Some people may think I am making too much out of the following:
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh slammed President Barack Obama on Sunday, calling him “immature,” "narcissistic," and "inexperienced," in a interview on Fox News.
“He’s a child. I think he’s got a five minute career,” Limbaugh said.
Obviously Limbaugh has a bad concept of what constitutes a short career. A man who was the President of the Harvard Law Review(the first black president), a United States Senator, President of the United States of America (the first black president), AND a Nobel Peace Prize laureate cannot be compared to a one-hit wonder on the Billboard charts, no matter whether or not you agree with his policies.
But never mind about that.
The "child" comment bothers me tremendously.
Limbaugh seems to be inferring that despite all of his accolades, Obama is inferior; that he would never measure up to be "a man."
His tone hearkens back to when African-American men, no matter how old or no matter how hard working, were publicly disrespected by being referred to as someone who needs supervision from "their betters."
Limbaugh said "child" but I wonder if he meant "boy."
No doubt Limbaugh and his defenders will accuse anyone who bring up the racial connotations of his comments of playing the "race card."
But we all know Limbaugh's history of interjections of racism into situations that didn't even call for them.
If not, maybe someone should ask Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
And that's the ugly subtlety of some forms of racism. One doesn't have to use the "n-word," or burn crosses but just imply inferiority like Limbaugh did here.
There is an element who just can't wrap their heads around the fact that a black man worked hard, played by the rules, and attained the heights of success.
The black man will continue to be inferior to them, no matter what he says or does.
And the sad thing is that this element isn't the so-called stereotypical racists with the supposed low intellect and colloquial accent.
This element is on Main Street, hiding their ugliness behind code words, talking points, think tank groups, and bad information freely spread by people in need of a therapist more than they need cameras thrust in their faces by "fair and balanced" media figures playing up their fears and hate.
Through his comments, Limbaugh is giving a "wink and a nod" to this element.
Of “immature,” "narcissistic," and "inexperienced," I have to admit I agree with at least two of those attributes if not all of them.
11/4/2009 12:50 AM
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Ted
As if a person can't criticize the leader of a democratic nation about his qualifications without it being "suspect."
11/4/2009 12:48 AM
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Ted
Don, I'm defending an absurd allegation against what the man said. I'm not saying, "As someone who agrees with everything Rush says, I also agree with this" and I'm not even saying I agree with the comment, but it's still not racist no matter what your personal, biased opinion of the man or your prejudiced feelings about the comments are.
I can just as easily say "you're racist...and no one can prove me wrong since it's not math...and if someone defends you they must be racist too."
Does that mean I win the argument?
Furthermore, there is nothing "suspect" about Rush Limbaugh attacking a Democrat, regardless of his color. If he fell in love with Hillary Clinton when she was campaigning against Obama, THAT would have been suspect.
Ted: the only thing in this world that's objective is Math.
and yes, when it comes to someone like RL, I do approach him in a prejudicial manner because he has proven himself over and over again to be racist, demented, absurd and ignorant. I find him beyond defense.
But when someone tries to justify someone racist remarks, it's very suspect about their person beliefs. Just saying.
11/3/2009 11:45 PM
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Chase
can we please not bitch and moan about the "child" comment? i am obviously not black, but i would hope that we (being gay, which is also a minority) are not so sensitive that we correlate any word to what we would hate to be inferred... it speaks to insecurity about oneself. Whoever is actually offended by this is a "child" themself. i happen to be disgusted by a lot of what rush says, but lets not cry about every miniscule thing he says....especially if its on Fox News....
11/3/2009 11:38 PM
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Ted
But you're still approaching it in a prejudiced way. You're not being objective!
And no, I wasn't changing the subject, I was giving you an analogy to demonstrate how ridiculous it is to say that people defending him are racist.
"My exact point was whoever wrote this is already assuming anything Rush says is racist,"
That is because Rush has given them MANY MANY reasons to think that.
11/3/2009 11:32 PM
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Ted
"when he calls this president any type of name, it is suspicious."
My exact point was whoever wrote this is already assuming anything Rush says is racist, and when you make that assumption, you can read any number of things as racist when they aren't.
Rush is guaranteed to criticize Obama, who isn't lily white, so someone is going to interpret that as racist no matter what.
i admit calling someone a "child" isn't necessarily racist, but when it comes from RL, it's questionable with his given track record. I also agree with you Neil that RL should be ignored and put in the corner; he's a very disturbed man and drug addict i might add. LOL
11/3/2009 11:17 PM
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Neil
Oh....and since when is being an experienced politician necessarily a good thing? And what ARE the qualifications to be president? I can see a lawyer doing a good job, or a businessman, or a doctor, or a teacher....etc etc.
And Don, when he calls Obama a "nappy headed chief executive" then maybe I'll give a damn. But in reality the more attention given to Rush (positive or negative) the higher the ratings and the more he'll be paid.
Ted, this article is about Rush, not Al, don't change the subject. RL has a history now of making racist comments and making racist comments about this president. So, now when he calls this president any type of name, it is suspicious.
11/3/2009 11:14 PM
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Neil
Doug and Mark...ummm....gotta go with Don on the fact that "most popular" doesn't mean right. It means only "most popular." And no, racism isn't to be found in being called a "child." It he called him "boy" then maybe. However I DO believe Rush is smart enough to know the comment would appeal to his base and cause the hackles of his opposition to be raised. Get your base and split your opposition is always a good gambit.
And I'm calling bullshit on this article, because there isn't anything racist in Limbaugh's comment here, nor was there anything racist in what he said about McNabb.
How am I splitting hairs?
I think Al Sharpton is racist, and you linked me to his site, so you must be racist. Now anyone who defends you or agrees with is racist. I can play this game too.
I was gonna rant but Mark got it right; 150 days in the US Senate? And speaking of Harvard Law, when will we get to read his thesis? Or examine his college record (still sealed)? transparency ..... but I digress. People with an ax to grind will hear what they want to hear, and be offended when they want to be offended. Rush calls him a "manchild" - simply saying he lacks maturity - and that point of view can be argued by many many things O has done/said.
Ted, although calling him a child may or may not be racist, this guy has a long history of saying pretty vile things that are racist. So comments like calling him a child are VERY questionable. And, when you defend him, you look like your defending racist speech. the guy is so ignorant and hateful and spreads lies and half-truths, it's weird that you're defending him.
ratings does not equal good or bad, they're just ratings for one network and one radio show
numbers don't lie. look at the ratings of limbaugh and fox, yes they're big numbers but in the context of the entire united states and the entire voting age public, the numbers aren't that big.
This is pathetic. Limbaugh is referring to the very short political career of our “Community Organizer” President. President of the Harvard Law Review doesn’t even come close to qualifying you for the job of President of the United States. Also a first year junior Senator for IL who voted “present” also does not qualify you for the job of President of the United States.
Limbaugh is calling Obama a child in the political world. Also if you had done any research or maybe listened to Limbaugh’s show once, you would know that in all of the racist remarks they are accusing Limbaugh of making, he is pointing out the double standard that DOES exists in this country.
Also Limbaugh was not taking bad about McNabb. He was taking about the sports casters that were doing nothing but taking about McNabb.
It’s funny, liberals and the White house try as hard as they can to make Rush Limbaugh and Fox News look bad, but Rush is still #1 in talk radio and the last time I saw the cable new ratings FOX was in first place. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/cnn-drops-to-last-place-among-cable-news-networks/
This is seriously the most pathetic.....irrational thought ever. By calling him a child that must mean he is racist...that is just the worst racecard move ever. This comment is not racist it is just genuine hate for the douchbag in the whitehouse. Stop reading so deeply into the message...
11/3/2009 8:47 PM
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Ted
"Some people may think"
It's a voice inside your head called "reason". Listen to it occasionally.
As Presidents go, Obama is a child, but so were Theodore Roosevelt and John Kennedy.
And part of the acclaim that some athletes get does have to do with their race, there are white players who get more attention because of their race as well. I agree he shouldn't have brought it up, but it's still true. But bringing that up is just proof that the writer pre-judges everything Limbaugh says and assumes it's racist until proven otherwise, which is impossible to do.
11/3/2009 8:38 PM
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Kendall
Sad to say but as a black man, I knew what the article was about BEFORE I even bothered to read. I'm not usually one to say...If you've never... BUT...If you've never had the experience of being called "boy" with the malicious intent behind it, then it's probably difficult to understand why it's such an issue with black men; gay or straight. Being CALLED a boy is not racist, but the thought process behind it, is VERY racist.
After I read the article, I can certainly see why he would question Rush's intentions when he called Obama a "child".
you might want to actually read the link you posted. no one here is denying that racist democrats exist. this article is about rush limbaugh and his weekly idiotic comments so try to focus.
11/3/2009 8:43 AM
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Ryan
Jeff, Snopes verified the existence of many of the quotes in that list. Did you read the Snopes link you posted earlier?
And "house negro" in and of itself isn't racist, as it recalls a position in a plantation reserved for self-loathing black slaves. It's probably not the most apropos term to use to describe Rice, but it's hardly attacking her for her race or making assumptions about her based on it the way Rush does.
in or out of context, they're pretty bad. you're just a racist yourself if you think that what he said isn't. just shows that's your everyday thinking. lol
As is typical, those quotes are taken way out of context or sometimes simply fabricated out of thin air. Snopes has debunked several of them. I've heard liberals refer to Condi rice as a house negro many times...where was all the outrage then? Or is it that they dont consider "house negro" a racist term?
11/3/2009 7:59 AM
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Thomas
And I mean a strong branch off, the green party vote numbers are crap compared to the libertarians
11/3/2009 7:57 AM
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Thomas
Not until the progressives start a branch off party, I may not like my bed fellows but i don't want to contribut to the disturbing loss
of balance between the parties
Thomas: I think it would be better to join the libertarian party and build their numbers. This republican party is a lost cause becausse the religious lunatics and just destroying it.
I'm still waiting for examples of what he has actually said that are racist. So far all I've seen is rumors and stereotyping. This story above is an excellent example of how some people will grasp at any straws in an effort to make him look racist.
Virtually everyone I know is liberal or moderate. And I have heard them say truly racist things before. There is a lot of hypocrisy here.
11/3/2009 6:49 AM
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Thomas
I think most of the libs here agree Jeff, but thats not to say he isnt racist to begin with. He has said some questionable things.
Though I think Glen Beck has pulled the race shit to a far worse level in term of what I have actually heard.
Yeah, saying someone should be put to death for having different beliefs than you isn't hateful at all. Geez...the gay community in general can be so hypocritical. Tolerance is a good thing only so long as everyone else agrees with you eh?
No, this quote was not racist. He didn't call Obama a racial slur...he didnt even imply it. At worst he called Obama stupid or ignorant.
11/3/2009 6:37 AM
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Thomas
Joining a party really gives them no power unless you activley donate to them. However, I am one of those republicans that have actually used their resources more than I have helped them (being a delegate, running liberal/libertarian republican campaigns)
The only money I have given back (still not amounting to what I took) went to Susan Collins and Gordon Smith.
Not a fan of Rush at all but Pam is beyond clutchign at straws in this. This woman is so obsessed witgh racism she avidly looks for it no matter how tenuous the link, shes actively looking to be offended. So Obama cant be criticised or called immature or inexperienced? He is YOUNG for a president for fucks sake.
Pam wake up you stupid bitch and stop looking round every corner for offense because you are one shit stirring bitch.
Well Karl, i won't go that far BUT i do agree that a gay person joining the republican party is like a Jewish person joining the Nazi party or a black person joining the klan. There is something amazingly self-loathing about it; it's the victim helping out his/her victimizer.
i think that any gay man who hates himself and the rest of us enough to actually vote republican should be put to death immediately... because thats exactly what the republican party would like to do to all of us
Nothing he actually said was racist. Not the first time people have exaggerated or lied about what he actually said - http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/limbaugh.asp - Whatever other problems you might have with the man, he's obviously not racist.
Hmmmmmm......I just want to put that fat fuck against a pole! Arms and legs tied up in rope! tightly!, above a fire pit with a cherry red apple shoved into his mouth! and then devour him! first with his tits and then his bellllllllyyyy.....yum! *licks his lips*
11/2/2009 9:17 PM
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Thomas
Natalie:
"Tom, I'm glad you think the republicans need to give up on social issues, cause that thing they like called the constitution? Says church and state should be separate"
I am a semi-libertarian, definitley not completley, I tend to have a rockefeller flair (he was defenitely Not a libertarian)
The brand of conservatism in my generation is more reflective of Ted on this site. Constitutionalists. 10th amendment included.
11/2/2009 9:04 PM
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Thomas
NY is Dem winning, and no way for the GOP to win. The conservative opposition has seen to that.
11/2/2009 9:03 PM
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Shane
Tomorrow will be interesting. Virginia, New Jersey, and the 23rd district in NY are all up for grabs, and while it's too early the call, the money seems to be on the GOP winning. Will this be a rejection of Obamanomics, massive debt and spending, and the lurch to the left? I would like to think so.
Todd, I'd like to hope that eventually the Republicans will wise up. Time will tell. The Democrats certainly aren't helping their case.
11/2/2009 9:00 PM
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Thomas
Well see what happens. My generation of conservatives tends to take on the Super hard core right wing path, with a pro-gay stint, kinda odd.
your a smart, common sense, republican. the sad thing is that to most repubs, your a r.i.n.o. and a gay one at that.
it's sad but i admire your tenacity at trying to keep them relevant. they need millions more like you.
11/2/2009 8:57 PM
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Thomas
And to clarify when I say liberty Im refering to the Republican Liberty caucus types, which boasts members such as Ron Paul, Marco Rubio, Dana Rohrbachere, Michelle Bachman,
The liberty only being applied in a fiscal sense OBviously
"They've got a good chance ... provided they can stop concentrating on religious issues and drop the whole birther argument. "
SUCCESS! your 3 for 3.
if you honestly think they are going to stop concentrating on religious issues come january, when the campaigns really start, then your a deluded failure.
sorry, those are just the facts.
11/2/2009 8:52 PM
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Thomas
Well I tend to side with the establishment's opposition, especially since I am more involved in municipal politics where the parties use council seats as 'training' for their rising stars. and destroy our city with over development in the process.
From this perspective I think there is an awful stench that is similar from both partys, though I wouldnt exactly call the GOP Dem light as I would just say their both psuedo populist parties.
Unfortunately the GOP opposition (liberty-based) is much more active than the DEM opposition (progressive based) so it is making the competition between the two establishments very uneven. This is why the Dems have nothing to worry about for the next few years.
11/2/2009 8:50 PM
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Shane
They've got a good chance ... provided they can stop concentrating on religious issues and drop the whole birther argument.
And Todd, I don't watch Fox News.
But you can keep drinking your KoolAid, I'll keep drinking mine.
the st. petersburg times editorial board has not been a fan of obama. look at their editorials and see for yourself.
but you think they're biased. LOL
keep reading your ayn rand, i did. it's like chinese food. your full when your done reading it but an hour later your just as hungry again. completely unfulfilling.
Lol, I am still laughing at the "Republicans are Democratic-lite" comment, especially after what their last political platform (and their vice presidential candidate) said
11/2/2009 8:43 PM
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Thomas
With the opposition to the republican establishment growing from within, I think that conservatives are going to screw up their otherwise good chance of another 94.
I am fine with people disagreeing with his policies, but when they will resort to the most idiotic things to try and discredit him, just because they have some antediluvian notion that the White House is for "whites" only, then I will more than happily suggest that they clearly have a pigment bias
Why do people even keep acknowledging Rush? He likes the attention is what he's about like most bullies it's best to simply ignore them and not giving them something else to rant about.
LOL - I believe I hit a nerve with Todd ... Perhaps he's unhappy that his candidate has broken his campaign promises and is turning out to be the next Jimmy Carter.
What I am f-ing sick of is being accused of being a racist by people because I don't support his policies. I voted Libertarian in the last election because I'm sick and tired of the republicans being nothing more than Democrat-Lite. And funny enough I know more and more people who voted for Obama and are extremely upset with his job thus far. They've gone so far to say they regret voting for him. At least they admit it.
Limbaugh is a blow-hard, but he's an entertainer. He'll tell you as much. The white-house should have the ability to deal with criticism but they don't. Any the media just fuels it by labeling things like the Socialism poster racist.
The biggest thing he has going for him is that he is not Bush. Bush was a failure, and as long as the current administration keeps blaming everything on Bush, and the labeling of any negative comment toward him as racist, he'll be just as big of a failure. I'd like to think that eventually the American people will wise up and elect a real leader. Sadly, American Idol will be more of a priority this next election cycle.
"i love how soo many republicans are now "libertarians" because they are too chicken shit to fix and fight for what they want in the republican party. guess what? the libertarian party will never be a political force in our lifetime."
I think its the few who understand how F&%*ed up Bush was doing this. remember there is still a pretty hardcore subset of conservatives that worship bush the way they critisize people of doing for Obama. Ill be the first to admit, since bush, its been very common of me to say....."Im a republican, BUT BUT BUT, you know not a regular republican, just a libertarian registered as a republican"
11/2/2009 8:05 PM
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Ryan
Good blog post on the racist implications of using "boy" to refer to black men, which really isn't that far from "child":
Rascism is an illusion, please send this idiot a basic primer on the beliefs of Nazi's and the KKK. Next you will be saying the Holocaust was a fraud..
No for once Blimpaugh was not being a rascist, just an asshole
"1. "racism" is an illusion, first made up by the left"
wow! there's a lot of stupid in that one sentence.
11/2/2009 7:50 PM
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Thomas
J, do you actually think Racism is made up and doesnt exist, never has and never will? Cause thats what your stupid post that makes you look like an idiot basically says.
11/2/2009 7:47 PM
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J
1. "racism" is an illusion, first made up by the left
2. get a sense of humor
3. taken out of context
4. how many times this year alone have you heard the expressions "boy", "nigga", and the like? rush's "child" had nothing to do with "racism" or even popular slang
i don't see it like this, i see as limbaugh has accomplished nothing in his lifetime, he dropped out of college and barely passed any of his classes, who is he to say that obama is a child... he can't even pass basic college classes
Shane your flow chart is stupid. disagreeing with this president (or any other) doesn't make you a racist at all. It depends on how you disagree and what is the motivation. Rush is a racist...and was long befor Obama stepped into the fray. Rush is also a total asshole and media whore...and i agree with matt...this isn't a racist statement on his part....its a power play. and Mike..you get real... your a bigoted self hating fag.
you and your ilk are the ones calling him the "chosen one." it's not the moderates or the liberals.
yes, i did vote for him and i'm taking full responsibility for it. in fact, i'm fucking proud i voted for him and i'm 95% sure i'll vote for him again in 2012.
now why don't you take responsibility for the downfall of what was once a valid and respectable political party. don't be a chicken shit and call yourself a "libertarian."
i love how soo many republicans are now "libertarians" because they are too chicken shit to fix and fight for what they want in the republican party. guess what? the libertarian party will never be a political force in our lifetime.
i think it's been clearly stated time and again, from this site to a multitude of others, that rush has some serious issues regarding race.
for the american people, this has become a black and white issue. either people thinks he's a racist or they don't and there isn't anything that's going to change those opinions at this point. if people are choosing to ignore the multitude of examples that prove rush is a racist then they will continue to ignore them. in a nutshell, they're stupid and will continue to be stupid.
but trying to connect him calling obama a "child" with the word "boy" the way it was used back in the day is a stretch. instead of trying to make this absurd connection, she/he should have just said he's racist and leave it at that.
limbaugh considers ALL democrats and anyone left of ronald reagan as inferior. hell, he called mccain inferior during the primaries.
I concur, Ry. Limbaugh. Hannity. Beck. O'Reilly. Call them on it, every time.
11/2/2009 12:17 PM
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Ryan
I don't think we can call enough attention to the tacit racism that happens in our every day lives. Too many people, like George, don't think that the constant dehumanization and disrespect given non-white people in this country matters, when it clearly does, given the continuing disparities in poverty levels, educational achievement, and annual incomes among different races.
Sure, Rush is an entertainer, but he also has a tremendous impact on the psyche of his listeners. The more he belittles and emasculates President Obama, the more his listeners will do the same. I believe, much like Pam, that the elephant in the undercurrent, if you will, of the criticism the president is facing is racism, pure and simple. From Joe Wilson's outburst to the overtly racist signs and messages coming from the Republican tea parties, this is very much an issue that we should be calling attention to.
i already said that, raymond. it doesn't need to be repeated in every article about rush and pam does a disservice to her articles and the actual issues from that particular article.
to say that just is "spot on" on anything shows a clear lack of delusion and ignorance. he's not.
he, like glenn beck, and keith olbermann, to a lesser degree, are essentially attention whores feeding off the anger and anixety of the american people by adding fuel to it. at least keith doesn't have a history of drug abuse.
there should be a little little box at the bottom of the screen whenever any of them are on that says "for entertainment purposes only!"
Pam is ignorant...as usual. George...you have it half right but here is the truth to set the story straight.
Being a "young" president has nothing to do with it. Kennedy was young but he never was deserving of being called a "man-child" and here is why:
From the Urban Dictionary: A Man Child is a fully-grown male that acts like a baby. A Man Child usually whines, complains, and thinks everything is unfair. Man Children in the workplace can be recognized as one who is always complaining about the rules and/or shows too much emotion.
If this connotes racism Pam, I think you had better check yourself and stop race baiting. Oh, and maybe stop cherry picking and taking things out of context. Rush was spot on and has never insinuated, nor will he ever use race as an example of poor performance. Stupidity, ignorance, and projection on the author's part, however, does a great job at fomenting race as a straw man argument to detract from the truth. Seems the only ones hell bent on keeping race issues alive are liberals. What gives?
Pam you could not be any more wrong. You deflate the air out of calling someone a "racist" when it should actually be used. This is no where near being racist, and I would be the first to admit it. If anything, this is agism. But Rush, calling Obama a child is just an exaggeration on the fact that he is a young President. Thats it.
shut the fuck up and quit trying to connect dots that don't exist from this specific comment. your playing the race card where it's not needed.
is rush racist? that's already been proven, countless times.
rush was getting oxy from various sources, including a past maid. he use to hide his oxy, over 700 pills at one point, under his bed. when he calls our president immature, inexperienced, and narcissistic i just think of him squeezing his fat ass under a bed to get his fix. i think of him clandestinely meeting his "help" to get his next batch of pills.
