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Among the many baffling moments of President Donald Trump’s State Of The Union address, conservative blowhard Rush Limbaugh being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom is among the highest.
Limbaugh, 69, has been beating the drum for the right via his wildly popular radio show, The Rush Limbaugh Show since 1988. As a result of the show’s wide reach, Limbaugh has been considered by many to be a weaponized voice for conservatives and many of his controversial takes have stoked the fires of dissent between liberals who view his brand of commentary divisive and flat out racist.
Trump’s wife, First Lady Melania Trump, placed the medal around Limbaugh’s neck as he was flanked by his wife. The honor is the highest awarded to a civilian, placing the radio host in the company with the likes of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Jordan, Sidney Poitier, and more.
Make no mistake about it, Limbaugh has made a career of being especially vicious with his commentary as it relates to people of color, especially Black Americans, and has aimed his bombast in the direction of anyone who dares to not share his and millions of listeners’ narrow view of politics. Earlier this week, Limbaugh announced that he has been diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer thus the timing of the award has an air of suspicion hanging over it.
Online, most especially Twitter, many observers were taken aback Limbaugh receiving the honor considering he is partly responsible for some of the agitated energy and combative nature of conservatives and Republicans who propelled Trump into the hallowed halls of the White House. In so many words, Trump awarding Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom feels like nothing more than a ploy to keep his based on his side and further drive a wedge between the opposing sides despite his many failures a leader.
Limbaugh’s given the world plenty of fodder over the years that point to his not-so-thinly veiled racist ways. We’ve got some of those moments listed on the following pages.
Salute to Media Matters for keeping track of Limbaugh’s comments for the people.
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Photo: Getty
Referring to the NBA as the “Thug Basketball Association”
From a December 2004 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
You just gotta be who you are, and 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. You have the Laker Gang, you have the Heat Gang, you have a Timberwolf Gang.
Just A Little Brazilian Tribal Racism
From a May 2006 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
Have you seen, they’ve spotted — they’ve spotted an isolated tribe in Brazil. An airplane flew over this hut, this thatch roof hut or something, and these savages are body painted in red and they’re trying to shoot the airplane down with bows and arrows.
The Obama Attacks Part 1
From a January 2007 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
Hey, Barack Obama has picked up another endorsement: Halfrican American actress Halle Berry. “As a Halfrican American, I am honored to have Ms. Berry’s support, as well as the support of other Halfrican Americans,” Obama said. He didn’t say it, but — anyway, there are those out there — greetings.
The Obama Attacks Part 2
From a March 2007 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
So clearly, it is a — I mean, it’s just remarkable to continue to witness the actual racism that exists on the left, using the term “Magic Negro” to apply to you white people who are supporting Obama. Singing a song in my head here during the break: “Barack, the Magic Negro, doo doo do doo.
A little racism aimed at Rep. Jim Clyburn
From a November 2010 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
Clyburn’s worried about not having a car? Clyburn’s worried about not having the perk of a big office? A driver? So, forth. The way this could all be worked out, Clyburn’s new position: Driving Miss Nancy. He gets to keep the car. He gets to go everywhere she goes.
The Black players of the NFL caught it too
From a January 2007 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
Look it, let me put it to you this way. The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.
The president of China, Hu Jintao, caught some as well
From a January 2011 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
Hu Jintao was just going, “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.
Former NY Gov. David Paterson Was Not Safe
From a March 2010 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
Let’s assume you’re right [caller]. So, David Paterson will become the massa who gets to appoint whoever gets to take Massa’s place. So, for the first time in his life, Paterson’s gonna be a massa.
Spanish-speaking citizens were targeted with glee
From a November 2011 airing of the Limbaugh’s show:
In my mind, there’s nothing wrong with it. I don’t instinctively know what’s wrong with it. There is a language of the ghetto. There is a language of the barrio. And it’s not good.
Calling President Obama “Uppity”
From a February 2010 airing of Limbaugh’s show:
When Clarence Thomas said uppity black thinks for himself means he’s off the reservation, so to speak. He’s not following the civil rights speech codes set forth by the Reverend Jackson and Al Sharpton and whoever else is in charge of them. But nobody — Obama is uppity, but not as a black. He is an elitist. He does think he’s smarter and better than everybody else. That’s what he was taught. He’s a Harvard man.
