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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If Limbaugh wins I think it will be wonderful. That would translate into at least two years of constant criticism from the MSM of all things conservative and the grave disservice to education and 'the children' by this award to the Neanderthal's on the right side of America. .
The crowd who want truthful history just can't stand the messenger so of course they protest the choice of Limbaugh.
How do you tick off liberals! You just tell the truth. It absolutely drives them wild.
Good for Rush...and The Children’s Book Council for standing up to leftist bullies who would ban any opinion or view other than their own.
As it is, lefties have already banned American History from our schools so that kids grow up with no sense of what being an American means or any sense of cultural cohesiveness. Someone has to do it and step into the void, so again, Good for Rush!
In the end, they are good books, have good historical context, kids love reading them. They stimulate an interest in American history. How deep do you have to dig to find something disparaging to say about them?
What's the problem here?
If young people enjoy ANY book enough to want to read; who cares who wrote it??? Kids are going bonkers over both books and are even begging for more in the series. Grow up people. What you think of the author PERSONALLY has nothing to do with this award.
What's wrong lefties? Are you afraid kids will learn real American history instead of the revisionist drivel they're fed now?
This is typical of leftists (Liberals, Socialists, Communists). Only their opinion (and those who think likewise) is to be allowed. They declare themselves to be "tolerant" but define that word as someone who thinks and acts like them.
The gop loves him because he says the racist, ignorant, hateful things they wish they could get away with, I think he's a hypocrite, and quite honestly, not very bright.
Limbaugh's comment's and opinions are only
controversial to liberals and other big government types. Too most everyone else they are simply common sense and "The Way Thing Ought To Be"
That's funny. CNN was perfectly fine with the non-controversial children's book, "Heather Has TwoMommies".
While the language he used was inexcusable he spoke out against Sandra fluke not because she believed women should have access to birth control but because she felt she shouldn't have to pay for it. No you and I need to pay for her activities.
CNN welcomes nothing that disagrees with its Global Fascist agenda. Continue to rot, CNN.
These are excellent books based on actual history vs. revisionist history. People need to set aside their political bent when it comes to things like this
Ironic, this guy has the most racist, hate filled rants, and the right loves him for it, remember, these are the people who claim to be God loving Christians.
Please provide nausea medicine for those who read this story due to the incomplete truths and amount of spin created by CNN. Thanks, I am about to barf...too late.
Rush sold his soul long ago, he is rich from enciting hate and prejudice, and his heart is full of hate. I don't see the less fortunate attacking him on a daily basis for his callous statements. How you idolise such a dark personality is beyond me, thank you Jesus.
It is the message that counts. Not the messenger. This statement cannot be argued against. It is a fact and cannot be disputed.
The sad part of this is that, if his stories had been Marxist oriented, there would be no adverse reaction from the same people who are now expressing outrage!
I am positive the objections come from the oh so open minded liberals.
There's nothing incendiary about Rush. What's incendiary is the left's foaming at the mouth at the mention of his name.
Total moron, his head can't get any bigger can it? He's become rich from demonising the poor, and minorities, and thinks he's the real Christian, sad little man.
Oh get over yourselves haters.
Nice biased report. This is just a just an adventure book for kids, no opinions included. Unlike your "journalism" pice above. and here is a Fact check for you: Mrs. Fluke was not just "supporting women's access to birth control" as you tried to summarize above. She testified before congress that women should have their birth control paid for them by the govt. through taxpayer dollars because in her 29yr old Gtown graduate student budget she could't afford $3k/Year, I say THREE Thousand dollars per year. A idea and effort that is UNAmerican on its face and an affront to all God fearing taxpayers. This "objective" type of hit piece is precisely why CNN's ratings are in the tank. We are not nearly as stupid as writer in the media like yourself would like to pretend. Good Day sir.
Is this nasty thug of GOP is messing the innocent lives of children too??? Very pathetic, ban them.