Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Friday that he would order flags to fly at half-staff in honor of conservative talk radio star Rush Limbaugh, who died this week at the age of 70 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
In a statement Friday, DeSantis said, “Casey and I are truly saddened to learn of the passing of fellow Floridian and our friend, Rush Limbaugh. Born into a family of Missouri lawyers, Rush pursued what was, for a Limbaugh, the road less traveled: a career in radio. Through hard work, the will to succeed, and, yes, talent on loan from God, Rush became the most dominant radio personality in American history.”
Senate Democratic Leader Gary Farmer shot back at the Governor Friday, “Lowering the flag of the United States is a high honor reserved for those who have honorably and bravely served our state and our nation. Unfortunately, Governor DeSantis has now transformed this distinction into a partisan political tool to salute a man who served no other interests than his own and did his best to deeply divide a country along political fault lines.”
“I condemn the governor’s decision in no uncertain terms. Any move to lower our flag in deference to a man who helped drive the hatred and inflame the prejudices against marginalized groups, people of color, women, and anyone who did not look like him or think like him is wrong, and should be rescinded. This is not who we are. This is not who we want to be,” said Farmer.
On Thursday, Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini tweeted out, “Today I sent a letter to Governor DeSantis requesting the lowering of Florida’s flags to half-staff in honor of the passing of a great Floridian—Rush Limbaugh. Rush was a relentless champion of America and of civic engagement. May his memory live on forever.”
Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only statewide elected Democratic official, criticized DeSantis in a tweet.
“But he had no words for Congressman John Lewis,” she said, referring to the civil rights icon and longtime Democratic lawmaker from Georgia who died in July.
Limbaugh’s death comes a little more than a year after his announcement of a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer. Limbaugh’s time on talk radio has spanned more than three decades, with a peak audience of more than 15 million listeners.
I think it’s fine. It’s time to show some respect for the other side of our country- that the dems apparently would love to hate or pretend doesn’t exist.
Thank you, Gov. DeSantis! RIP, Rush!
This is not the time or place. This will further divide this country. Desantos knows that his political career. So he wants to go out with some stupid”er” moves