Rushing to idiocy

Another very busy day, so I have to hand it over to the always terrific media matters: On the October 10 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh claimed that the recent beating of a man by New Orleans police was not receiving the media attention of "a Rodney King moment because it's in a Democrat-run town and state," adding that the beating is not considered a "big deal" because it occurred in a "Democrat-run town." But at the time of the King beating -- March 3, 1991 -- Los Angeles also had a Democratic mayor, Tom Bradley.

The New Orleans incident occurred on the evening of October 8, when an African-American retired elementary school teacher was beaten and arrested by a group of police officers in New Orleans, three of whom appear to be white. It was taped by the Associated Press, with an AP producer on the scene subsequently being manhandled by one of the officers. Three officers have been charged in connection with the beating.