LIMBAUGH JUST CAN’T HELP HIMSELF…. There’s an ongoing discussion among congressional Democrats over who’ll be the House Minority Whip next year, with two current party leaders — outgoing Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and outgoing Majority Whip James Clyburn — both vying for the post.
With Hoyer appearing to have the edge, Rush Limbaugh, that paragon of racial equality, argued yesterday that Democrats are deliberately snubbing Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American lawmaker in American history, because of racism. He then added that Clyburn wants to stay in the leadership so he can have a car and driver — but should, in Limbaugh’s vision, instead become Nancy Pelosi’s chauffeur.
“A white, racist leadership of the Democrat party trying to ace out Clyburn.” […]
“Clyburn’s new position: driving Ms. Nancy,” Limbaugh said. “He’s not in the back of the bus, he’s in the driver’s seat. And she’s in the back of the car being chauffeured.”
Media Matters has the audio clip.
Remember, this racist hack has unrivaled influence in Republican Party politics, and pulls stunts like these in a ridiculous attempt to help the GOP. It’s a standard tactic for him — if an African-American official loses out in any Democratic context, Limbaugh wants his minions to believe it’s because Dems are “racist” — but he took this to a new level yesterday, suggesting James Clyburn become a chauffeur.
Of course, Limbaugh’s history of ugly and blatant racism is so extensive, it’s hard to know where to start. A while back, Adam Serwer noted Limbaugh’s “record of racist commentary … which includes having suggested that having a black president encouraged black children to beat up white children. He’s also compared President Obama’s agenda to ‘slavery reparations,’ used epithets to reference his biracial background, and compared Democrats responding to the concerns of black voters to rape.”
But Limbaugh won’t face any consequences for any of this, because this is just what’s expected of him. His racism is tolerated by Republicans who fear him, and who need his audience to vote for them.
