When Rush Limbaugh died last week from lung cancer complications, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a bizarre order to lower the flag in honor of the racist, homophobic, misogynistic, conservative radio host. Limbaugh was a highly toxic and divisive man, so honoring him in such a way seems incredibly inappropriate. And Limbaugh was even divisive about smoking cigarettes. Limbaugh, who died from lung cancer, previously denied that cigarette smoke was a serious health threat. I could write volumes on what a shitty human being Rush Limbaugh was, but the reaction to lowering the flag in his honor speaks for itself.
Democratic Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced last week that she would be instructing her offices to “disregard” DeSantis’ order, and said, “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.”
And now, Palm Beach County, home to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, is also declining to lower the flag in Limbaugh’s honor, 11 Alive reports.
According to the outlet, Palm Beach County said that it was following its normal flag protocols. And at least one county commissioner said that the flags should stay at full-staff, calling Limbaugh “incredibly divisive.”
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“The county’s courthouse flags remained at full staff, ignoring Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Tuesday afternoon order directing its U.S. and Florida flags to be flown at half-staff,” the outlet reports. “Palm Beach County would only say it followed “normal protocols” on Wednesday, but Commissioner Melissa McKinlay posted a statement on Twitter saying, “The lowering of flags should be a unifying gesture during solemn occasions, such as in remembrance of the young lives lost during the Parkland High School massacre or first-responder line of duty deaths.”
Here she is:
Palm Beach County will not lower its courthouse flag tomorrow. https://t.co/8e2sTdzjsQ pic.twitter.com/XmMwfbZVZl
— Melissa McKinlay (@VoteMcKinlay) February 24, 2021
The toxic radio host even had an “AIDS Update” segment that mocked the deaths of gay people. More recently, Limbaugh helped to spread Trump’s big lie of widespread voter fraud that doesn’t exist, all in an attempt to overturn the election the former president lost to Joe Biden. Following the deadly insurrection on Jan. 6, Limbaugh tried to justify the violence. So, yeah, he shouldn’t be honored, and I’m sorry, but I’m not upset that he died. There, I said it.
Featured image via Political Tribune gallery
