Limbaugh Getting Third Divorce

I heard this on the car radio last night but forgot about it:

Palm Beach Post — Limbaugh, third wife getting divorce

Rush Limbaugh, the Palm Beach-based conservative talk radio icon, announced Friday that he is getting another divorce.

It was the third marriage for both Limbaugh, 53, and his 44-year-old wife, Marta, a native of Jacksonville. Limbaugh’s latest marital difficulties come while he is under investigation by Palm Beach County prosecutors over allegations of illegal doctor-shopping for painkillers.

The couple’s decision to end their 10-year marriage was mutual and amicable, and was unrelated to Limbaugh’s admitted addiction to painkillers, said his spokesman, Tony Knight.

“He decided it would be better to make an announcement than to have his listeners and friends find out via some other source,” Knight said.

Limbaugh hasn’t filed for divorce yet, and Knight wasn’t sure whether Marta had formally filed.

Marta Limbaugh could not be reached Friday. Her mother, Esther Seegert Peluso of Titusville, said she hadn’t heard that Limbaugh and her daughter were separated and that she was surprised, given that they had celebrated their 10th anniversary just two weeks ago.

While it’s tempting to cry “hypocrisy” when a vocal advocate of “family values” is getting his third divorce, I honestly have no idea what the specific circumstances were for any of them. Still, it doesn’t look good.

The decade-long marriage was the longest for Limbaugh, who once said he had little time for love because “I’m too much in love with myself.”

In 1977, he married Roxy Maxine McNeely, a sales secretary at a Kansas City, Mo., radio station. The marriage lasted about 18 months. In 1983, he married Michelle Sixta, a Kansas City Royals stadium usherette, at the Stadium Club. Their marriage lasted about five years.

Limbaugh’s divorces haven’t stopped him from dispensing marital advice. “If you want a successful marriage, let your husband do what he wants to do,” he once said.

Limbaugh, who has no children, also has opined about gay marriage. “Marriage is about raising children. That’s the purpose of the institution.”

One can only wonder why such a man would have difficulty with making marriages last.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. jen says:

    Um, maybe because he’s a pompous ass?

    Wait! Did I say that? *covering mouth with hand*

  2. joy says:

    Oh jeez James, I do believe the are two barnside wide hints in your post…namely the “I’m too in love myself” and “let the husband do what he wants” statements.

    Actually, on this third one I’m betting the drug dependency had to have been a factor too.

  3. James Joyner says:

    Heh. I suppose I should institute the use of sarcasm tags. . . .

  4. McGehee says:

    At least he’s always qualified his support for fatherhood as being “in certain cases” — meaning, not his own. From many years ago I remember his saying flat-out that he didn’t think he’d be any good as a father. Over the years I suspect part of that is because he would always be measuring himself against his own father.

    But then there are other possible reasons, as has been pointed out here…

  5. Sgtfluffy says:

    It could be because of the whole drug ordeal, he did hide it from her, that in itself could have caused a lot of mistrust. Anyhoo, I don’t believe Rush was meant for marriage. Celebs make and break marriages daily, why should he be different?
    /scrawlville.com

  6. Attila Girl says:

    Well, in his defense the marriages are lasting longer each time.

    I have an uncle who married four times, but that fourth marriage has been in place for decades.

    My father is on his third wife, and for his bride he is the fourth husband.

    So while I wouldn’t care for the “revolving door” system for myself, it seems that some people learn how to do this by doing it: there are “practice” marriages.

  7. jay says:

    Thanks for your insight ‘jen’. Typical liberal response – call people names, then giggle.

  8. jen says:

    jay, it’s funny that you would assume that I’m a liberal from my sarcastic comment. I’m a card-carrying Republican, in actuality.

    My sarcastic comment was pure female. And no, I’m no feminist either.

  9. bob says:

    His latest announcement proves beyond the shadow of any doubt just how much of a hypocrite he is, especially when considered along with his felonious drug activities.

  10. paul says:

    Gossips

  11. Amy says:

    Better to strive for ideals and fall short than have no ideals at all. There’s no hypocrisy in admitting defeat. Actually, I know from experience it’s quite painful. If Rush were to amend his values to rationalize his divorces, I would consider that hypocrisy. But he is honest and brave and faces his weaknesses head on. I admire that in a human being.

  12. JM Lauer says:

    No matter if you are conservative or liberal, second (or third) marriages have a very high divorce rate (90%)because of “baggage” issues (exspouses, finances, children, stepchildren, etc.). Combine those issues with wealth, celebrity and drug/health issues,it’s a wonder the marriage lasted this long, and I’m a Rush fan.

  13. jon says:

    No one should be happy when anyone’s marriage fails. The fact that second+ marriages have such a high divorce rate, everyone should be more careful when selecting a first spouse and, then, stay committed and work on the marriage. Marriage is serious business so when we date we should stop dating someone as soon as we realize that the person is not marriage material. The reason for dating is finding a good spouse; dating is the real pre-marital activity.

  14. francine says:

    For all you folks posting who live in glass houses…

    “Better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”

  15. Paul says:

    Funny that it lasted exactly 10 years. Doesn’t the split go better then? Meaning she gets more of his stuff. Don’t really know how florida works.

  16. Tina says:

    No one knows if or why he’s getting divorced besides him and his wife. All those who are so quick to judge him should look first to
    themselves. None of us is perfect.

  17. garland says:

    There is no such thing as a “card carrying” Republican. Also, Republican women do not use that kind of language.

    (Leftists always self-identify with their snide and vulgar comments.)

  18. Dorothy says:

    It’s too bad. I’ve kinda thought something might be happening with his marriage. I’ve also been wondering if he is using drugs again. I hope not.

  19. JJ says:

    Going to be kinda hard bashing Clinton when Rush is about the same kind of guy. It’s time for Rush to retire to the golf course.

  20. Amy says:

    Please explain: How does a radio personality openly announcing his third divorce make him “just about the same kind of guy” as a U.S. president who slandered a young woman and lied under oath to protect his own reputation?