Summary
On February 4th, 2020, President Trump gave his annual state of the union. As expected, Trump talked about the accomplishments that his administration has achieved in the last years. Trump also discussed the many issues that he will focus on this year. Everything was going as planned when Trump announced that Rush Limbaugh, an American radio personality, conservative political commentator, author, and former television show host, would be awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom.
On Monday 3rd, 2020, Limbaugh announced that he's currently battling advanced lung cancer. Limbaugh has been working as a radio host for many years now and in Trump's words: "He's the greatest fighter and winner that [he'll] ever meet."
Besides his work as an entertainer, Limbaugh is also known to be a devoted Republican and as one of the main people credited in helping the Republicans take over Congress in 1994. He's also known as a loyal Trump supporter.
Reaction:
Although I wasn't very pleased with everything that President Trump was saying during his speech, I was very moved with this action. Having a President get out of his/her speech to put the spotlight on someone else is something I truly respect. It doesn't matter if we agree or don't agree with everything because in the end, we're all humans and we must always try to show huge gratitude to everyone around us.
Questions:
- Does having President Trump interrupting his speech to award Limbaugh change any negative stigma you might have on him?
- Do you believe that Limbaugh truly deserves the award?
- In your opinion, what actions from a person should be awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom?
President Trump interrupting his speech acknowledge someone in the crowd, even if it is to award someone the Presidential Medal of Freedom, doesn’t really do anything to change my view of him. Presidents have been acknowledging people in the the audience for years to try to bolster their image and show all the good they have done in their presidency, and I don’t see this as any different. It is just a political move. Personally, I don’t really think Limbaugh is the most deserving person for the award because he is getting it for just doing his job, but the description of the award is fairly vague and it can be argued that Limbaugh does embody what the award serves to recognize. According to the White House, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to “individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe President Trump interrupting his speech to award the Medal of Freedom was appropriate. The intent of the State of the Union is to discuss the current state of the US, and what plans the president has in store for the upcoming year, not to honor or pay respects to others as there are other ceremonies to do so. This isn't to say that a president can't honor someone or some people, as I believe it can be appropriate depending on the circumstances, but in general, for awards and such the State of the Union is not the place to do so.
ReplyDeleteIf my opinion on Trump was not already low, then I think I may view this differently but in general it does not budge my opinion on him. From what I heard about Limbaugh, I don’t think he deserves it and considering Trump’s attitude toward the press over this past term, I find it sort of ironic (definitely using the word wrong) that he’s giving a Medal of Freedom to a news reporter of sorts.
1. As much as I disagree with Limbaugh's views, I don't think this particular incident is any less pardonable than the other clear publicity plays during the SOTU address; so transparently trying to curry favor as the inspiring candidate, touting minority members of the audience completely unrelated to Trump and his agenda (I have nothing against the Tuskegee airmen, but I don't think Trump had an effect on them), leaves a poor taste in my mouth. And especially watching FOX News earlier today, where Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity were trying to frame Pelosi's ripping up of Trump's speech as an attack on these same people, whether it's Rush Limbaugh or Greta Thunberg isn't going to change my distaste for the pandering.
ReplyDelete2. No. I don't think being a popular commentator is enough for such a prestigious reward, regardless if what he says is manna from heaven or pure vitriol. Admittedly I have not spent a lot of time researching Rush Limbaugh, nor do I particularly care to, but unless he's a saint behind closed doors his reputation speaks for itself; his particular strain of bombast may resonate well with our similarly bombastic president, but the lack of dignity is something I do not particularly care for.
3. Being a good person and truly making the world a better place; I do not think Limbaugh has met either of these criteria, and his current state of health should excuse him from any present excoriation.
The fact that President Trump interrupted his State of the Union speech to award Limbaugh doesn't change my views I have on President Trump. Although I think that giving the award seemed sincere, I don't think it was necessary during the speech. The State of the Union speech is supposed to give the president's opinion on the state of the nation and to inform new goals in the legislative. Trump's decision to award a person in the crowd disrupted the address. Regarding the second question, I don't think that Limbaugh deserved an award like the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom awards people who have made a contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, or cultural and other significant public or private endeavors. A radio host and entertainer like Limbaugh does not seem like an ideal person who would receive an award so well respected In the United States.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your third question,I believe that the Presidential Medal of Honor should be awarded to someone who has made a significant and meaningful contribution to their country and its people. I don't believe that Limbaugh should have received such an award because there is a clear connection between Limbaugh's political ideology and Trump's political ideology, leading me to think that Trump gave Limbaugh the award simply due to party loyalty and also the fact that Limbaugh is significant member of the Republican party.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think that Trump awarding Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his State of the Union Address was unnecessary, it does not really change any views I have of him. Trump has always done things in an unconventional way, so this is not that surprising. I do not think that Limbaugh should have won the Medal of Freedom. On his radio show, Limbaugh has done a lot to divide and single out groups or people in this country. I agree with Nathan that Trump only gave it to Limbaugh because he was an important member of the Republican party and was close to Trump. People should be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom when they take make an significant impact of civil rights or advocate for an important cause.
ReplyDeleteThis whole situation makes me upset. Trump he's a con man at his core and knows how to work the public. He had a show where that's exactly what he did. I believe this was a publicity stunt. Rush Limbaugh Was only added to the State of the Union guest list after he publicly released the fact that he has cancer. I am just speculating, but you could imply that the honor was not something that the Trump administration had planned to do until two days before when I found out he had cancer. I also think of interesting that Trump himself did not prevent the honour but Melania did meaning that there are no photos of trump and Rush together and in the future that's not something that many could hold against him because there isn't exactly proof that Trump had anything to do with it.
ReplyDeleteRush Limbaugh is a racist. Trump giving him a medal of freedom doesn’t change the fact that he is a racist. I do not believe he deserves the reward, and I do not believe Trump deserves the presidency. Most people in the media, regardless of political affiliation, do not deserve the Presidential Medal of Freedom in my opinion. Especially Rush Limbaugh. You ought to do something that benefits humanity to receive the medal, not complain about liberals on a radio show. If anything this was Trump’s way of solidifying his racist old angry white man support base, the very same people who used to listen to Rush Limbaugh. A smart political move, really. It's also great timing because he just got lung cancer, so if people say he doesn’t deserve the reward and you disagree, you can just bring up how he has cancer. Anyway I’ll end with a quote from Rush Limbaugh:
ReplyDelete“If any race of people should not have guilt about slavery its caucasians.”
Sympathy should not have got Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The medal ought to go toward people who have led or taken part in revolutionary acts of humanity: Maya Angelou, a devout advocate for civil rights; Frank Sinatra, a generous musical legend, etc. Rush Limbaugh, on the other hand, spreads hate that is underserving of the medal. As many people have mentioned, Trump seemed to have only given Rush the medal because of his loyalty to the Republican party, making it seem as the medal is a prize for doing what Trump wants rather than a way to honor people who have contributed significantly to the progression of America.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that Limbaugh has had a tremendous influence in shaping American politics by providing political information and news for people of a right-leaning political persuasion, this does not mean that he is deserving of the Medal of Freedom. The Medal of Freedom is described as an award bestowed upon individuals who “have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” Rush Limbaugh perfectly embodies the opposite of this. Granting someone who has said done nothing but make sexist, racist, and homophobic remarks in their lives one of the most honorable awards in America only serves to set an example and send the message that spreading misinformation and contributing to a culture of animosity and disrespect for political opponents is not only tolerable, but something is take pride in.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am fine with interrupting your speech to award the Medal of Freedom. Often, State of the Unions involve many people being invited for political or other reasons, and I see this as a continuation of that. That does not change how I feel about the rest of the speech, and Rush Limbaugh, however. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor a civilian can have, and to award it for purely partisan reasons diminishes the importance. Rush Limbaugh is no exceedingly distinguished civilian. He is a radio host, who, as others have mentioned, is a racist, sexist, and homophobe. Getting cancer does not make one worthy of the highest civilian honor possible.
ReplyDeletePresident Trump interrupting his speech to award the medal of freedom doesn’t really do anything to change my view of him. Many Presidents acknowledge people in the audience as a political move to try and ameliorate their image and to flex all their accomplishments as President. However, the way Trump initiated the medal was a little inappropriate to do during the State of the Union speech as Trump easily could’ve given this award at any other given time. In response to your third question, someone who has made a meaningful contribution to society deserves the medal of honor. I believe that Limbaugh does not deserve the award, and it seems as if it had to do more with his political ideology rather than positively impacting society.
ReplyDelete