Conservative media icon broadcaster, Rush Limbaugh, passed away today after losing his fight with brain cancer. He was 70-years-old. And while I realize there are those who will greatly miss the man who used his king of talk-radio perch to shape the politics of a new generation of the ultra right, as a biracial man no one will miss Rush more than me.
How could I miss the man who spent decades dividing the nation into black and white and red and blue on so many issues? Just look at his support for liberals and Black people? His defense of LGBTQ+ rights. How ’bout feminism.
We can all agree Rush was committed to Barack Obama. As in committed to finding that mysteriously hidden birth certificate.
The man whom President Ronald Reagan once called “the number one voice for conservatism in our country,” made his impact on radio for by telling lies and acting as one of the founding fathers of what we now call “fake news.” How can someone not miss that?
Most recently from his hospital bed, Limbaugh proudly stoked the hate flames of Trumpers, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and the brainwashed who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6. He did this by falsely repeating that President Joe Biden had actually stolen the election from former President Donald J. Trump.
Limbaugh said this about Biden, “Know that this is something that’s been arranged rather than legitimately sought and won.”
ALSO READ: Casting Director, Lynn Stalmaster passes at 93
Some of the other bomb reasons why I’ll miss Rush:
Who can forget when good ol’ Rush began airing Barack, the Magic Negro, a racist parody song about then-Sen. Barack Obama’s popularity with many white voters, in 2007?
Four days before Obama’s inauguration, Rush urged Republicans not to work with the incoming president and declared on-air, “I hope he fails,” setting the stage for eight years of Obama criticism.
But, if that wasn’t glorious enough for you how about Rush’s thoughts on Gays: “When a gay person turns his back on you, it is anything but an insult; it’s an invitation.”
How about football? During his short-lived stint as an NFL commentator on ESPN, Limbaugh suggested Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve, “because the media wanted a Black player to succeed.”
Huzzah!
On feminism: In 1988, as part of an article for the Sacramento Union, Rush had the decency to espouse his POV on feminism, “Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women access to mainstream of society.”
Of course.
Other invaluable ditties from Limbaugh:
“The Earth’s eco-system is not fragile.”
“Women should not be allowed on juries where the accused is a stud.”
“The Los Angeles riots were not caused by the Rodney King verdict. The Los Angeles riots were caused by rioters.” Read Black folks.
“I think it’s time to get rid of this whole National Basketball Association. Call it the TBA, the Thug Basketball Association, and stop calling them teams. Call ’em gangs.”
“If any race of people should not have guilt about slavery, it’s Caucasians. The white race has probably had fewer slaves and for a briefer period of time than any other in the history of the world.” Where does Rush get his facts?
“I guarantee there’d be some people in the Republican establishment who will now think, yeah, we need to do this. We need to provide a home, we need to provide a comforting atmosphere for the tranny community and the gay community. But those people are voting Democrat anyway.”
Rush on Hu Jintao’s trip to America: “‘Ching cha. Ching chang cho chow. Cha Chow. Ching Cho. Chi ba ba ba. Kwo kwa kwa kee. Cha ga ga. Ching chee chay. Ching zha bo ba. Chang cha. Chang cho chi che. Cha dee. Ooooh chee bada ba. Jee jee cho ba.’ Nobody was translating, but that’s the closest I can get.”
Limbaugh called 30-year-old Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke a “slut” and a “prostitute” after she publicly advocated for universal contraception coverage, NPR reported in 2012.
In the 1970’s Limbaugh told a Black caller: “Take that bone out of your nose and call me back,” according to Fair.
Limbaugh’s wife Kathryn made the announcement on his radio show Wednesday. “As so many of you know, losing a loved one is terribly difficult, even more so when that loved one is larger than life,” she said. “Rush will forever be the greatest of all time.”
Rush didn’t speak for real conservatives. I grew up in a conservative household. No, Rush spoke for a new generation of hate.
Rush was a racist. He was a liar. He was a bad person.
Who wouldn’t miss that?
Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on Twitter at @colinthewriter1