Rush Limbaugh hagiographer Zev Chafets appeared on MSNBC today to discuss his new book glorifying the right-wing radio host, An Army of One. During the interview, host Chuck Todd asked Chafets if Limbaugh thinks Fox hosts Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, and Glenn Beck are “cheap knockoff[s]” of Limbaugh. Chafets said he doesn’t know how Limbaugh feels about the Fox hosts, but — even though Limbaugh has made regular appearances on the Fox News network — he suggested that perhaps there is a grudge on Fox’s end:
TODD: What does he think of the copy cats essentially. I know that he doesn’t necessarily refer to them as that. You kind of hinted at it at one time in the NYT mag piece that spawned this book. But the Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, they do sort of a version of what Rush did or does. How does he feel about this. Is it totally complimentary or is he a little, “You know what? It’s a cheap knock off.”
CHAFETS: Rush said on his show the other day that the media is boycotting me and that’s not really the case. I mean here I am on your show. But I guess it’s interesting that I haven’t been asked to appear on any Fox show with this book and we’ve been booked on several and then canceled. … I’m not quite sure what to make of it. I don’t think they have anything against me personally. I’ve been on the Fox network before. So I guess it might have something to do with something else I’m not sure.
Watch it: