by Ivan Foley
Landmark editor
A conservative political viewpoint presented in a fun and engaging way.
That’s what attendees can expect when nationally-syndicated radio host Rusty Humphries comes to Platte County next Friday, May 21.
Humphries will present his shtick on stage at Park Hill South High School at 7 p.m. that evening. Chris Stigall, columnist for The Landmark and talk radio host on KCMO 710 AM, will open the show.
Known for his musical parodies and his unwavering support for the American military, Humphries hopes to entertain, inform and offer opinions to his crowd.
“I’m still working on my presentation. I like to make things very topical, about what’s going on ‘right now,’” Humphries said in an exclusive interview with The Landmark.
“We’ll talk about what’s going on in politics, changes to expect in the future and what they can do to get involved,” Humphries said about the show.
Tickets for the event, which is being hosted by the Park Hill South High School Republican Club and sponsored by the Green Dragon Conservatives, are available at greendragons.org. Prices are $5 for students and $20 for adults.
Humphries has traveled the globe in his radio career, often broadcasting from some unusual locations.
“We’ll tell some stories of me meeting with terrorists who threatened to cut off my head,” Humphries said.
Humphries said his viewpoints and his steps into the company of terrorists forced him to move from Florida. He said he was getting death threats from Al Qaeda.
So will Al Qaeda be invited to the show in Platte County, The Landmark asked.
“Yes. Al Qaeda, if you come, your third wife is free,” Humphries joked.
When he’s not on the road, he now broadcasts from his homes in Oregon and Ohio.
“I’m political, but I also like to have fun with it. My agenda is what’s in the best interest of our country, not a political party.
“Did Bush do everything right? No. I was against the Bush bailout. Bush spent too much money. Obama’s answer has been, ‘Well, Bush did everything wrong, so let’s double and triple the spending,’” Humphries remarked.
“I try to make complex issues easy to understand in a fun way so people say, ‘OK, now I get it.’”
“We’ll talk about some of my trips to Guantanamo Bay. There will be time for questions and answers, some fun parody songs. It will be a fun, rounded, energetic event, a tea party on steroids. And no, we’re not a bunch of racists,” Humphries explained.
Humphries is now syndicated on more than 250 radio stations. His show became syndicated about eight years ago. He can be heard on KCMO 710 AM in Kansas City from 8-11 p.m. each weeknight.
His radio career has included some early days in Kansas City, where he was known as Hollywood Humphries in his time at Q-104. He was the producer/man-on-the-street for the wild and woolly Randy Miller morning show at that time.
“I lived on the Plaza, spent many an hour at Gates and Sons. I’m looking very much forward to some barbecue when I get back,” Humphries said.
While working in Kansas City, Humphries remembers a young kid coming up to him asking for advice on how to get into radio.
“I’m going to be in radio someday. I’ve already got a name picked out. My name will be Mancow,” Humphries remembers the kid telling him.
“Yeah, good luck with that,” I thought at the time,’” he said.
The kid knew what he was talking about. Mancow Muller, whom Humphries referred to as his best friend, is now the nationally syndicated morning host whose show tests the limits of radio and has a massive nationwide following.
“The student has overtaken the master,” Humphries said.
Mancow isn’t the only famous name to have worked underneath Humphries.
“When I was in Atlanta, there was a young kid who worked for me. I used to send him to get me a Coke. That’ kid’s name is Ryan Seacrest,” Humphries said, referring to the now-famous host of American Idol who also has a nationally-syndicated radio show.
Humphries also has a background with Rush Limbaugh.
“I was a writer for Rush when he first went to New York,” he said. Humphries also did a Mike Tyson impersonation and would call into Rush’s show doing the voice of the famous boxer.
“I got paid $900 a phone call,” Humphries said.
Humphries’ appearance in Platte County is due to contact made by Alexandra Olson, a Park Hill South High School student who promotes political conservatism. Alexandra sent Humphries an email, and he responded positively, telling the group he would work within whatever budget they had available, to help the cause.
“I’m really excited about being there. This will be a group of adults and kids who are trying to be conservative, wanting to learn more about conservatism and politics in America. We’re doing this as a fundraiser for their group,” Humphries explained.
“I’m more excited about this event than any I have done in a long time. You want to talk about grassroots, this is it.
“I’m not going to talk on a kid level, but on a level they’re going to enjoy. I think they’re going to have a good time. Maybe they won’t all agree with me but they will understand the isssues better. I think that’s really important. A lot of (personalities) think they are too smart and have to use big words. This is going to be a fun night with Rusty Humphries, with music and fun,” he said.
Tickets and more information about the event are available at greendragons.org.
For more information on The Landmark’s interview with Humphries, see the Between the Lines column on page A-2.
|
