Republicans in Missouri let go of their desire to designate January 12, Rush Limbaugh's birthday, as "Rush Limbaugh Day" in honor of the controversial late talk radio host. The decision came after pushback from Democrats and the public, who decried Limbaugh's "homophobic" and "racist" legacy.
Democrats in the Missouri legislature vehemently objected after a bill to honor Limbaugh was introduced on the floor of assembly.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Democrats of the assembly "strongly opposed honoring the Cape Girardeau native, citing what they said was his long record of racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments."
\u2018Rush Limbaugh Day\u2019 scrubbed from bill on new Missouri designationshttps://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/rush-limbaugh-day-scrubbed-from-bill-on-new-missouri-designations/article_503a5b87-0550-56c5-8fb5-43e5ee696f9c.html#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social\u00a0\u2026— St. Louis Post-Dispatch (@St. Louis Post-Dispatch) 1621359365
Some sense showing in Missouri for once! Although I know it won\u2019t last long with the Republicans in control.— Amanda Schweiger (@Amanda Schweiger) 1621360448
Too bad - would\u2019ve been a great day to have a nice high-fiber breakfast, thereby having multiple opportunities to meditate on his legacy.— Mark Thornhill (@Mark Thornhill) 1621359702
Hmmm... Rush Limbaugh was under consideration to be recognized with his own special day... to be considered by politicians as an official day... definitely NOT a white nationalist cult. Glad we settled that.— Walt Atwood (@Walt Atwood) 1621360493
Why was this even a thing...ridiculous!— Bob Randoll (@Bob Randoll) 1621378642
Limbaugh died of lung cancer at the age of 70 on February 17. He remained smoking cigars throughout his diagnosis and often underplayed the dangers of smoking cigars and cigarettes on his radio show.
He also, during his time as a conservative radio commentator, made a number of controversial statements, including but not limited to: saying Barack Obama & Oprah Winfrey were only successful because they're Black, saying all composite pictures of wanted criminals look like Jesse Jackson, and the nation needed segregated buses in order to function correctly during Barack Obama's presidency.
Good. Do not honor that man.https://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1394708384331534342\u00a0\u2026— Scott (@Scott) 1621395328
Even a broken Missouri watch is right twice a day.https://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1394708384331534342\u00a0\u2026— Eric Peterson (@Eric Peterson) 1621392510
Thank you to the person that erased his name, crossed out that paragraph, or shredded his page in the stack. Our MO dumpster fire doesn't need a day celebrating racism, sexism, classism, and dumbassery. https://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1394708384331534342\u00a0\u2026— Anita Gilliland (@Anita Gilliland) 1621390740
They did something righthttps://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1394708384331534342\u00a0\u2026— Name Cannot Be Blank (@Name Cannot Be Blank) 1621389331
Good I hope he never gets a day https://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1394708384331534342\u00a0\u2026— GodIs The Godess (@GodIs The Godess) 1621384249
Limbaugh also would mock gay men dying of AIDS during the HIV/AIDS crisis throughout the 80s and 90s, in a long running segment called "AIDS Update" where he would say things such as "gays deserved their fate."
https://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1394708384331534342\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/yyANrRZxXJ— Crustacean King (@Crustacean King) 1621361117
Apparently the #MOlegislature accomplished ONE thing I agree withhttps://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1394708384331534342\u00a0\u2026— Leah Merrifield \ud83d\ude37 (@Leah Merrifield \ud83d\ude37) 1621359909
Well hallelujiahhttps://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1394708384331534342\u00a0\u2026— yeemo (@yeemo) 1621359388
I still, personally, celebrate Rush Limbaugh Day. The day of his death.— Mark MacDonald (@Mark MacDonald) 1621401611
Common sense prevails. Name a sewer after him if you must.— Madge (@Madge) 1621367950
Limbaugh's effect on right-wing political rhetoric and the embracing of White nationalism in the United States cannot be overstated, as shown when former President Donald Trump presented him with the Presidential Medal Of Freedom.
Limbaugh leaves behind an troubling legacy, but thanks to Missouri state Democrats, he will not be getting any more accolades yet.