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.
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What is the point of referring to his placement on the bestseller lists as "... apparent success of his book series..."? What's the implication here?
Regardless of where you fall on Mr Limbaugh this choice took guts. They will be punished for this choice. Watch and see.
I'm listening for the booming sounds made as the 'liberal' mind explodes...
Oh how the Left hates anyone who tells the uplifting truth about the founding of this country rather than the cynical lies the Left has been shoving down children's throats for the past 40 + years.
Who funds The Children's Book a Council ?
@tony – because it doesn't fet the agenda of the Ministry of Truth. Now, the contents of Obamas NCAA brackets....well that's news of great importance.
Way to go, Rush!
It's the children's turn to win with truth. Rush has already won.
Remember the last book burning when the right wingnut Florida pastor burned 2000 bibles by mistake?
Congrats Rush!!
Good job Rush!!!!!!!!!
I guess when u place most of the Advance Orders to make your book of false facts start actual sales at #1, well that kind of cheating is allowed. This is no doubt just another typical "re creation" of facts by conservatives who deny the truth and facts. Not a surprise here. Fact that he pushes his lies on kids is a disgrace.
Rush is garbage, and will always be garbage to me so the book is garbage also.
I hope the people at CNN read all these comments. Perhaps they will learn something!!!! God bless Rush and the USA!! Btw....CNN your ratings suck.
Hopefully this book has less historical errors than his book about Lincoln.
Rush's audience are primarily intellectual children so his book sales shouldn't surprise anyone. He could probably whip up a good conservative spaghetti sauce that would outsale paul newman's with its bold, anti-marxist flavor.
Rush Limbaugh is awesome. I can't wait to buy his book as gifts for the young people in my life.
I taught my kids American history using using early 1900 school books before the communists gained control of education and rewrote American history.
Left wing bigotry and intolerance on parade! Their self righteous posturing just doesn't outshine reality any longer.
This book series really is excellent. Please get past the Sandra Fluke thing Instead of smearing the guy who points out obvious... Read her congressional testimony; she is what she is. Let her be what she wants to be rather than defending her and smearing the messengers.
Ever notice how lots of liberals are so open minded that they become intolerant?
Rush simply says what most of America is already thinking but to intimidated to say outloud.
I'm not surprised at all. Even children can see how the left ways are warped and try to understand how that computes in their minds.
Children are innocent, so when they see that 2+2 =7, they want answers.
Great job Liberals, even the children are on to you now.
Before you demonize Rush, listen to his show 2 times. (That would be once on Monday, and once on any other day).
Deny the TRUTH you hear from him, and stay Losing Liberal.
This really shows how childish and bully the left has become, it is like no other opinion or view will be accepted and they will stop at nothing to shut people up who do, WHO CARES what his political leanings are, his books are about history and kids love them. I voted a split ticket in the last election, I am not going to do that again, Democrats and their supporters are out of control with their thought policing and brazen attempts to censor people. America people, America.
as "tolerant" as liberals are, I wouldn't be surprised if they held a book burning on the Berkeley or Columbia campuses.