RUSH: Tupelo, Mississippi, this is Guy. You’re next on the Rush Limbaugh program. Hi.
CALLER: Hi, Rush. Man, I’ll tell you what. This is the greatest honor.
RUSH: Thank you very much, sir. I understand that.
CALLER: Well, I’ve been listening to you since ’88, and first-time caller so a little nervous, but, anyway —
RUSH: I understand that, too. You know, I’ve been where you are. I have been on hold calling a talk show and you never know when the guy that the screener is going to say, ‘Okay, you’re next!’
CALLER: That’s it.
RUSH: You’re waiting all this time, you’re hoping you don’t forget what the guy was talking about and all of a sudden you get the ‘go’ signal and you your brain freezes. I’ve been where you are. That’s why we’re kind, patient, and tolerant with all first time callers here.
CALLER: Thank you.
RUSH: You bet.
CALLER: I bought a cash-for-clunker deal, and I really sort of feel guilty about it now.
RUSH: Why?
CALLER: My daughter needed a car really bad. She had a 14-mile-per-gallon Chevy Blazer, and she needed something better, and we got a great deal, but I just really feel guilty about it.
RUSH: Why?
CALLER: It’s almost like I let you down.
RUSH: Me?
CALLER: Yeah, sorta.
RUSH: Why are you feeling guilty about using the cash-for-clunker program? All you did was use somebody else’s money, some other taxpayer’s money to go buy a car, what’s the big deal? I mean, people do that in this country all the time.
CALLER: Well, I know. I try not to. I agree with you on about 99% of the stuff that you talk about. I can’t stand the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’re my worst team, but…
RUSH: (laughing) Can’t stand the Pittsburgh Steelers!
CALLER: Other than that, I agree with you on most everything else.
RUSH: (laughing) They’re not the worst team. What’s your favorite NFL team, then?
CALLER: Cowboys.
RUSH: Cowboys.
CALLER: And the Raiders second but they’ve done terrible. They let me down.
RUSH: Yeah, the Raiders, that’s tough fandom for the Raiders.
CALLER: Yep.
RUSH: Well, look, the cash-for-clunkers thing, I can understand you feeling guilty because when it came along, I’m sure you thought of it as you’re getting your own money back. ‘Okay, fine. I paid enough in taxes, I’m getting my own money back. I’m gonna go buy a car and get ride of the clunker,’ but really all it was was a redistribution of wealth. The way to look at it, you know, is they only gave money away to people buying cars. They didn’t give everybody $4500 back. And, by the way, they didn’t ‘give’ anybody anything. They had to borrow it. We don’t have the money. We don’t have the money. Have you seen the deficit? Have you seen the national debt? But, look, I don’t want you to feel guilty for too long over this. At some point, you have to get past it. What kind of car, Guy, did you buy for your daughter?
CALLER: A Hyundai Elantra.
RUSH: You bought a Hyundai?
CALLER: A Hyundai. It was made in the United States.
RUSH: You traded in an Obamamobile Blazer and you bought a Hyundai?
CALLER: Right.
RUSH: A Hyundai Elantra?
CALLER: It was made in the United States so I will say that.
RUSH: Yeah. It might have been assembled here.
CALLER: Right.
RUSH: Well, what miles per gallon does a Hyundai Elantra get?
CALLER: The average is 24.
RUSH: Oh, well, so you get ten miles per gallon ahead of the game.
CALLER: Right.
RUSH: It’s a smaller car, right?
CALLER: It is.
RUSH: Does she like it?
CALLER: My daughter had to have something. She just got married, her husband is in Iraq, and she had to have something better.
RUSH: Wait a minute, now! Why didn’t you say this in the first place? Her husband is in Iraq?
CALLER: Right.
RUSH: You got nothing to feel guilty about!
CALLER: Well..
RUSH: You’ve got nothing whatsoever, nor does she! You shoulda told me that at the beginning. You have nothing to feel guilty about.
CALLER: Well, I appreciate it.
RUSH: All right. I’m glad you mentioned that to me. Nothing but pride you ought to have.
CALLER: I go, oh, he definitely have great pride in him.
RUSH: Good.
CALLER: In all our soldiers. Big time.
RUSH: Yeah, yeah. Guy, you’re absolved. You don’t need to feel guilty; just the exact opposite! I wish you’d told me about your son-in-law in Iraq first. Go in peace. You don’t need to be all tensed up about this.
CALLER: All right.
RUSH: I think it’s even great you bought a Hyundai and screwed Obama’s car company at the same time.