Special Olympics' Shriver "incredulous" at Limbaugh's use of "retard"
February 05, 2010 4:08 pm ET by Media Matters staff
In a February 5 letter to Rush Limbaugh, Tim Shriver, chairman and CEO of the Special Olympics, wrote that he "incredulously listened to the segment in your show in which you repeatedly and offensively used the term 'retard' in reference to our meeting with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel."
Media Matters for America documented Limbaugh's use of the term on his February 3 show. While discussing Sarah Palin's call for Emanuel's resignation for using the term, Limbaugh stated, "Our political correct society is acting like some giant insult's taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards." The next day, Limbaugh claimed that he used the word "retard" only in "quoting Emanuel."
In his letter, Shriver wrote, "Our message is as simple as it is powerful: people with intellectual disabilities are human beings. Gaining social recognition of that humanity continues to be an elusive goal for them and for those who love and care about them. For centuries, they have borne the stigma of institutionalization, sterilization, social isolation, and bigotry. The names associated with them -- such as 'retarded' and 'retard' -- have for too long been used as cruel taunts."
Shiver further called on Limbaugh to join Special Olympics athlete Loretta Claiborne by "ending your use of this term and by further using your great influence and position to help others do the same."
Rahm Emanuel had apologized prior to your public scolding of him for using the term "retarded" behind closed doors in Aug. 2009.
Rush Limbaugh has not apologized for using the term "retard" 29 times in a single segment on his radio show on Feb. 3.
Whoops, sorry. I forgot, you don't really give a crap.
Never mind.
She didn't count on Limbaugh opening his big mouth.
Now, if she doesn't condemn Limbaugh for what he said, and asks for HIS firing, she loses even more credibility in my opinion, because we now REALLY see that her commitment to fighting for people with disabilities is all a bunch of BS, and only being used to make cheap political points, instead of actually caring about it.
That being said...
In my line of work, the contractors we often use are often comprised of a majority of disabled workers. Be it, physical disabilities, mental health disabilities, or mental disabilities, I have been consistently impressed by the work that these folks do, and also, since they're doing this work FOR the United States Army, they are, in their own way, contributing directly to supporting our troops, and they are PROUD in doing it, and they're very good at it. Compare that to what Limbaugh does for our country, and he looks foolish in comparison.
I don't excuse Rahm for his statement, but I certainly find Rush' comments (and his lame "quoting Emmanuel" excuse) far more offensive.
She toted him around no the campaign trail, but pawned him off on her family, constantly talking about how she decided to give birth to a handicapped child. Now she calls foul when others speak.
It reminds me of the episode of Seinfeld when the dentist converts to Judaism and Jerry claims he is only doing so for the jokes!
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The Midnight Review
Now, Palin, being on the road, being on Fox, doing book tours, speaking engagements, and so on, how much attention is she actually paying to her children. And not just Trig, but what about the rest of the brood?
I call into question her parenting skills, or lack thereof.
Do you think that will happen before or after he askes her to sit on his lap?
Shouldn't take long. Considering Rush always brags how hard it is to get through and be on his show, finding someone to defend his tasteless and thoughtless remarks is always an easy task.
Which makes you wonder exactly how callers do get through the screening on the Limbaugh show in the first place. Are they "screened" or is there another process at play in getting callers to prop up Limbaugh.....?
Some people say...
True believers must have really good phone connections to EIB!
I also assume that Rush is, in essence, a thin-skinned coward.
Looks like things haven't changed.
I work out by Mt. Vernon, on Ft. Belvoir. If you ever see someone out near there riding a bike, give a honk and say hello.
I mean, that really says it all. Don't you think?
The rhetoric amongst these verbal entertainers has been increasingly hateful over the past years. Can't even predict how it will be prior to the 2012 Presidential Election. This year should be bad enough.