RUSH: And we have Cortez, Colorado. This is Steve, and I’m glad you called, sir. Welcome to our program.
CALLER: Hey, Rush. It’s awesome to talk to you. I’ve got a question I’ve been wondering about for a while, I’m gonna ask: Do you consider yourself a sociologist or the greatest sociologist of the century?
RUSH: I’ve never thought of myself as a sociologist. I know some sociologists, some great ones like James Q. Wilson and so forth. I’ve never associated myself as a sociologist in terms of applied study or any of that. Why? You think that I am, did you say?
CALLER: I do. I’ve been listening for a long time, and I’ve got a degree in sociology.
RUSH: Oh! Okay. You have a degree in it.
CALLER: You’re better than any professor that I ever had way, by far.
RUSH: Huh! Give me examples of what you mean.
CALLER: Well, I guess at the top of the list, just your critical thinking ability, your ability to be unbiased, and then it just seems like you’re so versed on religion, politics, classes of people, technology, language, economics, racial issues, science.
RUSH: So you would say — just to pick an example here — that as I analyze liberals and how they act and what they’re gonna do or why they’ve done what they’ve done, you think that is essentially understanding principles of sociology, instead of politics?
CALLER: Not just liberals, but conservatives also.
RUSH: A-ha! It’s interesting. I’ve… (sigh) I’ve always thought of myself as a radio guy. I mean, I’m not trying to diminish what you’re saying. I’m trying to honestly answer your question.
CALLER: I did, too, until about six months ago, and I said, “Rush is a sociologist. He’s the best.”
RUSH: Well, I’m gonna add that to the resume now.
CALLER: I mean, you’re not Just the Doctor of Democracy. You’re the best sociologist.
RUSH: Right. This is cool. You know, I’ve not even had people tell me that I’m a political scientist. I just… You’re the first that’s attached any kind of such label to what I do. And you are a sociologist. How would you describe yourself? You’re a sociologist. What does a sociologist do, in your terms? Describe how you… You know what your profession is. What do you do?
CALLER: I said I have a degree in it. I make my living by carpentry. I have a remodeling business. But I do pay attention to it all the time.
RUSH: Hmm! All right. Well, thank you, I think.
CALLER: Oh, yeah. Yep. Greatest sociologist of the century.
RUSH: All right. Well, I appreciate it. Now, I’m trying not to be self-conscious about this. You know, I’m not gonna think, “Okay, am I going too far into sociology?” I never even thought about it. Anyway, I’m fascinated by how people think anyway and how they react. But I’ll take it as a compliment ’cause I know it was intended as such.