{UAH} RUSH A BROADCAST RADIO LEGEND

Rush Limbaugh: A broadcast radio legend

by Nicole Russell

 

February 17, 2021 02:48 PM

Renowned conservative radio talk show host and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Rush Limbaugh has died of complications stemming from lung cancer at the age of 70. The iconic broadcaster, who talked politics three hours a day, five days a week from his “golden” EIB microphone for 32 years, announced that he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in early 2020, although he sounded hopeful he would beat the disease.

While liberal media personalities have begun to celebrate his death in a most ghoulish way, conservatives took to social media to mourn the loss of the broadcast giant and celebrate his influential life.

There isn’t a broadcaster today who cannot give credit to Limbaugh. He created the industry and “infotainment.” The modern conservative movement wouldn’t be what it is without his contribution before social media, before the Internet.

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) February 17, 2021

Quick story about how talented and engaging Rush was: One summer while I was in college, I was working with a hardcore liberal. To troll him, I’d play Rush’s show as we drove around together. It was my car after all. My buddy made it known how much he haaaaaated it...

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) February 17, 2021

RIP Rush Limbaugh, the creator of talk radio and by extension the alternative media, an indispensable and iconic conservative voice.

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 17, 2021

A pioneer in talk-show radio, Limbaugh gets credit from many in conservative media with spearheading broadcast media (and, by extension, other forms of media) dedicated to promoting conservative ideals such as limited government, the free market, and the promotion of personal responsibility and liberty. His show undoubtedly influenced millions, particularly those over the age of 35, explaining conservative ideology in a way that both the everyman and the congressman could understand.

In 2020, President Donald Trump awarded Limbaugh with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to civilians. Limbaugh’s genuine surprise in receiving the award is still a joy to watch in this clip. Just three years ago, Limbaugh was America’s most-listened-to radio host, reaching an audience of 25 million per month. The fact that he was able to maintain his popularity over three decades, even toward the end while battling lung cancer, speaks to his tenacity, grit, and popularity.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Limbaugh, but I feel like one of his conservative media proteges. Like many millennials, I grew up listening to him in the car and on construction sites working alongside my father, a paint and wallpaper contractor, for a few extra bucks. I eventually became bemused at the way Limbaugh would thwack his papers in front of his microphone and tell the audience he was smarter than liberals even with “half his brain tied behind his back.” Even as he joked and prodded liberal “commies,” his lengthy monologues were often filled with brilliant observations, commentary on conservatism, and highly intuitive explanations of political events. Without him and my father tag-teaming political thought, I would not have grown up to love conservative ideology and, by extension, this country the way I do.

Of course, Limbaugh was known to say some outlandish things. It was not uncommon for him to insult or make fun of a famous person on occasion, especially if they were liberal and famous. He despised President Barack Obama for his liberal policies and supported Trump’s bid for reelection, even after President Biden won. While this upset much of the media and led to regular “fact checks,” Limbaugh’s incisive remarks were hyperbolic. Not to mention, he espoused far more good (in the form of influence, generosity of spirit, and intellectual rigor) than he did bad.

Limbaugh collectively influenced generations of people, through the purest blend of information and entertainment, to love conservatism and country. Without him, we would not have the conservative activism we have today through blogs, websites, podcasts, and other conservative powerhouse broadcasts. This kind of influence, which feels both personal and collective, is rare, but strong and infectious: People wanted to listen, to learn, and then to emulate him in their own way — and they did. What greater form of flattery is there?

Limbaugh died as he lived: fighting, courageous, and optimistic about the future. "Mega-dittos, Rush," as callers who phoned in to his show were known to say. May he rest in peace.

Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.

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