Following the death of controversial conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh on Wednesday, February 17, Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative news outlet National Review, took to Twitter to shame liberals who denounced Limbaugh's racism and bigotry without realizing how "funny" he was.
Liberals who didn’t listen to Rush, and just read the Media Matters accounts, never understood how *funny* he was.… https://t.co/oH5Whmi0pC— Rich Lowry (@Rich Lowry) 1613590348.0
He was always a humble man who was incredibly personally generous. Her performed countless acts of kindness that we’ll never hear about— Rich Lowry (@Rich Lowry) 1613590418.0
Twitter was quick to push back against Lowry's idea of "comedy."
Here come the “Hitler was a pretty good painter” and “Gotti threw a great 4th of July party” takes. https://t.co/nqT6NVgRu0— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer) 1613594509.0
@RichLowry Oh sure. Nothing like a boatload of racism, bigotry, and hate delivered in a "wildly entertaining" way. 🙄— Barbara Morrill (@Barbara Morrill) 1613593661.0
@RichLowry Remember when he told that Black caller to "take the bone out of his nose" or when he created the "Barac… https://t.co/sxf8BV4Pa6— (((RuggedAmethyst))) (@(((RuggedAmethyst)))) 1613593907.0
Some of Limbaugh's most infamous running jokes included the celebration of gay men dying from AIDS and describing 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton as a "dog."
He has a hell of a nerve asking the LGBTQ community to lay off Limbaugh, when Limbaugh was incredibly vicious towar… https://t.co/q9P6JFQIDh— Your Snitty Valentine (@Your Snitty Valentine) 1613594981.0
Rich Lowry has a hell of a nerve calling Limbaugh "funny" and "generous" when Limbaugh made a living off casual mis… https://t.co/M5DwZ23ZIB— Your Snitty Valentine (@Your Snitty Valentine) 1613595021.0
Limbaugh's antics taught many uninformed listeners that casual cruelty was the epitome of comedy.
@RichLowry Comedy fan here. Can you explain the joke where he would laugh at gay people who had died of AIDS?— Jason O. Gilbert (@Jason O. Gilbert) 1613593835.0
when you think calling Obama a "Halfrican American" is hilarious https://t.co/VJxIBX7Xbb— Eric Boehlert (@Eric Boehlert) 1613594138.0
Conservative white dudes who listened to Rush and never listened to literally any other person ever never understoo… https://t.co/IsezpjwXxg— Kaili Joy Gray (@Kaili Joy Gray) 1613594095.0
Twitter thoroughly dragged Lowry for his ignorant defense of Limbaugh.
@RichLowry I listened to him from time to time. Limbaugh spewed hate, lies, and divisiveness every day, supplying k… https://t.co/apFlsTdxpM— Michael Taylor (@Michael Taylor) 1613592350.0
There's nothing funny about misogyny or racism.
OMG There was nothing funny about him calling Nancy Pelosi a terrorist, or women “feminazis” Just stop sanitizing… https://t.co/Gc4TFDP8rv— Karoli 🇺🇸 (@Karoli 🇺🇸) 1613595975.0
Ah yes, who can forget classic Limbaugh jokes like "Barack the Magic Negro" and Mooochele. https://t.co/NiVXOQxn7W— Max Berger (@Max Berger) 1613595951.0
While Limbaugh may have been a complex individual who cared deeply for the people in his life, his impact on public discourse was a largely negative one.