US talk radio king Limbaugh out of hospital
By AFP, 2 January, 2010 |
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 Outspoken US conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh left hospital in Hawaii on Friday after a heart scare, and took a veiled swipe at President Barack Obama's plans to reform health care.
Limbaugh, the multi-millionaire high priest of talk radio, who is a hugely influential figure in Republican politics, said doctors had found nothing wrong with his heart -- despite severe chest pains he suffered on Wednesday.
"I have been treated to the best health care the world has to offer -- that is right here in the United States," Limbaugh said.
Limbaugh, 58, who has millions of faithful listeners, declined to take questions, saying he did not want to get into a political discussion in a hospital setting, despite his loaded comments about the health care system.
"I don't think there is one thing wrong with the American health care system it is working just fine, just dandy," he said.
Limbaugh said that a battery of tests including an angiogram had found "absolutely nothing wrong" with his heart and not arterial disease.
The controversial radio star, who in the past admitted an addiction to pain killers, broadcasts his hard-hitting show from Florida and had been on vacation in Hawaii when he was struck down.
Coincidentally, Limbaugh was in Hawaii at the same time as his biggest political target -- Obama who is spending his Christmas and New Year vacation in his native state.
In early 2009, with the Republican Party demoralized by Obama's big election win, Limbaugh emerged as a rallying figure for conservatives, and caused a political storm when he said he hoped the president failed.
Democratic strategists, who see Limbaugh as a divisive figure, were delighted to portray the talk radio king as the "leader" of the Republican Party.
Obama is pressing the Senate and the House of Representatives to quickly merge rival health care reform bills so that he can sign a historic reform bill into law within weeks.
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