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CNN Live Today
Interview With Arian Compo Flores
Aired November 17, 2003 - 11:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well about a month ago "Newsweek" did a whole cover story on Rush Limbaugh. The article inside was shepherded by Miami bureau chief Arian Compo Flores. And he joins us from Miami this morning. Good morning to you.
ARIAN CAMPO FLORES, "NEWSWEEK": Good morning.
KAGAN: What do you think we'll hear from Rush Limbaugh when he goes back on the air?
FLORES: Well, to an extent he's going to have to address how he's been doing in drug rehab for the past 30 days. He's got a fine line that he's got to walk, though because though he's going want to level with his audience, as he did five weeks ago when he admitted that he was addicted, he still faces his investigation that's hanging over his head. He's not going want to imperil himself legally in any way.
KAGAN: So there are still legal troubles out there for him, potential?
FLORES: Yes. Law enforcement sources say that they are continuing their investigation. That he could still conceivably face charges. When that might be decided we don't know.
KAGAN: Do you think what he's been through is going to hurt his credibility? Twenty million listeners. That's an incredible following of "Ditto Heads," as they call themselves.
FLORES: I don't think -- you know, it makes it a little complicated for him to continue to attack drug users, for instance. And he's certainly lost some standing as a paragon of virtue. But he has a tremendous loyalty of viewers.
The company that syndicates his radio program has said that they have been flooded with e-mails and calls supporting him. So they're a pretty hard audience to shake. And if anything, someone who's battling this -- this very personal and painful battle does inspire sympathy. So if anything, it might have generated more sympathy among the listeners.
KAGAN: Did "Newsweek" learn that the hard way? There was a cover story a month ago. The was very tough article inside that we said you shepherded. I want to take a little bit out of that article. I remember reading it.
And this part right here. "Limbaugh's story owes more to 'The Wizard of Oz' than 'The Scarlet Letter.' The man behind the curtain is not the God of family values but a childless, twice-divorced, thrice-married schlub whose idea of a good time is to lie on his couch and watch football endlessly."
I remember also reading the letters that came in to the magazine. People were critical of your magazine, saying was a person facing up to a problem and you are kicking him when he's down.
FLORES: Yes, we did get a lot of mail that was not exactly happy with the way he was portrayed. We also got a lot of mail saying we were soft on him from those who are critics of him.
I mean, I think the piece painted him in a human light. And maybe some of the things that some readers weren't familiar with is he is such a shy and retreating individual off the air. He is someone who was battling pain.
So, for some readers, they felt we didn't go at him hard enough, you know? It's sort of depends on who you talk to.
KAGAN: We've been getting e-mail here today, too. Want to share a couple with you and our audience. Do
This one's from Robert in New York. "Although it took a criminal investigation to force Limbaugh to admit his addiction to seek treatment, I don't feel that his addiction will prohibit me from listening to his radio talk show. We all have troubles that wee need to over come. I will continue to listen." That's from Robert in New York.
Jane in Eugene, Oregon wrote in, "Rush Limbaugh lacks compassion, tolerance and understanding for others not of his ilk. Yet he expects compassion, tolerance and understanding for his own deviant behavior. He lives by a double standard that perpetuates his entitlement. If Rush returns to his own ways, his old voice, then he did not learn a single healthy thing in treatment."
Do you think we're going see any change in Rush Limbaugh? Or I guess we'll all just have listen in and find out for ourselves?
FLORES: It's about an hour away. We'll have to tune in and find out. We'll see how much he tempers his views. I suspect it won't be much. He made sure to reiterate to his brother, who spoke to him in the previous weeks while he was in rehab that he's not a liberal. So I don't expect there to be much tempering of his views.
KAGAN: Might have worked on his thinking a little bit in rehab, but not to that extent. Arian, thank you. Appreciate it.
FLORES: Thank you. Happy to be here.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 17, 2003 - 11:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well about a month ago "Newsweek" did a whole cover story on Rush Limbaugh. The article inside was shepherded by Miami bureau chief Arian Compo Flores. And he joins us from Miami this morning. Good morning to you.
ARIAN CAMPO FLORES, "NEWSWEEK": Good morning.
KAGAN: What do you think we'll hear from Rush Limbaugh when he goes back on the air?
FLORES: Well, to an extent he's going to have to address how he's been doing in drug rehab for the past 30 days. He's got a fine line that he's got to walk, though because though he's going want to level with his audience, as he did five weeks ago when he admitted that he was addicted, he still faces his investigation that's hanging over his head. He's not going want to imperil himself legally in any way.
KAGAN: So there are still legal troubles out there for him, potential?
FLORES: Yes. Law enforcement sources say that they are continuing their investigation. That he could still conceivably face charges. When that might be decided we don't know.
KAGAN: Do you think what he's been through is going to hurt his credibility? Twenty million listeners. That's an incredible following of "Ditto Heads," as they call themselves.
FLORES: I don't think -- you know, it makes it a little complicated for him to continue to attack drug users, for instance. And he's certainly lost some standing as a paragon of virtue. But he has a tremendous loyalty of viewers.
The company that syndicates his radio program has said that they have been flooded with e-mails and calls supporting him. So they're a pretty hard audience to shake. And if anything, someone who's battling this -- this very personal and painful battle does inspire sympathy. So if anything, it might have generated more sympathy among the listeners.
KAGAN: Did "Newsweek" learn that the hard way? There was a cover story a month ago. The was very tough article inside that we said you shepherded. I want to take a little bit out of that article. I remember reading it.
And this part right here. "Limbaugh's story owes more to 'The Wizard of Oz' than 'The Scarlet Letter.' The man behind the curtain is not the God of family values but a childless, twice-divorced, thrice-married schlub whose idea of a good time is to lie on his couch and watch football endlessly."
I remember also reading the letters that came in to the magazine. People were critical of your magazine, saying was a person facing up to a problem and you are kicking him when he's down.
FLORES: Yes, we did get a lot of mail that was not exactly happy with the way he was portrayed. We also got a lot of mail saying we were soft on him from those who are critics of him.
I mean, I think the piece painted him in a human light. And maybe some of the things that some readers weren't familiar with is he is such a shy and retreating individual off the air. He is someone who was battling pain.
So, for some readers, they felt we didn't go at him hard enough, you know? It's sort of depends on who you talk to.
KAGAN: We've been getting e-mail here today, too. Want to share a couple with you and our audience. Do
This one's from Robert in New York. "Although it took a criminal investigation to force Limbaugh to admit his addiction to seek treatment, I don't feel that his addiction will prohibit me from listening to his radio talk show. We all have troubles that wee need to over come. I will continue to listen." That's from Robert in New York.
Jane in Eugene, Oregon wrote in, "Rush Limbaugh lacks compassion, tolerance and understanding for others not of his ilk. Yet he expects compassion, tolerance and understanding for his own deviant behavior. He lives by a double standard that perpetuates his entitlement. If Rush returns to his own ways, his old voice, then he did not learn a single healthy thing in treatment."
Do you think we're going see any change in Rush Limbaugh? Or I guess we'll all just have listen in and find out for ourselves?
FLORES: It's about an hour away. We'll have to tune in and find out. We'll see how much he tempers his views. I suspect it won't be much. He made sure to reiterate to his brother, who spoke to him in the previous weeks while he was in rehab that he's not a liberal. So I don't expect there to be much tempering of his views.
KAGAN: Might have worked on his thinking a little bit in rehab, but not to that extent. Arian, thank you. Appreciate it.
FLORES: Thank you. Happy to be here.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
