RUSH: Here’s Adrian in Stockton, California. It’s great to have you on the EIB Network, Adrian. Hi.

CALLER: Hi, Rush. I’ve been listening to you for years, and I really appreciate you. One of the things that you’ve always said is that you’ve tried to be impartial, you know, on how you present everything, and I think unintentionally you’re presenting —

RUSH: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. No, I’ve never said that I’m impartial. I have admitted my biases. I’ve admitted what I’m in favor of. I’ve admitted people and things I support, and I’ve openly stated my opposition to things and people I don’t support. I’ve not… I never pretend… Don’t saddle me with that. That’s bogus.

CALLER: Okay. What I’m talking about basically is the fact that here it is you have Ted Cruz is running, right, and I’m a character guy, which I believe that’s who you are. You said a man of character is what’s supposed to be in the office.

RUSH: I have said so, yes. I have. You’re exactly right.

CALLER: Character is over the long haul.

RUSH: Right there in the Federalist Papers, it is discussed why character matters in the executive. I’ve quoted it; I’ve cited it. You’re exactly right about that.

CALLER: And character is something that’s usually, over the long haul, yeah, it can change, people can learn things and they can grow, but usually it’s not an overnight thing. Now, it seems like — I could be wrong — with Donald Trump it’s an overnight thing, that all these changes are being made, and the media is highlighting things which have propelled this guy.

Because it seems like an overnight thing that he’s grabbing onto all the things that a conservative would that we know we don’t like about what Obama’s been doing and the liberal people have been doing. But the reason why I’m saying this, though, is because by highlighting that and that Donald Trump is doing that, the person that seems to be in the shadow is someone who’s been standing for that stuff for years, and that’s Ted Cruz. He’s been doing the same thing, if I’m not mistaken.

RUSH: Is there a question here, Adrian?

CALLER: Well, the question is, do you feel you can be…? ‘Cause I’ve always… I’ve heard you say that you’re an entertainer.

RUSH: I can translate this, folks.

CALLER: And I’ll get to the question. I’m sorry. I heard you say that you’re an entertainer.

RUSH: Yeah?

CALLER: To me, you’re also more than that –

RUSH: (sigh)

CALLER: — and I believe you know that, and so sometimes you have to walk softly. I think once —

RUSH: I am… Okay, let me jump in here and translate what you’re getting as ’cause I know exactly what you’re getting at.

CALLER: Okay.

RUSH: I’ve said I’m an entertainer. I’ve said that I do something that is not common in the media, and that is the combination of irreverent, sarcastic, parodic humor, and serious discussion of issues, with credibility on both. I’ve pointed out as an illustration, the old days of Nightline. If Ted Koppel had come out and opened Nightline with a 10-minute joke monologue, people would say, “What the hell is this? That’s not what I’m watching this for.”

Consequently, if Johnny Carson had come out and done a 20-minute monologue on dead-serious political issues before getting to the jokes, people would say, “What?” I do both. I cross over seamlessly from one to the other. You never know when it happens. So I don’t deny I’m an entertainer; this is showbiz. But I also don’t deny that I am deadly serious about the things I care about. And I definitely want certain things, ideas, to triumph, and others to lose, big time.

So what you’re doing… I know your question is. We’ve had some seminar callers on this recent. I know exactly what’s going on here. His use of the word “impartial” to… What he meant to say was, “You never endorse during primaries.” That’s what he meant. “So why are you supporting Trump?” That’s what all of that meant. That’s what he was dancing around, trying to get to. “Why are you supporting Trump when a guy like Ted Cruz is everything Trump is but the character to boot?”

Ladies and gentlemen, this is very difficult. Can I ask you a question, a rhetorical question? Those of you who’ve been listening here for at least… Well, it shouldn’t take more than five years, but let’s say you’ve been listening the last 10, 15, 20 years. Are you confident that everything I do…? Are you aware, do you remember, do you take into account, do you fall on, do you rely on your experience with this program, combined with the intelligence you use listening to this program?

Do you understand that I always have a purpose? Do you realize nothing is haphazard? You’re wondering why I’m supporting Trump. Who says I am? Have I announced specifically that I am, or are you perceiving it? A better question would be: If you think that, why? And I can’t go any further. I did with my brother last night. It’s on record, if I have to go back and prove this, and I told Snerdley this morning about this. But I can’t go any further here. It is what it is. I know it’s a cliche.