Legendary radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh recalled how he first heard of the Media Research Center when he saw Brent Bozell quoted in National Review. Limbaugh also explained his success in radio, noting how both he and Donald Trump built a “bond” with their audiences, before warning of the threat posed by leftists who want to silence conservatives.

During his introductory remarks at the MRC’s 30th Anniversary Gala Thursday night, Bozell thanked Limbaugh for his steadfast support of the MRC over the past three decades: “Rush has been at our side from the very start, giving oxygen to our work to millions of his followers on a regular basis.” Bozell went on to hail Limbaugh as “the leader of the conservative movement.”

Limbaugh began his address to the audience of nearly 900 conservatives gathered at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. by applauding the hilarious clips of outrageous media bias featured at the event, but also warned: “They believe this. We laugh. It’s a problem, they are this stupid. They are this uncurious....I have never encountered a group of people in a business that...is populated by so many people that literally don’t know what they’re talking about.”

“And it’s a problem because the Democrat Party’s not running the show anymore, they are. They are giving the Democrat Party marching orders. I think the Democrat Party still is just an arm of the media now,” he told the crowd.

Sharing an anecdote about how he first became aware of the MRC, Limbaugh described reading his first copy of National Review back in 1987:

I had heard of William F. Buckley, he was an idol, I dreamed of meeting him someday....So I subscribed to National Review and in my first issue – now this is – this is the year Brent started, it’s 1987. In the first issue there was a little three-dot column that began each issue. And there was a line, “Brent Bozell at the Media Research Center says,” and it was some analysis of what’s going on at the time in the media. I said that’s brilliant, whatever it was, I said it was brilliant.

Later in speech, Limbaugh explained why he knew, before many others, that Donald Trump would win the presidency:

I knew that Trump was going to excel when I lot of people didn’t because I know the bond. I saw those rallies and I said I’ve been there and done that, it enthused me....I saw the size of the crowds and everybody on the left and in the Hillary camp was missing it, the media was pooh-poohing it, and to me, none of what is happened is a surprise because I have had the experience I have. I understand the bond, I appreciate it, I am grateful for it. I am deeply moved that I have benefitted from it.

Praising the MRC’s work over the years, Limbaugh touted Bozell’s affect on the liberal media: “Brent got on their nerves because they are above criticism. They are above it, you can’t criticize them, you can’t question them.”

“And Brent Bozell and the Media Research Center, and now NewsBusters, are...a fundamental element of my show prep everyday. And they always have been, they always will be,” he proclaimed.

Thanking MRC analysts for wading through countless hours of biased news coverage, Limbaugh remarked: “I saw a little pull quote from Levin on the big screens tonight crediting the Media Research Center, ‘They watch that crap so we don’t have to.’ Boy, is that ever true. Folks, I can’t watch it anymore!”

He again cautioned the audience about the danger of the liberal press:

You saw these clips tonight, it’s stupid. And the problem is, these people have influence....They believe it. They’re killing everything they touch, they’re corrupting everything they touch, and they’re destroying it. We laugh at it because we need the relief, but they believe it. And they’re dead serious, they’re dead wrong, they’re dead stupid, they’re brain dead, and they are a problem. And they’ve got to be – in the arena of ideas – they have got to be beaten.

“And here again, Brent Bozell, who knows how many people he is arming with information. Because nobody, nobody can stand to watch as much of this stuff as Brent makes his people do,” he added.

Limbaugh concluded with another note of gratitude:

And I cannot thank all of you enough. And again, to Brent Bozell and Media Research [Center], I hope they keep doing this as long as they want to because it’s always gonna be needed, worthwhile, entertaining, a great combination. Thank you all, folks, very much. I love you all.

Other posts on the September 21 event:

> Every Single Person We Don’t Like in the Liberal Media won the Quote of the Year Award.

> To see Mark Levin praise the MRC and Brent Bozell, saying, “I rely” on them, go here.

> CNN presidential history Douglas Brinkley scampered away with the Last Gasp Obamagasam Award.

> Disgraced journalist Brian Williams, fittingly, won the Dan Rather Memorial Award for the Stupidest Analysis.

> For the Kathy Griffin Celebrity Dumbass Award, lefty actress Ashley Judd vanquished tough competition.

> For “The Funnies,” presented by Joe Piscopo.

>> For a full rundown and all the video, check this section on MRC.org devoted to the evening. And for all the posts on NewsBusters. <<

Here are excerpts of Limbaugh’s remarks at the September 21 MRC Gala Featuring the Dishonors Awards: