Limbaugh on Animal Rights
The passage titled, “Animals Have No Rights—Go Ahead and Lick That Frog,” in Rush Limbaugh’s book, The Way Things Ought to Be, is overwhelmed by fallacies. In the second paragraph of the passage, Limbaugh states, “Every wacko movement must have its day in my book” (102), referring to certain liberal movements that his politics do not agree with. ... Limbaugh presents many arguments; however, they are often punctuated by attacking the “wackos” (103) and “eco-pests” (109) he finds to be so nauseating. Limbaugh presents many arguments to the reader in the passage; unfortunately, they are filled with fallacies. Limbaugh initially makes an argument against animal rights groups such as PETA in an attempt to discredit them. ... In the first few paragraphs, he accuses the animal rights activists of having a “disregard for humans and their livelihoods” (102), and that they believe “animals are superior to human beings” (102). Limbaugh tries switching his argument to animal and human rights, unsuccessfully; he has committed a red herring fallacy. Limbaugh gives the Webster’s definition for the word, “right,” and explains why animal rights are not guaranteed in the constitution. After a few more paragraphs that include examples from the Bible, Limbaugh essentially proves nothing; he has simply stated his opinion without providing solid evidence to support his own argument. ... Beginning a new paragraph, Limbaugh does not waste time in committing another fallacy. He explains that the great minds from Plato through the nineteenth century all held that view that man was the only rational animal.