The war on Rush Limbaugh's drug use

(Originally posted at The Carpetbagger Report.)

Rush Limbaugh still denies that he engaged in what's known as "doctor-shopping," or what The New York Times describes as "illegally [obtaining] multiple prescriptions for a drug from more than one doctor". Still, Limbaugh

was charged yesterday with prescription drug fraud and turned himself in to Florida authorities as part of a deal to resolve a lengthy inquiry into whether he improperly obtained painkillers.

Mr. Limbaugh, who is one of the nation's most popular radio personalities and is heard on nearly 600 stations, turned himself in [Saturday] afternoon to the Palm Beach County sheriff on a warrant for fraud to conceal information to obtain a prescription. He was released about an hour later on $3,000 bail, the authorities said.

I only regret that there won't be a trial.

As part of the agreement, which [Limbaugh's lawyer Roy] Black said would be filed with the court on Monday, the charge would be dropped in 18 months if Mr. Limbaugh continued to undergo treatment for drug addiction.

Mr. Limbaugh is also required to refrain from breaking the law during the 18-month period, pay $30,000 to Florida officials to offset the cost of the investigation and pay $30 a month for the cost of supervision, Mr. Black said.

Mr. Limbaugh filed a plea of not guilty in court. Mr. Black said in a statement that "Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor-shopping, and we continue to hold this position."

Pardon my Schadenfreude, but the thought of a right-wing blowhard like Rush undergoing "treatment for drug addiction" puts a smile on my face. No, it's not like he's a crackhead or anything, but you've got to admire the unabashed hypocrisy of all these moralizing conservative crusaders who lament the decline and fall of traditional, "family" values.

Keep on slouching towards Gomorrah, Rush. There's a special place there for you and your ilk.

(Hey, maybe Rush should move to Mexico!)