Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 23, 1993 TAG: 9305230089
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FORT COLLINS, COLO. LENGTH: Medium
At least 20,000 people packed Old Town Square, standing shoulder-to-shoulder across the brick street and outlasting a brief hailstorm to cheer Limbaugh's arrival.
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting," said Limbaugh, the nation's most listened-to radio talk show host. "But my barber was late.
"This is exactly how I thought it would be. I see happy people."
The gathering grew out of Dan Kay's desire for a subscription to a newsletter put out by Limbaugh, who regularly bashes "feminazis," Hillary Clinton, Teddy Kennedy, "environmental wackos," homeless advocates and the liberal media in his nationwide syndicated talk show. "The Rush Limbaugh Show" has 18 million listeners nationwide.
In March, Kay told Limbaugh during his program that he was receiving copies of the newsletter from a friend in Oregon. He said he could not afford the $29.95 subscription, so Limbaugh suggested Kay hold a bake sale.
It escalated into a carnival that featured more than 80 booths from which vendors hawked T-shirts, buttons, mugs, bumper stickers and newsletters, all in a conservative vein.
"I think this has replaced Disneyland as the happiest place in the world today," said Steve Mallison of Carson City, Nev.
Fans proudly wore "ditto-head" T-shirts. Ditto-head refers to a fan of Limbaugh's, ditto meaning they believe the things he does. Others wore buttons, saying "politically incorrect and proud of it" or "impeach Hillary."
Parking lots were packed with out-of-state vehicles, many bore handmade signs reading "Dan's Bake Sale or Bust," and "Follow Us to Dan's Bake Sale."
Traffic between Denver and Fort Collins slowed to bumper-to-bumper before noon along Interstate 25 and backed up for at least seven miles at one point, a Colorado State Patrol dispatcher said.
Twenty-eight buses, chartered by a Denver radio station, carried fans. Others arrived in planes chartered from Alaska and California.
Mary Pat Lindl of Ocomomowoc, Wis., sold plastic cards that resembled credit cards called "Masterpoor Cards" for $5 each. They were accompanied by a receipt that could be sent to President Clinton.
Lines developed at Kay's booth where he sold cookies for $1 to $2 and fortune cookies for five for a dollar.
Brennan's of New Orleans, the renowned eatery, drew lines at a booth selling Bananas Foster, a flaming concoction of bananas and rum.
A worker said the booth had sold 5,000 portions before noon.
During his brief appearance before the crowd, Limbaugh presented Kay with a subscription to the newsletter.
He asked, "Who would have thought a $29.95 subscription to a newsletter would have led to all this?"
by CNB