Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 14 February 2020
Limbaugh draws bipartisan criticism for Buttigieg remarks

By ALAN FRAM porter, told The Associated
Associated Press Press about Limbaugh's
WASHINGTON (AP) — Con- words. "I think the country
servative talk show host is not going to disqualify
Rush Limbaugh drew bipar- somebody because of their
tisan criticism Thursday for sexual orientation." Asked
saying the country won't if Limbaugh should retain
elect Pete Buttigieg presi- the Presidential Medal of
dent because he's been Freedom, which Trump be-
"kissing his husband" on stowed last week during
stage after debates. his State of the Union ad-
Limbaugh's comments dress, Graham said, "Well,
came eight days after my God. Free speech still
President Donald Trump exists." Sen. Rob Portman,
awarded him the nation's R-Ohio, said of Limbaugh,
top civilian honor during "He may disagree, as I do,
the State of the Union ad- with their policy positions,
dress. Trump said Limbaugh but the question is what
inspires millions of people their qualifications are, not
daily and thanked him for other issues." Portman an-
"decades of tireless devo- nounced his support for
tion to our country." gay marriage in 2013 as he
Limbaugh, a staunch revealed that his son Will is
Trump ally who recently an- gay.
nounced he has advanced Rush Limbaugh reacts as first Lady Melania Trump, and his wife Kathryn, applaud, as President Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-
Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill
lung cancer, made the re- in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. Tenn., a moderate who is
marks on his nationally syn- Associated Press retiring in January, initially
dicated radio show. But- said he wasn't familiar with
tigieg has finished in the old gay guy kissing his hus- demnation from others for officer in Afghanistan, is a Limbaugh's remarks and
top two in Democrats' first band on stage, next to Mr. comments considered rac- Harvard graduate and was declined to comment. His
two presidential contests in Man, Donald Trump.'" ist, sexist and offensive. a Rhodes scholar at Oxford spokesman later emailed
Iowa and New Hampshire. Limbaugh's remarks were Buttigieg, 38, is the former University in England. an Alexander statement
"They're saying, 'OK, how's the latest tendentious turn mayor of South Bend, Indi- Limbaugh said he envi- that said: "There may be
this going to look?'" Lim- in a career in which he's ana, and has been married sioned Democrats con- reasons not to vote for
baugh said Wednesday, won an adoring audience to his husband, Chasten, cluding that "despite all the Mayor Buttigieg, but that's
imagining Democrats' among millions of conser- since 2018. Buttigieg was great wokeness and de- not one of them. This is a
thinking. "Thirty-seven-year- vative listeners, but con- a U.S. Navy intelligence spite all the great ground tolerant country."
that's been covered, that A Buttigieg campaign
America's still not ready to spokesman declined to
elect a gay guy kissing his comment. But the candi-
husband on the debate date has addressed criti-
stage president." cism over his sexuality be-
Former Vice President Joe fore. During a Des Moines,
Biden, who is challenging Iowa, rally in 2019, an audi-
Buttigieg for the Demo- ence member asked what
cratic presidential nomina- he should tell his friends
tion, assailed Limbaugh on who say America isn't
ABC's "The View." ready for a gay president.
"I mean, my God," said Buttigieg replied, "Tell your
Biden, who called it "part of friends I said 'hi.'"
the depravity of this admin- The former mayor has also
istration." He added, "Pete framed his sexuality in reli-
and I are competitors, but gious terms.
this guy has honor, he has "If me being gay was a
courage, he is smart as choice, it was a choice
hell." that was made far, far
Some Capitol Hill Republi- above my pay grade," But-
cans said they disagreed tigieg said. "If you've got
with Limbaugh's remark, a problem with who I am,
while others demurred. your problem is not with
"I'm just going to leave all me. Your quarrel, sir, is with
that alone," said conserva- my creator."
tive Sen. Marsha Blackburn, According to government
R-Tenn., who said she'd not websites, the Presidential
heard the comment. Sen. Medal of Freedom is for
Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, facing "an especially meritorious
reelection this fall, also de- contribution to the secu-
clined to comment. rity or national interests of
"It's a miscalculation as to the United States, world
where the country is at," peace, cultural or other
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- significant public or private
S.C., a strong Trump sup- endeavors." q