RIP Rush Limbaugh: The most ridiculous things said on the radio

Conservative radio host & media legend Rush Limbaugh passed away on February 17th, 2021, due to complications from lung cancer, a disease he had been battling for over a year. He was seventy years old. 

Known for his hot mic and perhaps even hotter takes, Rush Limbaugh took the radio world by storm in ways that can only be compared to perhaps Howard Stern, only Limbaugh mostly tried to keep in his own political lane. However, this didn’t stop Limbaugh from venturing into other non-political categories if he felt like he had an opinion on it. 

Rush Limbaugh had his audience, but he also had those who hated him, as he was often known for crossing the line and making horrific statements that were as offensive as they were dangerous. Here we take a look back at the life of Rush Limbaugh, as well as some of the controversial takes he made live on the radio. 

Rush hits the fast lane

Born on January 12th, 1951, Rush Limbaugh was raised in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he would go on to eventually graduate from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1969. It was also during this time where Limbaugh found his first foot in the radio door, as he worked for KGMO at the age of sixteen, working under the name “Rusty Sharpe”. 

However, giving in to his parents’ college aspirations, he attended Southeast Missouri State University. Sadly for his parents, Limbaugh eventually dropped out of college after only two semesters, as his parents cited how he nearly flunked every class, seemingly only interested in the world of radio. 

Lucky for Limbaugh, college didn’t seem to be necessary for this young radio icon hopeful, as he was able to quickly secure a job in the field that he admired for so long. 

Radio Rush

In 1971, Rush Limbaugh landed a DJ gig at WIXZ, which was at the time a top-forty station in Pennsylvania, changing his radio name to “Bachelor Jeff” in the process. After a few years of jumping stations, and even working for the Kansas City Royals as the director of group sales & events, Rush Limbaugh eventually returned back to the mic in 1983 at KMBZ in Kansas. 

Rush Limbaugh really broke out into his radio celebrity role during his time at KFBK in Sacramento, California, in 1984, due to his political takes. This garnered the attention of WABC in New York City, who offered Limbaugh his own flagship show that would stick around for many years. Limbaugh was able to host this show from West Palm Beach, Florida. 

Since its nationally syndicated premiere in 1988, The Rush Limbaugh Show became the highest radio talk show in the U.S., airing across 600 radio stations nationwide. The show would feature multiple guests of the political sort, including Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger, all joining Rush to discuss right-winged politics. 

Limbaugh hot takes

Limbaugh was not shy of his political affiliation, and while it’s fine to have an opinion and support your political party, it’s another thing entirely to cross the line as Rush Limbaugh did so many times via his radio show. Here are some of the most ridiculous & inappropriate things Rush Limbaugh has said & done on his radio show. 

Sandra Fluke

Sandra Fluke was a Georgetown University law student in 2012, who supported and was vocal about women’s rights. When Fluke gave testimony to Congressional Democrats in favor of mandating contraception to be included in insurance provided by employers, Limbaugh called Fluke a “slut” and “prostitute” on his radio show in anger.

Apparently Rush had a problem with both pro-choice & pro-voice.  

Michael J. Fox

Around 2006, when actor Michael J. Fox was doing publicity to raise awareness for Parkinson’s disease, Limbaugh was quoted saying that Fox was “exaggerating the disease” and that it was all “purely an act”.  

Class act? Or class a$$#@!&? 

Barack Obama

In 2007, Limbaugh referred to an editorial piece by the Los Angeles Times that claimed that presidential candidate Barack Obama would garner voter support because he filled that “magic n@#$%” role. He would later go on to play an edited song by Paul Shanklin called “Barack the Magic N#$&@”, to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon”. 

Disgusting. 

—

What are your thoughts on Rush Limbaugh? Did you ever listen to his radio show? Comment below and let us know your thoughts.