a valid medical reason. No one takes 2,000 pills a month and the pharmacist who filled the prescription knew that it wasn't real. Some of these pharmacists will deny women birth control on "moral grounds" but apparently the selling massive amounts of Oxycotin for a good profit doesn't strike some pharamcists as immoral.

Rush Limbaugh is a crackhead of a different stripe. While I wholly support treatment, in this case I think Limbaugh should face his own judgement, no less than what was handed down to Kemba Smith: Jail time. But he wont because:

He's white
He's male.
and he's wealthy.