On Feb. 17, 2021, conservative talk radio legend Rush Limbaugh passed away after a year-long battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. Limbaugh was a pioneer of the modern conservative movement and the creator of talk radio as we know it today.
In the wake of his death, the right moved to commemorate the life and legacy of Rush Limbaugh while the left seized the opportunity to frame him as an intolerant right-wing bigot.
Shocking, I know.
Left-wing campus groups, such as the College Democrats and Young Democratic Socialists of America, rushed to take part in this utterly inappropriate celebration of death.
After the news broke of Rush’s passing, YDSA at Miami University tweeted, “Alexa play ding dong the witch is dead.”
The Miami U College Democrats Twitter page liked this tweet, along with likes from individual members of both the College Democrats and YDSA. Multiple members of Miami’s “nonpartisan” Associated Student Government did not hesitate to join in as well.
On the same day, we witnessed a reaction to Rush’s death directly from the President of the College Democrats. He quote tweeted the news on his personal account, stating that he was “Manifesting this for Henry Kissinger next,” implying he wished death upon the former Secretary of State in addition to celebrating Rush’s death.
The President of the College Democrats did not respond to questions regarding his statement.
The reaction to Rush Limbaugh’s death by leftists at Miami does not come as a surprise. Even less surprising is their immediate demonization of anyone who dared to speak respectfully or even highly of his legacy. And of course, the silence of the administration is a usual disappointment.
Rush Limbaugh undoubtedly made controversial, and even some regretful, statements. I challenge you to find anyone who has been on the air for thirty years who has not. In a career with tens of thousands of hours of commentary, a handful of comments, for which he apologized, dominated the media coverage. What the mainstream media failed to consider was Rush’s long list of philanthropic endeavors including millions of dollars in donations to charity, most of which were anonymous. His extensive donations, including over 50 million from his annual radio Leukemia and Lymphoma Cure-A-Thon, failed to break headlines on the day of his death. Forbes even went as far as to name him one of the nation’s most philanthropic celebrities in 2008.
Rush gave a voice to millions of Americans who, like it or not, represent half of this country. Americans who are your neighbors, classmates, and likely even your friends. Rush believed in our fundamental values and he believed in America, all of which is enough to make a person the target of hate these days. Rush did not divide our nation. Instead, he gave a voice to a part of the country that had already been long forgotten by our disconnected political elite.
The fact is, this type of behavior would never be tolerated from the Right. After the passing of legendary Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, you did not see right-wing campus groups attacking her for any of her statements. You also did not see left-wing campus groups attacking her for saying it was “really dumb” of Colin Kapernick to kneel for the national anthem, a comment that surely would have been plastered all over the media had a right-wing figure said it.
Instead, the nation witnessed bipartisan respect and honor for a woman who dedicated her life to public service, despite her deeply controversial rulings. Why? Because that is the respectful, human thing to do (or at least it used to be).
This is just another example of the utter hypocrisy and double standard surrounding free speech on Miami’s campus. Celebrating and wishing death upon your political opponents is now perfectly acceptable, and even encouraged, from the left. However, had it been a right-leaning organization engaging in this disgusting conduct, it is safe to assume that Miami’s administration would have condemned the behavior. In this case, we get radio silence.
The rights of individuals to speak negatively about a political figure they disagree with is not in question here. YDSA, College Democrats and anyone else who engaged in this type of speech are certainly entitled to it. Instead, this is a blatant demonstration of what the left has become–a movement of anger and bitterness that does not adhere to any morals, values, or basic respect for human dignity.
The despicable rhetoric toward his death reflects an underlying hatred for the movement he created, a movement that has challenged the mainstream media, the establishment, and the cancel culture of the left.
At least President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama posted nothing in response to Limbaugh’s death, abiding by the old “If you don’t have anything nice to say, just don’t say anything at all” principle. Apparently, the campuses leftists don’t have the same opinion on the matter, and endorse the celebration of death instead.
The way the left demonized Rush Limbaugh is not just reflective of their views toward Rush, but rather of how they see Republicans as a whole. Reading the comments about Rush’s death frustrated me, not just as a Republican, but as a human. I questioned if I should even be reading them to begin with. In light of Rush’s death, here is my message to those on both sides of the political aisle:
To the liberals who cheered Rush’s death, we see the way you talk about us and we know what you think of us. Such vicious rhetoric only fuels a movement of conservatives who are sick of the attacks. Celebrating the death of a monumental American figure, revered for his patriotism, does not advance your cause. It only exposes your deeply rooted hatred toward much of America.
My fellow conservatives, I advise you to read those comments. Live up to the morals and principles that made Rush so hated by the radical left. Rush believed in American values and believed in standing by them at all costs. I encourage you to do the same. When the left speaks of you the way they spoke of Rush, you will know you did something right.
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I actually know a lot of leftists, including myself, who attacked Ruth Bader Ginsburg after her death for her comments on Kaepernick and honestly her selfishness for not retiring when she could be replaced with a liberal justice, so the whole double standard accusation doesn’t really hold up. Also, for all the claims of supporting speech you don’t like, conservatives are just as bad as the charicature of whiny SJWs they like to get mad at all the time. In response to someone’s post one conservative account tagged the Miami police department. What did they think that would accomplish? You want to throw someone in jail because they hurt your feelings? I believe that post was also liked if not retweeted by the author of this article. I’m just tired of the fake outrage. I give you all the pass to say whatever you want about Bernie when he dies. And you know what I’m going to do? Ignore it. Because I’m an adult. And I’m certainly not going to write a weepy, poorly researched and written op ed about it either.
The author never called for jail time, or even any punishment at all. She was simply pointing out the hypocrisy of Liberals when they write offensive tweets about the right versus the shit given to Conservatives whenever they do something slightly off-color. It’s not fake outrage, it’s a legitimate problem, and the sooner you accept your innate hypocrisy, the sooner you can become a better person. This article was not “weepy” or even “poorly researched”. It represented facts and their implied interpretations, and the research on Rush was extensive and there was even a screenshot of the tweet so there was no paraphrasing, or twisting of words. Also, I invite you to write an op ed when Bernie dies about how many conservatives respond with “ding dong the witch is dead.”
So, if this piece does “represented facts and their implied interpretations,” why are you demeaning someone for questioning the interpretation of someone tagging the police on a tweet? What is the *implication* of letting MUPD know which students didn’t like Rush Limbaugh?
Also, if this piece and wider publication claims to have done extensive research, why was none of the subtext about what motivated these students to be relieved by Limbaugh’s passing mentioned? If you decide to mention RGB’s criticisms of Kapernick as grounds for criticism, at least give some context as to where Rush stands morally compared to her statements. Or would it be a stain on his supporters’ character to mention the cruel bullying upon which he built his entire career? Starting from the AIDS update where he celebrated gays’ deaths, to calling law students advocating for birth control (which prevents abortions!), to eventually mocking Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s cancer, painting those who saw him as a negative force in society as ruthless bullies tells a lot about the moral alignments of this publication.
You talk about hypocrisy, about doing something right, why would you want to associate and look up to a man who was divisive, racist, homophobic, bigoted, sexist? The list goes on. Why would you align with someone this terrible? This article is ultimately inciting and only furthers conservative perspective, it is an unremarkable op ed. I sincerely do not understand women who support men who are sexist and misogynistic; women these men do not want to see succeed! You did mention he said controversial statements, but over 30 years he probably should have known better. Philanthropy does not make a person good, especially disingenuous donations to look good and obviously make up for his public wrongdoings. No one’s death should be celebrated, I sincerely just want to understand why the association with someone so hateful, racist, and sexist is praised? As a human, referencing your writing, you should not want to glorify a person who fundamentally divides people. I am positive writing this comment will only further solidify your beliefs and your friends/colleagues beliefs, but I am getting tired of the perpetuation of superiority and division between peers because it caters to your beliefs. I also know this comment is exactly what you want, again to perpetuate and solidify your beliefs, but I again am just tired. Feel free to reply 🙂
It’s so sad that Rush Limbaugh died yesterday 🙁
Wait let me get it straight you guys are being silenced and oppressed? But you [are privileged enough to] make a media platform/outlet? K
Hey Alli,
I think this article has some holes in it’s arguments.
Similarly to Mr. Hugh Janus, I (a leftist) was very critical of RBG’s policies. When someone’s career is based in politics, there is lots of room for public opinion regardless of their passing. It may not be “politically correct” to have negative commentary after they have died, but free speech extends beyond pleasantries.
While I can also understand the praise of Limbaugh’s donations to charities, it must be noted these may not be entirely sympathetic intentions. Philanthropic donations are typically used as tax write-offs for wealthy people, so they can pay less to charity instead of paying more in taxes based on their income.
I think there is also something to be said about the hypocrisy of Limbaugh’s views. As someone who demonized illicit drug use, Rush himself was caught doctor shopping for opioids and holding prescription drugs not in his name. He also benefitted from generational wealth, but wrongly identified himself with working Americans and criticized low-income workers. Right-wing populism always fails to serve it’s audience because it’s speaker heads are not truthful about their intentions and past.
I understand your frustration with “bullying” from the left, but members of the conservative club on campus have also criticized leftist student tweets in groupchats or on social media platforms in hurtful/harsh ways. That is the repercussion of being political. In classes, leftist views are also criticized and debated over. This isn’t “the right being censored/bullied,” this is diversity of opinion of sensitive topics. Of course people will criticize Limbaugh, he has said very offensive things. It is on you, a fan of his, to accept he said those things and defend/oppose them as you see fit. I have every right to criticize his inflammatory comments against my identities and dislike him. His commentary has contributed to federal decisions that oppress other identities besides his own, that is worthy of noting and examining. A tweet from me after he’s dead only seems to affect you.
Very well-written and incredibly respectful. 1000/10 🙂
“Incredibly respectful” they literally spied on someone’s private Twitter account lmao
Fantastic story… Sad that so many chose to spit on the grave of any human who died a slow, painful death by cancer. Left or right, you just don’t do that! As a successful alum, class of ’93, with 3 kids at Miami or about to be at Miami, I am saddened by the constant liberal/left bias and double standard. This article is full of FACTS, real examples.. very credible and well written! Keep up the fight!
I agree no human should suffer a slow painful death. But Rush specifically didn’t have that, he had a lot of money to afford medical treatments and expensive opioids to help with pain. The people who have slow painful deaths are usually in the working class who can’t afford painkiller prescriptions or life altering surgeries. That’s why I am a proponent of universal healthcare so that no hardworking American dies painfully. I hope you are too, you seem really passionate about this cause and I would love for you to join the fight for healthcare for all!
“ Live up to the morals and principles that made Rush so hated by the radical left. Rush believed in American values and believed in standing by them at all costs. I encourage you to do the same.”
So American Values then include:
– calling advocates for birth control, one of the best ways to limit abortions, “sluts” and “prostitutes”
– saying that “gays deserve their fate” for dying of AIDS
– saying that veterans who criticized the Iraq war aren’t real veterans, or “phony soldiers”
– peddling misinformation, from implying that the Deepwater Horizon tragedy was perpetrated by eco-terrorists to birtherism
– creating an entire identity based on inflammatory rhetoric and hate, opposition rather than information, and parties of personality, not policies
What principles did he hold, ever? Does the “radical left” hate him for being a brave conservative, or for creating a generation of conservatives who believe being mean equals being brave?