Surprisingly, the quote in this story's title is not by Conservative talking head, Rush Limbaugh. It's by a Tea Party member outraged by Limbaugh's hate speech. 'Ricardo from New York' was the fifth person to sign the Rush Limbaugh Sponsor
the petition just under three years ago. It was days after Limbaugh took to verbally attacking an unknown college student, who was advocating for birth control insurance coverage, also for medicinal purposes. Limbaugh called her a 'slut' for three days, on air, and it woke the sleeping lion in many.
Today the petition is now over 109,000 strong. Thousands of sponsors have left Limbaugh's show. What makes this petition particularly unique and effective is that with every 500 new signatures, the names of all 100k+ signees are emailed the current 40 sponsors on the list. When those companies watch the boycott continue to grow, along with the public's support of social media campaigns like StopRush, it spooks many of these sponsors into pulling their ads. Once a company discontinues their ads on Limbaugh's show, they are eventually removed from the petition.
Keep in mind, this is only one petition and one small part of this massive movement. There are Facebook pages and Twitter groups, large Liberal websites, and some mainstream media outlets, in addition to the public, who are also supporting this cause. Protestors simply want Rush Limbaugh's vile commentary off the airwaves. Hate speech can lead to bullying, abuse, violence, and murder. It does not belong on any public platform, much less public radio.
Here are just 20 reasons why people said they signed the petition, some comments going as far back as 2012, and some as recent as this week. They all carry the same theme: 'You sponsor this hate monger - you lose us as customers.
Candy of WA:
25 years of abuse is enough. Mr. Limbaugh is tainting our true meaning of broadcasting. This man opens his mouth and I am not entertained, I am insulted and ashamed that a man would behave and talk the way he does and gets away with it. It is time to put a sock in his mouth once and for all. Anyone who advertises for his has lost my buying power with them.
Lynn of CA
I am a woman who used birth control pills as medical therapy. Thank goodness for them! I am 78 years old; we do not want to go back to bad old days!
Betty of NV
I'm retired USAF female, middle aged. I'm the average American. I will not tolerate hate speech in my country.
Don of IN
Limbaugh is an embarrassment to America. Foreign visitors hear his hate and assume he represents all America. He should be quarantined.
Mark of OK
I spent many hours listening to Limbaugh in the past, but no more. This sort of hate filled and poisonous talk leads to dehumanization and then you don't have adversaries, you have enemies. I will not buy the products of any company who is okay with marching down this road if there's a buck in it for them.
Roger of WV
I am signing for my granddaughter and millions of other women--my family will stop buying any product associated with this man's show.
Fred of FL
Limbaugh's constant, hateful attacks on President Obama are pitiful. I have left the Republican party, and have become a big fan of President Obama, partly because of Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck and Levin's over-the-top, ridiculous statements! These people are pitiful... and are impossible to listen to seriously, by a normal person for more than a few minutes. When I force myself to listen to these guys for a few minutes, which is about as much as I can take, I copy down the advertisers, and make sure I DO NOT buy the products! I cannot imagine why any responsible advertiser would support this type of radio.
Randy of IL
I vote with my $$. Any business, corporation, or entity that supports hate mongering, bullying, and general malfeasance like the brand that Rush Limbaugh embraces, will never see a dollar of mine. This is something I am very adamant about, and I keep a roster of such companies to make sure I don't erroneously or absentmindedly support as a consumer of products & services.
Peter of CHILE
I cannot ignore a person whose lifeblood depends on verbal violence of "the minority of the day." As a teacher, I spend much of my time teaching students to defy bullies and bullying. It's sickening to see an adult actively promoting this behavior.
Maria of CA about
I want US politics to be about REAL ISSUES, which affect working Americans. I want the lies from the right to stop so we can get on with governing. I am sick of mouthpieces for the ultra rich, reframing every problem as caused by the poor, immigrants, women and people of color.
Teddi of ME
Rush Limbaugh is so much of a bully to people who have no ability to fight back. Rush does not listen to rational people, when someone tries to fight back he does not permit them to defend themselves and puts them down when they try. He reminds me of my abusive stepfather and I was so glad to get out of my house at 17. I will not use any of his sponsors and will make sure all of my friends know why.
James of FL
I believe in free speech, so Rush can say what he wants. I also believe in Capitalism so if I owned a company, I would be cognizant of where I advertise. Thus, if you advertise with rush Limbaugh, you have made a conscious choice to position yourself with a racist, sexist bigot, and as a consumer I can and should tell you that I will no longer purchase your products.
Catherine of MA
I won't support hate speech, sexism, racism, class warfare, warmongering, anti-gay and lgbt hatred, misinformation, and gun lobbying. Snapple used to sponsor his show when he first started and I haven't bought a bottle of the stuff since 1990. They'll get not a penny from my pocket, ever!
Yuri of TX
Limbaugh is a disgrace & makes the United States citizens look bad to the rest of the world. I am NOT using your products and am passing around my stance on Limbaugh & his sponsors to over 200 people in my business circle.
Brenna of NY
I NEVER sign petitions. But this man is such a racist colossal ass, I feel it is my duty as a human being to do so.
MaryAnn of NM
I am very disappointed to learn of iHeart radio's support of Rush Limbaugh's hateful and ignorant program. I will be removing iHeart radio from my devices. And I will not be using any of the other sponsor's products and services either.
James of MD
I will NOT spend my money for products or services that do advertising on Limbaugh radio. I WILL promote the petition against Limbaugh advertising among my friends, family, colleagues and fb connections.
John of FL
As a disabled veteran I feel that his abusive and unChristian views and an insult to everyone in uniform. he is just as evil as Hitler was; same frame of mind as Hitler. I will boycott all sponsors of his show NO EXCEPTIONS.
Dr. Cliff of VA
This fellow is disgusting and revolting. Any company that pays to support him speaks volumes about their ethics and value system. My money absolutely goes elsewhere and I have advised all of my friends to do likewise.
Lee of FL
I went to sign this petition because I'm against intolerant bullies who lie and distort the truth. I then saw his comments about Michael J Fox, and being a Parkinson's Disease sufferer I was personally offended that this druggie demeans disabled people. He is truly scum.
The comments go on and on, with more people signing everyday.The petition creator, who wishes to remain anonymous, says it was this
Think Progress video below that prompted her activism:
Here are some easy ways to support the protest during its final stretch.
Sign: Limbaugh Sponsor & Clear Channel Petition
Visit/Like: BoycottRush Facebook Page
Join: The Fight To Flush Rush
*Visit: StopRush.net for an extensive list of Limbaugh Sponsors
Tweet #StopRush and #FlushRush
Thank You, Richard Myers. Rest In Peace. We Will Finish This.
Special thanks to Freya Malin, and all the volunteers at StopRush/FlushRush for their continuous hard work documenting and maintaining the Rush Limbaugh *StopRush.net Sponsor List. And cheers to all who are signing, supporting, and sharing this petition. Here's to the next goal of 250k.
UPDATE: Since posting the petition on Daily Kos this week, close to 8,000 more people have signed the sponsor petition bringing it to over 117k! This is about the public using social media to protest hate speech. It's a wonderful thing to behold.
