Hewitt touted Limbaugh's "information dissemination" as a model for mainstream media to get America's "trust back"

Summary: On CNN's Reliable Sources, conservative blogger Hugh Hewitt pointed to Rush Limbaugh as a model of the type of media figure that could help the mainstream media get Americans' "trust back."

During the May 28 edition of CNN's Reliable Sources, conservative blogger and nationally syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt pointed to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh as a model of the type of media figure that could help the mainstream media get Americans' "trust back." Defending Limbaugh to Reliable Sources host Howard Kurtz, Hewitt stated that "people can't argue" with Limbaugh's "re-branding as America's anchorman." "But," Kurtz interjected, "Rush Limbaugh would make no pretense of being an objective journalist. He's a commentator." Hewitt replied, Limbaugh "also does information dissemination, which is what I do and what you do." Neither Hewitt nor Kurtz made any reference to Limbaugh's extensive record of misinformation.

Here are just a few examples documented by Media Matters for America:

• Limbaugh recently distorted scientific research to downplay the significance of global warming.
• Limbaugh recently touted a discredited Drudge Report story on the Democratic National Committee, even after Drudge issued an apparent retraction.
• Limbaugh claimed that Ben Domenech, washingtonpost.com's former "Red America" blogger, wasn't a plagiarist, despite Domenech having admitted to past plagiarism.
• Limbaugh falsely claimed that Rep. Dennis Kucinich's (D-OH) proposal for a cabinet-level Department of Peace and Nonviolence would "[g]et rid of the Department of Defense."
• Limbaugh falsely suggested that Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer (NY) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) ignored port security before the United Arab Emirates' Dubai Ports World port controversy.
• Limbaugh falsely accused Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) of opposing National Security Agency "intercepts of the enemy."
• Additionally, Limbaugh has suggested that former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Clinton were secretly funding the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
• More recently, Limbaugh has baselessly claimed that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's letter to President Bush contained "Democratic talking points" and "even some liberal Hollywood Jewish people talking point."

From the May 28 edition of CNN's Reliable Sources:

KURTZ: To include people who have -- who have openly advertised conservative views for a job in which you're not supposed to tilt one way or the other?

HEWITT: But we all know that everyone tilts one way or the other. They just hide it better or less.

And my argument at this [Museum of Television & Radio] conference was that transparency means tell people what you believe so that they can correct for the lie of the green. And if you want trust back -- that was what our big thing was, how do you get trust? The most trusted journalist in America -- this might shock you -- is Rush Limbaugh. He has the highest sustained audience. And I made that argument to them. And people can't argue with his re-branding as America's anchorman.

KURTZ: But Rush Limbaugh would make no pretense of being an objective journalist. He's a commentator.

HEWITT: But he -- though he also does information dissemination, which is what I do and what you do.

—J.M.