Finally, it took a small, independent bookstore in Washington DC to stand up and turn down Rush Limbaugh's children's history books. The words sting my fingers as I type: Limbaugh-Children-History-Books. (One of these things is so not like the others.)
Teaching For Change, is a non-profit organization that owns and operates the bookstore in Busboys and Poets (14th and V). The organization 'encourages teachers and students to question and re-think the world inside and outside their classrooms, build a more equitable, multicultural society, and become active global citizens.' It's no wonder they flat out rejected Limbaugh's ridiculous 'Rush Revere' books. Limbaugh's response?
I know you are but what am I?
Yes, Limbaugh actually said:
"This is exclusionary, it’s racist, it’s bigoted, and it’s the opposite of everything they claim to be. And it’s exactly what they accuse us of being. They claim that they’re tolerant. They claim they’re open-minded. They claim that they are colorblind and all that. They are the most bigoted, racist people. They exclude here and exclude there and then they don’t make any money and they can’t figure out why.
My two books are in the top five on the New York Times best-seller list, and here’s a woman at a bookstore who wants to sell books, is begging people to buy ‘em, proudly says that two of the books in the top five are not even available at her store, and she wants accolades for that. These people are loony. They simply are dumb. They don’t have the slightest idea what they’re doing."
Of course, this is another manipulative way for Rush Limbaugh to shamelessly promote his books. But you know, the self-proclaimed 'Mayor of Realsville' may be half right in his last sentence. Teaching For Change management certainly knew what they were doing, yet they most likely had no idea how much business they'd be gaining once Liberal media and the general public caught on. This small independent bookstore, shelved with integrity, did what Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target… didn't have the ethics/balls to do - turn down books written by a hate monger. Sadly, in return, Teaching For Change is receiving hate calls from Dittoheads.
The above bullying antic is how Limbaugh has intimidated folks for decades. Especially the GOP. If you didn't suck up to Rush, you were risking your reputation and political career. Don't bow down and follow his teachings? Be prepared for him to share bogus half-truths and malicious insinuations about you, and he'd do it just short of being sued for slander/libel. No, you didn't want to come up against Limbaugh in front of his somewhat imaginary audience of 20 million listeners (a figure challenged and never proven).
To Rush I say:
It's not going to work this time. You barely have a show. Where is your audience? Where are your sponsors? Where is your career? You continue to embarrass yourself these days spouting and whining. Do yourself, and all of us, a favor and get off the flipping airwaves. And take your Dittoheads and those ridiculous books, you most likely paid to get on the NY Bestseller list, with you. Do you really think most Americans believe you actually sold all those books to consumers? Nope. No more than your 'Rush Babes' Facebook page legitimately got 70k likes in a few days back in 2012 after you called then student, Sandra Fluke, a 'slut'. (By the way, Fluke just won a Democratic primary for the California Senate. Thanks. You helped build that.) So, no you didn't get 70k legitimate Facebook likes from 'babes'. Turns out you bought most of those Facebook 'likes' from India.
We aren't listening to you anymore, Rush Limbaugh, and you're trying so hard. Your rusty tools of shock and contempt are boring us. It's called apathy - it's worse than having us hate you. We just don't care. Give it up old boy. Your radio days are closing in.
To order from this admirable and plucky bookstore:
Teaching For Change Progressive
Busboys And Poets
Progressive * Independent * Nonprofit
Facebook: Teaching For Change
Facebook: Busboys and Poets
Part of the success in bringing Rush Limbaugh's career down to a snail's pace is due to nationwide petitions, boycotts and protests. You can still join the movement:
Sign: Limbaugh Sponsor & Clear Channel Petition (Over 60,000 signatures go out to 40 sponsors at a time)
Facebook: BoycottRush Facebook Group
Join The Fight To Flush Rush Facebook Group
The StopRush Extensive Sponsor Database