While not usually given to public comment or published political commentary, I cannot ignore Rush Limbaugh’s recent radio comments about Hillary Clinton and her appearance, as reported on Brian Maloney’s Blog, The Radio Equalizer, yesterday. While at first blush (pun intended), the comment appears to be merely sexist, it is representative of a larger intolerance and pervasive prejudice rampant in our UTube obsessed culture, namely age discrimination. Let me say from the outset, I am not an apologist for Hillary Clinton. In fact, during her husband’s term in office, one of my favorite bumper stickers read: “Impeach the President and Her Husband, Bill!” Limbaugh’s seemingly innocuous but truly bone-headed implied question, “Why is it men get better with age (I have, ask my wife) <lol> and women do not?” reveals the deeper cultural issue: America’s on-going fascination with youth. This fascination is in fact age old as evidenced by Ponce de Leon’s search for the Fountain of Youth, a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Florida is said to be its location, and stories of the fountain are some of the most persistent stories associated with the state. Truthfully, Limbaugh hit it squarely on the head regarding the age discrimination issue opining that Clinton rightfully is worried about her poll numbers going forward if elected president while understanding that in our culture, youth sells while age lives. There is no shame in aging and even less reason to discriminate by giving voice to a mantra born of human fears (aging) and Madison Avenue hype (youth). Coincidentally, Florida, the mythical home of the Fountain of Youth is also home to our inflammatory radio commentator, Rush Limbaugh. Has the fountain worked its magic on Rush? Has Limbaugh looked in a mirror lately? Perhaps there is a good reason why his chosen media forum is radio air waves and not the more visual and far less forgiving television screen. Rush, at 60, you are no looker yourself.   Steve Kirk,  author of  Making Perfect Sense.