Missouri state lawmakers voted yesterday to pass a bill that would create “Rush Limbaugh Day” in honor of the late right-wing radio show host.
The state’s GOP-led House voted to add a provision for the holiday to an existing bill that would recognize “the first full week in September of each year as ‘Fox Trotter Week’ in Missouri.”
With the provision, Limbaugh would be honored on his birthday, Jan. 12, every year.
The late radio host died in February at the age of 70.
When Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008 Limbaugh didn’t simply voice regret, he said: “I hope he fails.”
And with the ugly scenes of a mob insurrection in January at the Capitol still fresh, he was dismissive to calls for an end to violence, comparing the rioters instead to American revolutionaries.
Supporters of the bill lauded Limbaugh as a conservative icon and praised his ability to “speak boldly.”
“Rush demonstrated courage to speak boldly and encouraged his listeners and viewers to reach for their dreams and to push onward beyond the naysayers and discouragers that we all encounter in life,” said state Rep. Sara Walsh.
Democratic state lawmakers, however, opposed the move.
State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove (D) slammed Limbaugh for his “constant attacks on Black people and other people of color.”
She also noted that Missouri’s GOP lawmakers added the provision for Rush Limbaugh Day to a bill that also seeks to honor famous Black Missourians including George Washington Carver and Buck O’Neil.
Republican state Sen. Holly Rehder proposed a similar bill last month that called for Missourians to celebrate Limbaugh by “participating in appropriate events and activities to remember the life of the famous Missourian and groundbreaking radio host.”
Limbaugh inspired the likes of Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly, and countless lesser-known people who established conservative radio shows in their markets.
They followed, too, in pushing the bounds of civil dialogue.