Since Trump is giving Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, let’s take a look at who he is, because that will tell us more about the kind of person that Trump feels is worthy of being bestowed the highest honor that a President can bestow on an American citizen.
Limbaugh is a conservative radio host who is notorious for his racism and controversy. He is a pro-slavery, anti-gay, bigoted misogynist who has argued that African-Americans are “left behind” because they are all “trained to hate the U.S. as children.”
In the 1980’s, Limbaugh blamed the HIV/AIDS epidemic on gays; saying it had “not spread to the heterosexual community” and blamed homosexual men for spreading the disease with their “unhygienic lifestyles/practices.”
Limbaugh has stated he does not “believe in the concept of consent” in sexual relations. He has thus been a consistent proponent of sexual assaulters. “How many of you guys have learned that ‘no’ really means ‘yes’ if you learn how to spot it?” he once asked his listeners.
Limbaugh rejects the scientific consensus on climate change, saying it is “just a bunch of scientists organized around a political agenda.” He also recently disparaged teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, saying we can’t criticize her “because she’s not well.”
Limbaugh accused Barack Obama of “using his race to prevent criticism of his policies” and said he was only successful during his first year in office because conservative members of Congress feared being called “racists” if they disagreed with him.
Limbaugh defended Trump’s response to Charlottesville, where Trump referred to Nazis who marched with torches shouting “Jews will not replace us!” and murdered a counterprotester as “very fine people” saying “Not all of the people marching with torches were Nazis.”
In October of 2018, Limbaugh claimed that the mail bombs sent by a Trump supporter to prominent Democrats/media figures were “a false flag operation” to “distract from the caravans approaching from Central America.” This is not the first time he’s pushed theories with no evidence
Limbaugh also claimed that the Christchurch synagogue shooting by another Trump fanatic in March of 2019 “may have been a false flag operation” by “Democrats/liberal media” to “distract from Trump’s accomplishments.”
Those who have subjected Limbaugh’s claims to fact-checking (e.g. Politico) have found that 84% of his comments range from “Mostly False” to “Pants on Fire,” with just 5% of his remarks rating as “Mostly True” and 0% rating as “True.”
Limbaugh has claimed that the existence of gorillas disproves the theory of evolution; that a dip in Hurricanes during one season disproved climate change; and that Barack Obama wanted to “mandate circumcision.”
Limbaugh was condemned across the country in 2012 when he referred to Sandra Fluke as a “slut” and “prostitute.” “So Ms. Fluke and all the rest of you feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for you to have sex, you have to post the videos online so we can all watch.”
Limbaugh made fun of Michael J. Fox in 2006, claiming that he exaggerated the symptoms of his illness to gain sympathy from Americans and “make a more compelling case for stem cell research.” Fox was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in the early 2000’s.
More than anything, Limbaugh is known for his virulent bigotry and racism. He once claimed that “all newspaper composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson” and that “the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without weapons.”
Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a notorious racist, misogynist, and liar who made his fame by brainwashing large gullible segments of Republican voters with lies, hateful rhetoric and conspiracy theories. Trump likely used Limbaugh as a blueprint for himself.
