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.
The only reason there is a stir is because the liberals can't stand they don't control the narrative any longer. If this was someone who had written Heather had two Mommies, these same hypocrites wouldn't say a word. Bet this comment won't stay on CNN long. CNN is notorious for sending down the memory hole any comment that doesn't fit their liberal viewpoint. Just know liberals, that both Rush's children's history books being on the NYT bestseller list is a brick out of the wall of liberals owning children's education and it's going the first chink in knocking that wall down.
Mothers and Fathers have your kids read the truth about our history,that is what is in Rush Limaugh books!Do not just take the public schools veiws.
I think Rush was speaking of Fluke expecting the government to pay for her birth control which the author conveniently left out of the article.
Rush is great! I want his books but they are hard to find.
These books are historically accurate not political.
Read the books before your prejudice condemns the value of your judgement.
Typical, rough quoting of Rush's controversial remarks only... none of the follow up comments....
I suspect he will be using this story as incentive for the first 30 minutes of the show....
Why is this guy not just still relevant (fading though) not in Costa Rica (they probably didn't want him living there either) or out of a job (he's losing major contributors).
Those books should be burned. This is what parents want their kids to emulate? An oxyaddict, thrice married, woman Pope hater racist right wing nut?
For as "controversial" Rush is claimed to be, he sure has a load of listeners. If he is selling the most children's books, then give him the award. He certainly did more to earn it than Obama did to earn his peace prize.
Truth burns doesn't it !
Poor liberals are crying that Rush Limbaugh has a lot of talent .
"Often incendiary nature........controversial sentiments........" It's always hilarious to watch the liberals wet their pants when Rush is right. As far as the books mentioned here go.........I have both and they are terrific. And Dana......you might want to read the books, you will learn something!
Only the leftist socialists media have the right to indoctrinate our children. How dare a conservative get in on their game.
The irony is that Rush Limbaugh's views aren't really that controversial...more just common sense.
As usual, the part of the political spectrum which claims to have the market cornered on tolerance, cannot tolerate opinions differing from theirs. Nothing new here. You lefties are so predictable and boring.
These books are fiction, with History on them.Obamas books are a fiction with not History, but lies.
Correction: it's not "women's access to birth control," it's "one woman's demand that others buy her birth control because she didn't want to spend her own money." Get it right, guys.
Would there be as much criticism if the author was Saul Alinsky? Answer, no.
Good for Rush. This is an excellent book, factually and visually. It's not a quick read either; it's evident a lot of research went into it. Rush's seemingly endless talent also extends to engaging kids in U.S. history. Bravo!
You need to correct your story on Ms. Fluke, Mr. Limbaugh's comments were directed at Ms. Fluke for her DEMAND that taxpayers fund her access to birth control. Totally different from simply having access to birth control which no is suggesting changing. Try getting it right!.
Awesome. Hope you liberals have a wonderful day waking up to this news!
The "apparent" success of his book? How about the apparent desire of CNN to pass itself off as a news organization? Maybe you should stick to your coverage of how a black hole swallowed up a Boeing 777
In spite of liberal networks, Rush Limbaugh is riding high. He's not trying to change America's history, he's telling it like it was. Unlike Common Core. Thank God for Limbaugh, Beck & Hannity. they are all American heroes.
CNN you can't help but show your bias even in this article. I suppose you prefer a children's book by Fluke encouraging 12year old girls t o ask for free taxpayer birth control.
The only outrage comes from the same artificial, manufactured outrage that leftist activists and their media cohorts try to make seem derive from the general public. Nothing can be further from the truth. CNN's pathetic characterization of Rush Limbaugh is proof of that.
Yet childrens books pushing gay propaganda kids is just dandy.