Editing Rush Limbaugh (section)

==Controversies and inaccuracies==
Comedian [[Al Franken]], who later became a Senator, wrote a satirical 1996 book, ''[[Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations]]'', in which he accused Limbaugh of distorting facts to serve his own political biases.<ref name="Franken"/>

Of Limbaugh's controversial statements and allegations they have investigated, ''[[Politifact]]'' has rated 84% as ranging from "Mostly False" to "Pants On Fire" (signifying false statements that cannot be reasonably assessed as merely errors), with 5% of Limbaugh's contested statements rising to the level of "Mostly True" and 0% rated "True".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/personalities/rush-limbaugh/ |title=Rush Limbaugh's file |website=[[PolitiFact]]|access-date=February 17, 2019|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102065219/https://www.politifact.com/personalities/rush-limbaugh/ |archive-date=January 2, 2019}}</ref> These debunked allegations by Limbaugh include suggestions that the existence of gorillas disproves the theory of evolution, that Ted Kennedy sent a letter to [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|Soviet General Secretary]] [[Yuri Andropov]] seeking to undercut [[President Reagan]], that a recent lack of hurricanes disproves climate change, and that President Obama wanted to mandate [[circumcision]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Say what? Rush Limbaugh wonders why Harambe didn't evolve |url=http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/jun/03/rush-limbaugh/rush-limbaugh-asks-why-cincinnati-zoo-gorilla-hadn/|access-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106204902/https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/jun/03/rush-limbaugh/rush-limbaugh-asks-why-cincinnati-zoo-gorilla-hadn/|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/mar/13/rush-limbaugh/limbaugh-ted-kennedy-undercut-reagan-back-door-lin/|title=Limbaugh: Ted Kennedy undercut Reagan with back-door line to Soviets|access-date=February 17, 2019|archive-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228083016/https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/mar/13/rush-limbaugh/limbaugh-ted-kennedy-undercut-reagan-back-door-lin/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/oct/07/rush-limbaugh/rush-limbaugh-wrong-lack-hurricanes-diminishes-cli/|title=Limbaugh: Lack of major hurricanes disproves climate change|access-date=February 17, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=August 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827115645/https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/oct/07/rush-limbaugh/rush-limbaugh-wrong-lack-hurricanes-diminishes-cli/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/27/rush-limbaugh/limbaugh-circumcision-obama-cdc/|title=Limbaugh wrong that Obama is mandating circumcision|access-date=February 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827120651/https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/27/rush-limbaugh/limbaugh-circumcision-obama-cdc/|archive-date=August 27, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Hu Jintao ===
Limbaugh was heavily criticized for mocking [[Hu Jintao]], then the [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]] and [[paramount leader]] of the [[People's Republic of China]], and the [[Chinese language]] during an episode. After proceeding to label Hu as a "Chicom dictator", Limbaugh mocked the [[Chinese language]], primarily using words like [[ching chong]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-01-21|title=Hu brouhaha: Rush Limbaugh slammed for 'childish' mocking of Chinese leader|url= https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/hu-brouhaha-rush-limbaugh-slammed-for-childish-mocking-of-chinese-leader-20110121-19yz0.html|access-date=2021-04-27|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

=== Joseph Kony ===
On October 14, 2011, Limbaugh questioned the [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. Armed Forces]] initiative against [[Joseph Kony]] and his [[Lord's Resistance Army]] (LRA), based on the assumption that they were Christians.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Grier |first1=Peter |title=Why did Rush Limbaugh defend Joseph Kony and Lord's Resistance Army? |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2012/0309/Why-did-Rush-Limbaugh-defend-Joseph-Kony-and-Lord-s-Resistance-Army |journal=Christian Science Monitor |date=March 9, 2012 |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305134120/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2012/0309/Why-did-Rush-Limbaugh-defend-Joseph-Kony-and-Lord-s-Resistance-Army |url-status=live }}</ref> "They are fighting the Muslims in [[Sudan]]. And Obama has sent troops, United States troops to remove them from the battlefield, which means kill them."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Okeowo |first1=Alexis |title=OBAMA AND UGANDA: LIMBAUGH'S ARMY |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/obama-and-uganda-limbaughs-army |website=newyorker.com |date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812183631/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/obama-and-uganda-limbaughs-army |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon learning about the accusations leveled against Kony, which included kidnapping whole schools of young children for use as child soldiers, Limbaugh stated that he would research the group.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/magazine/08UGANDA.html |title=Charlotte, Grace, Janet and Caroline Come Home |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 8, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |first=Melanie |last=Thernstrom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523071704/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/magazine/08UGANDA.html |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="targets">{{cite web |url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/14/obama_invades_uganda_targets_christians |title=Obama Invades Uganda, Targets Christians |publisher=[[The Rush Limbaugh Show]] |date=October 14, 2011 |access-date=October 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016191151/http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/14/obama_invades_uganda_targets_christians |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/rush-limbaugh-attacked-president-obama-for-targeting-joseph-konys-christian-lra/ |title=Rush Limbaugh Attacked President Obama For 'Targeting' Joseph Kony's 'Christian' LRA |publisher=Mediaite |date=March 10, 2012 |access-date=August 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018033606/http://www.mediaite.com/online/rush-limbaugh-attacked-president-obama-for-targeting-joseph-konys-christian-lra/ |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== ''Deepwater Horizon'' ===
In 2010, after the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill|''Deepwater Horizon'' oil spill]] in the [[Gulf of Mexico]], Limbaugh speculated on his show that [[Eco-terrorism|eco-terrorists]] deliberately destroyed the [[Deepwater Horizon|oil well]] to justify President Obama's [[2010 United States deepwater drilling moratorium|deepwater drilling moratorium]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Limbaugh, Scientists Square Off on Oil Spill Cleanup|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/limbaugh-environmentalists-square-off-blame-oil-leak/story?id=10542582|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109001205/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/limbaugh-environmentalists-square-off-blame-oil-leak/story?id=10542582|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Unite the Right ===
After the white supremacist [[Unite the Right rally]], in which a counter-protester was murdered in the [[Charlottesville car attack]], Limbaugh claimed that the violence had been provoked by [[Black Lives Matter]] activists, [[Antifa (United States)|Antifa]], and [[Robert Creamer (political consultant)|Robert Creamer]]. He also claimed without evidence that the police response had been deliberately restrained by [[Terry McAuliffe]] as a botched attempt to start a presidential bid in the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries]], and that it was part of a campaign by "international financiers" such as [[George Soros]] to start a Second American Civil War to remove its status as a [[Superpower|global superpower]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chaitin|first=Daniel|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/rush-limbaugh-warns-of-second-civil-war-after-charlottesville-violence|title=Rush Limbaugh warns of second civil war after Charlottesville violence |date=August 19, 2017|website=Washington Examiner|access-date=April 28, 2019|archive-date=April 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428012524/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/rush-limbaugh-warns-of-second-civil-war-after-charlottesville-violence|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Chelsea Clinton===
During the Clinton administration, while taping his television program, Limbaugh referred to media coverage of [[Socks (cat)|Socks]], the Clintons' cat. He then stated, "But did you know there is also a White House dog?" and presented a picture of [[Chelsea Clinton]] who was 13 years old at the time.<ref name="Roberts">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/inaug/players/chelsea.htm?noredirect=on|title=16 Candles for Chelsea|last1=Roberts|first1=Roxanne|date=February 27, 1996|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 9, 2018|archive-date=July 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710071255/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/inaug/players/chelsea.htm?noredirect=on|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Clay-Little">{{cite news|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Complaints-and-anger-dominate-talk-radio-781729.php|title=Complaints and anger dominate talk radio|last1=Clay-Little|first1=Kathy|date=June 4, 2010|access-date=July 9, 2018|newspaper=Mysa|archive-date=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093829/https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Complaints-and-anger-dominate-talk-radio-781729.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Michael J. Fox===
In October 2006, Limbaugh said [[Michael J. Fox]], who has [[Parkinson's disease]], had exaggerated the effects of his disability in a political TV advertisement advocating for funding of [[stem cell research]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Limbaugh Accuses Fox Of Exaggerating Parkinson's Symptoms "He Was Either Off The Medication Or He Was Acting"... |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/limbaugh-accuses-fox-of-e_n_32326 |website=[[HuffPost]]|date=March 28, 2008 |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728110738/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/limbaugh-accuses-fox-of-e_n_32326 |url-status=live }}</ref> Limbaugh said that Fox in the ad had been "shameless" in "moving all around and shaking", and that Fox had not taken "his medication or he's acting, one of the two".<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102400691.html | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | first=David | last=Montgomery | title=Rush Limbaugh On the Offensive Against Ad With Michael J. Fox | date=October 25, 2006 | access-date=February 17, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115180822/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102400691.html | archive-date=January 15, 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref> Fox said "the irony of it is I was too medicated",<ref name="McNamara">{{cite web | last=McNamara | first=Melissa | title=Transcript: Michael J. Fox Interview | website=[[CBS News]] | date=October 26, 2006 | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-michael-j-fox/ | access-date=October 1, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003090222/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-michael-j-fox/ | archive-date=October 3, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> adding that there was no way to predict how his symptoms would manifest. Limbaugh said he would apologize to Fox "bigly, hugely{{nbsp}}... if I am wrong in characterizing his behavior on this commercial as an act."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fox-responds-to-limbaugh-accusation/ | work=[[CBS News]] | title=Fox Responds To Limbaugh Accusation | access-date=February 17, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003163800/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/24/politics/main2121910.shtml | archive-date=October 3, 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, Fox said Limbaugh in 2006 had acted on "bullying instincts" when "he said I faked it. I didn't fake it.", and said Limbaugh's goal was to have him marginalized and shut down for his stem cell stance.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/15/clips-from-last-night-michael-j-fox-on-rush-limbaugh-meredith-vieira-and-richard-cohen-on-living-with-ms/?iref=allsearch | work=[[CNN]] | title=Clips From Last Night: Michael J. Fox on Rush Limbaugh; Meredith Vieira and Richard Cohen on living with MS | date=March 15, 2012 | access-date=February 17, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612145320/http://piersmorgan.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/15/clips-from-last-night-michael-j-fox-on-rush-limbaugh-meredith-vieira-and-richard-cohen-on-living-with-ms/?iref=allsearch | archive-date=June 12, 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Phony soldiers===
In 2007, [[Media Matters]] reported that Limbaugh had categorized Iraq War veterans opposed to the war as "the phony soldiers". Limbaugh later said that he was speaking of [[Jesse MacBeth]], a soldier who falsely claimed to have been decorated for valor but, in fact, had never seen combat. Limbaugh said Media Matters was trying to smear him with out-of-context and selectively edited comments.<ref>{{cite web |title="Phony Soldiers" Smear Rolls On; The Mad Bomber of Bosnia Attacks |website=rushlimbaugh.com |url=https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/05/19/phony_soldiers_smear_rolls_on_the_mad_bomber_of_bosnia_attacks2/ |access-date=February 11, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309164607/https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/05/19/phony_soldiers_smear_rolls_on_the_mad_bomber_of_bosnia_attacks2/}}</ref> After Limbaugh published what he claimed was the entire transcript of phony soldiers discussion, Media Matters said that over a minute and 30 seconds of the transcript was omitted without "notation or ellipsis to indicate that there is, in fact, a break in the transcript."<ref>{{cite web| title=Limbaugh falsely recasts "phony soldiers" smear| publisher=Media Matters| date=September 28, 2007| url=http://mediamatters.org/research/200709280010| access-date=August 12, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705141239/http://mediamatters.org/research/200709280010| archive-date=July 5, 2010| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Limbaugh selectively edited "phony soldiers" clip, claimed it was "the entire transcript"| publisher=Media Matters| date=September 28, 2007| url=http://mediamatters.org/research/200709280009| access-date=August 12, 2010| archive-date=June 16, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616062250/http://mediamatters.org/research/200709280009| url-status=dead}}</ref> Limbaugh said during the minute and a half gap Media Matters had pointed out, he was waiting for relevant [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] copy on the topic, and the transcript and audio edits were "for space and relevance reasons, not to hide anything."<ref>{{cite magazine| title=Limbaugh Makes His Case| magazine=The National Review Online|date=October 3, 2007| url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/222373/limbaugh-makes-his-case/byron-york| access-date=August 16, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512221334/http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/222373/limbaugh-makes-his-case/byron-york| url-status=dead| archive-date=May 12, 2011}}</ref> Senator Harry Reid and 41 Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, signed a letter asking the CEO of Clear Channel to denounce Limbaugh. Instead, the executive gave the letter to Limbaugh to auction. It raised $2.1 million, at the time an [[eBay]] record for an auction item for charity. Limbaugh said he would match the donation and give it to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Limbaugh letter nets $2.1 million on eBay |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21386016|date=October 19, 2007|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=[[NBC News]]|access-date=February 20, 2021|url-status=live |archive-date=March 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329220458/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21386016}}</ref>

===Bid for ownership of the Rams===
The [[NFL]] team moved to [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]], and Limbaugh wanted to be a partial owner, but in October 2009, the group that planned to buy the [[St. Louis Rams|Rams]], dropped him.<ref>"Group Cut Ties With Limbaugh to Buy NFL Team" ''FOX News''. Associated Press. October 19, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2021.</ref> Limbaugh blamed [[Al Sharpton]] and [[Jesse Jackson]], among others, for his bid failure.<ref>"Limbaugh Blasts Critics After Dropping Rams Bid" ''CBS News''. October 15, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2021.</ref>

===Sandra Fluke===
{{Main|Rush Limbaugh–Sandra Fluke controversy}}
On February 29, 2012, Limbaugh, while talking about [[contraceptive mandate]]s, included remarks about law student [[Sandra Fluke]] as a "slut" and "prostitute".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Montopoli |first1=Brian |title=Sandra Fluke: Rush Limbaugh wants "to silence women" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sandra-fluke-rush-limbaugh-wants-to-silence-women/ |website=cbsnews.com |date=March 2, 2012 |publisher=CBS Interactive, Inc. |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-date=February 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209183641/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sandra-fluke-rush-limbaugh-wants-to-silence-women/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Memmott |first1=Mark |title=Student Is Outraged By Rush Limbaugh Calling Her A 'Slut' And 'Prostitute' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/03/02/147809138/student-is-outraged-by-rush-limbaugh-calling-her-a-slut-and-prostitute |newspaper=[[NPR]] |date=March 2, 2012 |publisher=National Public Radio (NPR) |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205192833/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/03/02/147809138/student-is-outraged-by-rush-limbaugh-calling-her-a-slut-and-prostitute |url-status=live }}</ref> Limbaugh was commenting on Fluke's speech the previous week to House Democrats in support of mandating insurance coverage for [[Contraception|contraceptives]]. Limbaugh made numerous similar statements over the next two days, leading to the loss of 45<ref>{{cite news |title=Rush Limbaugh loses 45 advertisers |author=MJ Lee |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73675.html |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=September 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829180636/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73675.html |archive-date=August 29, 2012}}</ref> to "more than 100"<ref>{{cite news|last=Zielenziger|first=David |title=Limbaugh Boycott Draws Blood: Cumulus Media Cites 'Drag' In 2Q Revenue|url= http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/374036/20120815/rush-limbaugh-boycott-romney-ryan-cumulus-premiere.htm |newspaper=International Business Times|date=August 15, 2012|access-date=February 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823090521/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/374036/20120815/rush-limbaugh-boycott-romney-ryan-cumulus-premiere.htm|archive-date=August 23, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> local and national sponsors and Limbaugh's apology on his show for some of his comments. Susan MacMillan Emry co-organized a public relations campaign called [[Rock the Slut Vote]] as a response to Limbaugh's remarks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/rock-slut-vote-site-aims-fight-women-issues-november-election-article-1.1090276|title='Rock the Slut Vote' site aims to fight for women's issues in November election |last=Duerson|first=Meena Hart|work=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708074641/http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/rock-slut-vote-site-aims-fight-women-issues-november-election-article-1.1090276|archive-date=July 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===COVID-19 pandemic in the United States===
{{Main|Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic}}
During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]], Limbaugh asserted that the virus was the [[common cold]].<ref>{{cite web | last1=McCarthy | first1=Bill | title=Fact-checking Rush Limbaugh's misleading claim that the new coronavirus is "the common cold" | url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/feb/27/rush-limbaugh/fact-checking-rush-limbaughs-misleading-claim-new-/ |website=[[PolitiFact]] |date=February 27, 2020 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406173318/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/feb/27/rush-limbaugh/fact-checking-rush-limbaughs-misleading-claim-new-/| archive-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref> Limbaugh said on his radio show on February 24, 2020, "I'm dead right on this. The coronavirus is the common cold, folks," alleging it was being "weaponized" to bring down Trump.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/25/rush-limbaugh-coronavirus-trump|title=Rush Limbaugh: coronavirus a 'common cold' being 'weaponised' against Trump|first=Martin|last=Pengelly|date=February 25, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref> Limbaugh's statement was called "wildly irresponsible" by ''The Washington Post''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chiu |first1=Allyson |title=Rush Limbaugh on coronavirus: 'The common cold' that's being 'weaponized' against Trump |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/02/25/limbaugh-coronavirus-trump/ |access-date=August 20, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 25, 2020}}</ref>