Unlike Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), who ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor racist, misogynistic, homophobic talk show host Rush Limbaugh, the state’s agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried, knows that in life, the man was [1] a scumbag.
And as of Monday, she will direct offices under her purview to ignore DeSantis’ order, The Hill [2] reports.
“Lowering the flag to half staff the flag of the United States of America is a sacred honor that pays respect to fallen heroes and patriots,” Fried said in a statement [3] Monday. “It is not a partisan political tool. Therefore, I will notify all state offices under my direction to disregard the Governor’s forthcoming order to lower flags for Mr. Limbaugh — because we will not celebrate hate speech, bigotry, and division.”
“Lowering the flag should always reflect unity, not division, and raising our standards, not lowering them,” she added. “Our flags will remain flying high to celebrate the American values of diversity, inclusion, and respect for all.”
I will not lower the flags at my Department’s state offices for Rush Limbaugh. Lowering our flag should reflect unity, not division — and raising our standards, not lowering them. https://t.co/HqtzeoUHkr [4]
— Nikki Fried (@nikkifried) February 22, 2021 [5]
On Friday, one day after Limbaugh’s death from lung cancer, DeSantis announced flags would be lowered. While some tributes rolled in, critics also remembered [6] his cruel comments in which he compared a young Chelsea Clinton to a dog and calling Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke a “slut” after she testified in favor of requiring health insurance to cover birth control.
Because that’s the kind of creep he was.
Chelsea Clinton was 13 years-old when Rush Limbaugh aired this "joke" about her on his television program. Imagine being 13, with all the anxiety of that age, and this airs on national television. pic.twitter.com/Ha4XmsCUTl [7]
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) February 17, 2021 [8]
He may have "changed radio" and "changed talk shows" but he used his platform to spread hate and vitriol against innocent people.
Just because he died doesn't mean we forget.
— Heather Antos (@HeatherAntos) February 17, 2021 [9]
Anyone who targets a 13-year-old child in the way that he did Chelsea Clinton is a vile, contemptible human being. He was crude, appealing to the lowest common denominator and it’s no wonder Trump bemoaned the loss of his friend because he’s a creep too.
“He is a legend,” Trump said in a call to Fox News after hearing about Limbaugh’s death. “And those people who listen to him every day, it was like a religious experience for a lot of them.”
Frankly, that’s disgusting.