October 16, 2009

WikiSlander: One Source of Bogus Rush Limbaugh Quotes

From Material sent to Mark Steyn

Mark,
As I am sure you are aware, the fake Limbaugh quotes have been traced to the Rush Limbaugh Wikiquote page, dating from July of 2005 (see this following link to see when the quotes were added). The Jack Huberman book that most people source for these quotes did not come out until the following year.

The quotes were added by a user with the IP address of 69.64.213.146. This address has been used mostly to make changes to the article about Rush, but also Karl Rove, Sean Hannity, Rush, James Dobson and Sara Palin from 2005 until earlier this year.

While others have noted this in various forums, no one seems to have made the connection that this IP address is used as a gateway by the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP (see here, for example) that all users from that IP address come from the pbwt.com domain.)

Given the likelihood that Limbaugh will sue over this, I find it interesting that the source of these bogus quotes is probably a lawyer...

== Found at SteynOnline - Mark’s Mailbox

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Posted by Vanderleun at October 16, 2009 2:55 AM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall inside the forthcoming depositions,
particularly if Rush could hire Texas litigator, Joe Jamail, seen here, on the right side of the screen, gunning down the sleazy Monsanto lawyers.

Posted by: Mizz E at October 16, 2009 8:53 AM

ʘ¿ʘ/ --- Fixed LINK

Posted by: Mizz E at October 16, 2009 8:57 AM

It would be interesting to find out who at that firm decided that this was a good idea. Not just doing this, but doing it from work.

Posted by: Mikey NTH at October 16, 2009 10:40 AM

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler is an ultra left wing activist law firm so I am not surprised it would come from there.

Posted by: Choey at October 16, 2009 1:09 PM

It will be interesting to see if Rush sues for libel. It would, I believe, entail considerable risk.

I am not an expert in libel law, but it seems to me that since Rush has made many incendiary remarks in the last 20 years of 15 hour-a-week syndicated broadcasts, BW&T could easily find enough controversial material to convince a jury that even though the specific remarks they quoted were never made (the advantages of slavery, etc), BW&T could make a reasonable (legal) argument that Rush is indeed a racist, and thus the remarks they printed were accurate, even though fictitious.

This would be far more damaging to Rush than the present situation, and he could very well lose the suit (I am guessing) on that basis.

Posted by: gedaliya at October 16, 2009 1:28 PM

gedaliya,

Judging from the comments in your post, you should have ended it after writing "I am not an expert in libel law".

Posted by: MarkJ at October 16, 2009 3:44 PM

Rush is probably not going to sue but if he does he should do it in the UK.

Several American celebs have successfully sued in London including "Rocky" Stallone.

He'd need to demonstrate that people in the UK were aware of the accusations which is an easy criterion to meet since CNN and Fox both have UK affiliates (O'Reilly gets emails from there) and the Brit bloggers have reported the defamations.

Here's a link of UK specialists:

http://www.solicitors.co.uk/defamation/1/

Posted by: James at October 16, 2009 5:28 PM

Further: the UK standards in defamation suits greatly favor the plaintiff.

Posted by: James at October 16, 2009 5:30 PM

Trying to sue for defamation would not be a good idea. All the defense has to show is that a reasonable person *could* believe the statements were true in order to avoid liability for publishing the untrue statements.

There are other options Rush might explore, however. There's a common law tort called (I believe) intentional interference with contractual relations, which includes actions that ultimately prevent a person from entering into a contract.

I'm sure that Mr. Limbaugh has stellar legal representation at his beck and call.

Posted by: BobK at October 16, 2009 7:38 PM

Once again the liberals make a baseless charge against a prominent conservative and the conservatives tie themselves in knots documenting the 1001 ways in which they are provably not as charged.

The charge is never made because it's true or the liberals sincerely believe it's true. The charge is made regardles of the facts because the charge itself is toxic and effective.

We must hassle and harass liberals making these charges to the point they think the only way to have a good day at work is to stay off our radar. Get in their face, yell loudly, make every moment one in which they seriously doubt for their safety. Liberalism is in its position of power because they seek to be everywhere and fight all the time.

Posted by: Scott M at October 16, 2009 8:50 PM

Dear Scott: How well did your strategy work against Billyboy in the 1990s?

What will end or at least diminish this limicolous strategy is when the "raaaaacist" label gets tired. It can happen; in the 1940s and 50s, calling someone a Communist was tremendously damaging. No more. So, too, with the "raaaaacist" label. The One is debasing the racist label, as he debases everything he touches.

MarkJ, I think gedaliya has the right take on this. I doubt if RL ever sues. What's the point? Money? He makes far more than a suit would get him. Reputation? Among his audience his rep hasn't been hurt at all by these witless charges. What seems more likely is that RL has been hurt, personally by this. Being refused this way stings. I think he will respond by opening a suit, going through discoery, and broadcasting the results. An inside look at CNN&Co would vindicate RL far more than any jury verdict could.

Posted by: Gregory Koster at October 17, 2009 1:21 AM

It seems to me that all the negative vibes this blowhard (Rush Hudson Limbaugh A.KA. Jeff Christie) has been spewing over these many years has come back to blow back on his face (A classic “Blow Back”). He always tries to give off the airs that he can have anything he wants but as we all witness those with more money and more influence tossed him aside like sack of potatoes and the ultimate insult was that it was done in public (money don’t buy you everything butterball).

Now of course he blames everyone else (Michael J. Fox, Perez Hilton, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Sonia Sotomayor, Hillary Clinton, Olympia Snowe, ESPN, NFL, the media, basically people of color, the handicapped, women and gays) when of course all you have to do is listen to his show and plainly hear his daily prejudices filled sermons. So NFL, I salute you decision, job well done. And to the whaling cry baby perched on his self made pedestal, quit your whining it was your own fault. Don’t we all feel better?

Posted by: Paul at October 17, 2009 9:46 AM

Sorry, Paul, but I have listened to the man for 20 years, and I have even had the privilege of talking to him numerous times. What happened to him, pure and simple is a character assassination. It isn't blow back. Fortunately, the people who left their trail all over the wiki slander, are easily traceable, and after doing more research, we get a "What an ODD coincindence!" kind of discovery about the cowards who did the hit and run:
http://ibloga.blogspot.com/2009/10/search-for-wikipedia-libelist-important.html

Posted by: Jewel Atkins at October 17, 2009 11:51 AM

All in all, Rush has been proven right, the embryonic stem cell initiative hasn't brought
any success, Sharpton is still a lying shill,
who started his career with a lie, and has
expanded geometrically, Jackson was the 1.0
model of what we would see with Obama. Sotomayor
is one the court, despite her well known contempt
for the law.

Posted by: narciso at October 17, 2009 12:08 PM

Rush is a pro playing in the major leagues. He'll sue or not sue based only on risk/reward considerations.

My guess is that he won't sue, since I've yet to read a scenario in which the benefits outweigh the risks.

Oh, and if powerful people were not trying to assassination his character, he'd just be another schmuck loudmouth polluting our atmosphere with noise.

Posted by: gedaliya at October 17, 2009 4:41 PM

gedaliya,

You do yammer on don't you my dear?


Posted by: france at October 18, 2009 9:23 AM

The NFL decides who becomes an owner not the other way around.

All this blowhard (Rush Hudson Limbaugh A.KA. Jeff Christie) has to offer is his money and his opinions, which in my opinion are on the fringes of racism (one mans opinion). There are many more groups biding for the Rams, not just his group. Lets face it there are more men with money that will gladly fill the slot and the Rams will win or lose depending on how well the team works together and not on whether or not Rush is an owner.

As for Vick, well he is a player (he has talent not like you, Rush or I, unless you are a NFL player?) and he served his time and the NFL decided we live in the land of second chances, so why not (I personally don’t like it but, oh well). Life has never been fair (NEWS FLASH!)

Now as to the “Free Speech” argument, I guess many of you like myself heard Rush on Thursday “Almost in tears”, priceless. But the last two days he now is in his normal ranting and will continue until someone surpasses him, “Free Speech” continues, so quit your whining.

http://www.chasingevil.org/2009/10/rush-limbaugh-in-his-own-words.html

Posted by: Paul at October 20, 2009 9:04 PM

Rush will not sue because he knows they will file a counter compliant and he will be deposed and like Nixon he knows that the tapes will sink him. For so many years he has spent his time on the radio mis-labeling and/ or mis-characterizing others. Poor little “self-centered” Rush, no out except creating the myth that everyone is out to get him. Sorry sucka you can only yourself to blame for your idiot comments. He finally had his judgment day where the NFL wins and tubby loses. Tee, hee....

PS – I am sure someone is working to put the tapes together maybe all you subscribers can help, since you are all about getting to the truth?

PPS- Beauty Pageant Judge - Now I understand why he lost the weight, to find a new wife, creepy.

Posted by: Montana at October 23, 2009 10:36 AM