What Is Limbaugh's Appeal?

Why was Rush Limbaugh such a hit at that conservative conference in Washington over the weekend?

Was it because he told them what they wanted to hear? Naahhh . . . pretty much all the speakers did that.

Was it because he's always been a good conservative soldier? Naahhh . . . the other speakers were hardly "converts."

Was it because he has a mastery of the language? Naahhh . . . nearly all the the speakers were articulate, to say the least.

None of those account for Limbaugh's astounding success with the crowd. None account for his incredible ability to attract and hold an audience.

Limbaugh scored because he spoke from the heart.

That's the real secret of his appeal. He really believes it. He really cares.

He is himself and he speaks what he feels - clearly, directly, passionately.

Limbaugh had no teleprompter on Saturday and he had few notes. Yet he held the crowd spellbound for more than an hour.

Few speakers could have accomplished this.

Here's part of the story from CNN:

Rush Limbaugh brought a cheering crowd to its feet several times Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington as he called on fellow conservatives to take back the country.
"We conservatives have not done a good enough job of just laying out basically who we are, because we make the mistake of assuming that people know. What they know is largely incorrect, based on the way we're portrayed in pop culture, in the drive-by media, by the Democrat party," the conservative talk show host told a mostly young crowd of energized supporters.
"We want every American to be the best he or she chooses to be. We recognize that we are all individuals. We love and revere our founding documents, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. We believe that the preamble of the Constitution contains an inarguable truth, that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, freedom -- and the pursuit of happiness," he said, pausing several times for enthusiastic applause.
Looking ahead to the 2012 election, Limbaugh said conservatives will have to choose the right candidate to take the country back.
Limbaugh's impassioned keynote speech, punctuated by chest-thumping, fist-pumping and chants of "USA" from the crowd, capped off three days of talk at CPAC focusing on rebuilding the Republican Party.
"He played to his crowd here," CNN political editor Mark Preston said. "And this crowd is now energized, something we haven't seen from Republicans, certainly not conservatives, since the November election."

Forget what his most virulent critics say about Limbaugh.

Stop, look and listen to Limbaugh fairly and attentively. Make an honest effort to decide for yourself.

But be careful: You just might find yourself agreeing with him.