The State of the Union Address took place this past Tuesday, and Trump made a decision that speaks volumes about not only his presidency, but where America currently stands under his control. If you are unaware of who Rush Limbaugh is, let me give you the rundown. He is a Republican conservative who has his own radio talk show called The Rush Limbaugh Show, he is also an author and a former television show host. Trump chose to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the State of the Union Address, which is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States. Trump’s decision is under a lot of criticism and controversy, and here’s why.
Rush Limbaugh has a long track record of racist commentary in his thirty-year career as a radio host. Here are some of his statements:
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“I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.”
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“You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed.”
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“Let the unskilled jobs that take absolutely no knowledge whatsoever to do – let stupid and unskilled Mexicans do that work.”
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“They’re twelve percent of the population. Who the hell cares?”
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“Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.”
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“The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.”
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“Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?” If you do not know, Jesse Jackson is a Black American civil rights activist.
This compilation of horrific quotes says a lot about Trump’s ideals and our current America. Some of you may be wondering: “How could Trump pick such a racist as a recipient of the Medal of Freedom?” I asked myself the same question. This action of Trump’s just proves that he is not representative of all Americans, has no respect for people of color, and this is yet another example of why people call Donald Trump a racist. He may keep denying these accusations, although his actions speak louder than words.
Overall, Trump’s decision at the State of the Union Address made America look racist, close-minded, and disrespectful and disregarding toward people of color. This is not what America is about and this bad representation is one of the main reasons why this upcoming election is extremely important. Please remember to go out and vote, and remember the importance behind your decision and the action of voting itself.