DAVID LIMBAUGH OFFERS IMPEACHMENT COMMENTARY

Rush Limbaugh isn't the only Limbaugh offering political commentary these days.

His younger brother, Cape Girardeau lawyer David Limbaugh, has been serving up a steady dose of impeachment talk in opinion page articles he has written for the Washington Times and WorldNetDaily, a conservative internet newspaper.

The 46-year-old Limbaugh also appeared three times last year on the Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes political commentary show to voice his views on the effort to impeach President Clinton.

Like his famous brother, David Limbaugh is critical of Clinton's actions.

He doesn't understand the public opinion polls, which continue to show that few Americans favor impeachment.

Limbaugh believes there is clear evidence that Clinton committed perjury and lied to a grand jury about his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. To Limbaugh, the president's action is an impeachable offense.

He views censure as unconstitutional. The House acted properly in impeaching Clinton and sending the matter to the Senate for a trial, he says.

In his commentary, Limbaugh has argued that the Constitution demands a full-blown trial.

For him, there isn't middle ground.

"If it isn't a full-blown trial, it is a farce," he said from his office where stacks of files are piled high on his desk.

His files include a mountain of paperwork associated with conservative television host Sean Hannity's contract with Fox. Limbaugh is Hannity's lawyer and negotiated Hannity's contract with Fox.

"For six or seven years, I've been doing legal work for Sean Hannity," Limbaugh said.

He first worked on Hannity's contract for a radio show in Atlanta.

Limbaugh had experience handling broadcasting contracts. He has handled legal matters for Rush Limbaugh.

Limbaugh helped convince Fox to hire Hannity for a political commentary show. The show, which also includes a liberal commentator, debuted in September 1996.

Hannity and Limbaugh have become good friends.

"He knows I am really into politics," said Limbaugh, who regularly chats with Hannity on the phone.

"We talk politics all the time," said Limbaugh.

Hannity first asked Limbaugh to appear on the show about nine months ago. Limbaugh turned him down, worrying that it would appear he was trying to capitalize on his brother's fame.

But Hannity kept asking.

Eventually, Limbaugh asked his brother, who warned him that guests on television's political talk shows must put up with frequent interruptions from the hosts and other guests.

"You have to be the master of the sound bite," said Limbaugh.

Limbaugh was a guest on the show on Sept. 19, Oct. 13 and Dec. 12.

His first and third appearances on the show were broadcast from the local Fox studio in St. Louis. He was at the Fox network studio in New York for the second show.

Limbaugh said his second appearance coincided with his visit to New York to handle legal work for Hannity.

He said he may appear on the show again, but he doesn't view himself as one of the show's best guests.

When it comes to political commentary, Limbaugh prefers the written word. "I have always loved to write," said Limbaugh.

Growing up in Cape Girardeau, politics always was the currency of conversation in the family home.

Recently, impeachment has fueled his journey into political commentary.

"It rekindled my passion for politics and government and the Constitution," said Limbaugh.

On that point, there is no debate.