Rush Limbaugh selection in children’s book competition causes a stir
(CNN) - Rush Limbaugh - radio host, conservative firebrand and... children's book author of the year?
The Children’s Book Council and its Every Child a Reader program released on Thursday their author-of-the-year finalists for their annual Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards.
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Limbaugh is one of the four finalists, and his nomination has prompted outrage on social media, given the host’s often-incendiary nature.
Limbaugh's book is titled, "Rush Revere and The Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans" – a time-traveling tale of colonial America and the latest of two books in the "Rush Revere Series" published last year by Simon & Schuster.
Limbaugh, an outspoken figure in the political world, often expresses controversial sentiments on his radio program. Recently, Limbaugh blasted Pope Francis' economic views as "pure Marxism," and, in 2012, he called Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke a "slut" and "prostitute" for her support of women's access to birth control.
The Children’s Book Council issued a public letter, posted to its website and Facebook page, defending its finalist selection process following the uproar online and insisting that the author of the year finalists "are determined solely based on titles’ performances on the bestseller lists."
"Some of you have voiced concerns over the selection of finalists from bestseller lists, which you feel are potentially-manipulable indications of the success of a title. We can take this into consideration going forward, but cannot change our procedure for selecting finalists after the fact," the organization said in the letter.
The CBC letter goes on to say the kids, who will start voting next week, ultimately decide which author wins in each of the six categories, including best author. The letter goes on to assure that the organization has a procedure in place to protect against fraud and adult's voting in the contest.
"This program has never been about CBC or ECAR endorsing finalists," the letter says.
Limbaugh touted the apparent success of his book series on his radio program on Thursday.
"We just found out last night that on the New York Times Best-Seller List of March the 30th, ‘Rush Revere and the First Patriots’ will open at number one, and ‘Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims’ moves up to number four," said, according to a transcript of the audio.
Limbaugh’s book landed at the number-5 spot on the New York Times best seller’s list for the week of March 23.
CNN's Dana Davidsen contributed to this report.
TM, typical Liberal full of hatred and misinformation. Read the book and get back to us. I have and the method Limbaugh used to deliver this historical data is truly creative. If you find the book to be wrong on it's data, get back to us.
eat it liberals...all these opinions on the books and Limbaugh and I bet most of you big mouths haven't read the book or listened to Limbaugh.
Not surprising that the left doesn't want true history taught in a way children enjoy.
Any book that champions the notion of American Exceptionalism, regardless of who the author is, should be valued highly and promoted vigorously to our younger generation. We need to re-educate ourselves as to why America has reached the tenuous heights we have achieved so that the "last, best hope" for mankind can endure.
Bravo for the two books Rush wrote. Try reading them!!! They are awesome and a good look at history. Not offended here. I am happy for Mr. Limbaugh. Finally, something good for children to read!
I challenge all you folk who "hate Rush" to listen to his radio show for 4 consecutive weeks. Amazing number of you people know not of what you speak and are part of the low information voter class Rush has so we identified. I challenge you all to get informed
I was once in your camp but found out he is almost always correct and speaks more truth than the NY or LA Times it WAPost
How dare he write a book about loving his country! Then push such radical ideas as being responsible for your own actions, and individual freedoms!
My 11 year old bookworm's review – "Awesome". Maybe we shouldn't burn this one just yet, liberal(?) friends ...
I have listened to Rush for 21 years. He is the most principled, decent, and guileless person in public life. I can say of him this: He never lies. NEVER. He guards his personal integrity fiercely. His most relentless critics are those who have never listened to a full, or even a half, program. God bless him.
Those on the left, who are criticizing the book without reading it, are participating in a mental and virtual book burning. Having been one of them myself, I have never met a more dismissive, snobbish and intolerant group of individuals who refer to themselves as "liberals". Actually they are rigid ideologues who are intellectually lazy
Oh Boo-Hoo says the the crying liberals. Live with it LOSERS like we have to live with the failures that come from the Whitehouse!
They are both awesome books, my kids and nephews love them... Rush is a great man and exposing truth is what he does and he does not back down... He drives the left insane because he exposes all their lies and he definitely knows liberals and all their tactics.... A great American he is and I am glad someone can articulate history not rewrite it....Kudos Rush!!!!! It is driving the marxist leftists nuts !!!!!!
It's funny how this article supposedly quotes Rush Limbaugh, but never mentions his cynicism and satire as the core of his show – exactly what Stewart does on the Daily Show. It's obvious they do not know what they are talking about, and never listened to his show, or else they chose to lie.
There ya' have it with CNN...
You can smell liberal hate for the founding principles of our country from your house. Haters – meet nose clips.
When conservatism is allowed to be explained on a level playing field, (outside of shills in leftist MSM), to a FREE people it always wins!
So Rush's alter ego, in his own demented little mind, is himself starring as Paul Revere? That's bold even for an egomaniac as large as Limp's.
People labeling themselves as heroes is pretty messed up. Usually other people do that for you. Unless, of course, you're just full of bloviating hot air. Well. there you go...
Hey, I think I'll start referring to myself as George.........George Washington.
Great book with a great message! I read it myself so I could recommend it to others knowledgeably. I taught for 30 years and recognize material that will teach and entertain well at the sane time. Rush's book does this. The children I know who read the book loved it and learned UNBIASED American history. The book is in no way political or controversial. I hope Rush wins the prize. He deserves it.
It is a sad day in America when a misogynist, racist, drug using person like Limbaugh can hire ghost writers and get his name on lists with real writers who can actually write entire paragraphs without spewing hate.
This article is NOT a news article. There are a couple paragraphs in it that are prime example of how the media is expressing their bias.
How about this instead:
Limbaugh, who has the most popular radio program in the United States, is very popular with conservatives and uses his platform to further their cause.
Everything in the sentence about "controversy" in intended to spur dislike and dare I say HATE. Can you image if this was about say, Bill Maher and wrote the paragraph to include that he "often" on his show wishes that people would die or get hurt? (Yes he has, look it up).
If a news writer wants to write news, let them write news. If they want to write opinion, let them write opinion, but PLEASE stop writing opinions shrouded as news just because you may not like the person the article is about.
My wife tutors a violent and emotionally disturbed child who is routinely kicked out of school. She won't sit still for any subject, however she will sit for long periods listening to my wife read Rush's book. We just received the new book and this child expressed her interest in listening to my wife read the new book. That's pretty special. Thanks Rush.
Congratulations to Mr. Limbaugh on a well deserved nomination!!
Another unbiased story from the people that said the missing 777 may have gone into a black hole.
Only in America - a loud-mouthed, bigoted drug addict is on the cusp of winning an award for children's books. What's next – nominating Charles Manson and his followers to open a day care center?
CNN's Dana Davidsen contributed to this report. No surprise with Dana's depiction of Rush Limbaugh citing only negatives on his resume. You should read the book Dana. On second thought you wouldn't get it.
Reading the comments here against Rush and his books – Dudes- do you even listen? Because the guy I listen to every day is not the guy that you are describing. It's telling that you have such contempt towards someone you don't even know. And yet, he's right there on your radio- 3 hrs. a day, telling you exactly what he thinks- and all you have to do is listen.
So long as Limbaugh's books portray actual history, and not some revisionist fantasy, who cares?