Really, Rush, We're Not That Scary

Rush Limbaugh can't understand why so many women don't like him.

That's what he says. Far be it from me to suggest he might be claiming this just to get attention.

The right-wing radio talk show host says that for the life of him, he can't understand why a recent study by Public Policy Polling shows that 49 percent of women have a negative view of him. Apparently, he is shocked to learn that not all women think alike and that nearly half of those who think at all take a dim view of a guy who makes millions while regularly referring to women as "babes."

Limbaugh has said that feminism came about "to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society." He also has suggested that women want to be sexually harassed and repeatedly has referred to strong women as "feminazis." In 2004, he described a New York Times columnist as "joyless" and diagnosed her problem thus: "Must be a guy. Isn't it always a guy when a woman's unhappy?"

Adorable, isn't he?

Any of these examples might make women testy, but it's just as likely that many in the poll heard about his more recent declaration that he hopes Barack Obama fails as president. As women's issues go, the future of our country ranks way up there.

Claiming a deep desire to understand what women want, Limbaugh issued an invitation last week for women to chime in.

"What could I do to attract a higher favorability rating among more women in America?" he asked on the air. "I own the men, and what must I do now to own women?"

What must he do to own women?

And here I am, with only 350 words to go.

The transcript of this hourlong chat with women is illuminating. The first caller, Dee from San Francisco, said a conservative friend of hers thinks Limbaugh is pompous.

After grilling her about the woman's marital and reproductive statuses — she's married with no children — Limbaugh said he would consider criticism only from those who've listened to him for six weeks, thereby adding a brand-new ring to one of Dante's circles of hell.

As for the notion that he's full of himself, Limbaugh said: "I'm not pompous.

I'm not changing that."

That's the very attitude that has added the "ex" before many a husband.

Another woman gently suggested that Limbaugh loses ground whenever he refers to women as babes.

"I would say they need to lighten up, for crying out loud," Limbaugh said. "Why do I have to change who I am?"

Hmm. I think we're seeing a theme here. We all want to be loved just the way we are. But love involves compromise, and we drain the pool of adoration faster than a sump pump when we insist it's everyone around us who has to change.

Another caller suggested Limbaugh dump the know-it-all routine and show a little vulnerability. He accused her of trying to emasculate him.

"You're trying to get me to shred every vestige of my identity here, to act like I can be hurt? Everybody can be hurt, but vulnerable? Vulnerable?"

Ah, he's afraid of us. How sweet.

In an open letter last month on Politico.com, Republican strategist John Feehery urged Limbaugh to rethink his strategy regarding women in light of Obama's victory:

"While we always get creamed by single women in elections, even married women turned against us this time. Not sure if calling female leaders 'feminazis' really works in this atmosphere, but we are willing to hear you out on that."

Meanwhile, this was Limbaugh's conclusion after his show with female callers:

"It appears that women who have hated me have been led to me by other men and then have changed their opinion, which means something I have always known: that women do want to please their men."

The rush I hear is 49 percent of women heading for the exit. And counting. …

Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and the author of two books from Random House: "Life Happens" and "… and His Lovely Wife." To find out more about Connie Schultz (cschultz@plaind.com) and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.