The Alexander Hamilton of Radio

RUSH: Here is Don in Flat Rock, North Carolina. I’m glad you waited, sir. Welcome to the program.

CALLER: Thanks for taking my call, Rush.

RUSH: Yes, sir.

CALLER: I’ve been trying to get you for five years. I’ve been listening since ’88. I consider you a professor of history.

RUSH: Well, I appreciate that, sir, thank you.

CALLER: I equate you to Alexander Hamilton, who was instrumental, as you probably know, in starting this country.

RUSH: Yes, except he lost a duel, and I hope the comparison ends there.

CALLER: Well, I would urge you to read the book Ron Chernow wrote.

RUSH: I understand. I love Alexander Hamilton. I was just joking, but he did lose a duel.

CALLER: I would urge you to read it anyway. It’s a great eye opener. I think a little less of Thomas Jefferson from the book because he and Adams, Monroe, and Madison went out of the way to do negative broadsides against Hamilton, in spite of all he did for the country. And, you know, it sounded like the beginning of liberals, you know, the same kind of stuff we’re hearing today about destroying the opponent rather than anything else. But I cannot conceive of where this country would be without your interdiction for the last 20 years in educating the populace to listen to you on history in general.

RUSH: I appreciate that. I really do. I don’t think, though, that Thomas Jefferson is the architect of partisanship.

CALLER: Well, that’s the way that Chernow wrote it anyway.

RUSH: I mean, to say that partisanship didn’t exist before Jefferson? I’m talking about in the course of human history.

CALLER: Oh, yeah.

RUSH: Partisanship, I mean, are you trying to trace the origins of liberalism and the way it —

CALLER: No, I was just stunned because of all the accolades Jefferson has received and nothing about Alexander Hamilton and what he’s done for this country. The guy began like you, from the bottom and fought his way to the top and made so many contributions to this country, that it’s unbelievable, and yet Jefferson, of all people, sometimes not even using his own name, printed broadsides, and negative newspaper articles, and politically did everything he could to destroy the man. I was just astounded.

RUSH: Well, it’s an interesting perspective, and I know that you have a point. Did you mention the name of a book?

CALLER: Yeah, it’s called Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow.

RUSH: That’s right. Look, I appreciate that, Don. Thanks much.

CALLER: There’s one more thing. I signed on to your military program, and I wanted to say hello to my guy in Fort Hood in the 1st Infantry Division.

RUSH: Oh, the Adopt-A-Soldier Program.

CALLER: I think it’s great. I think everybody should get on board and support those guys for what they’re doing.

RUSH: Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. Your kind words mean a lot.

CALLER: Thank you.

RUSH: Okey-doke.