Rush Limbaugh Has Heard He Sounds Like Martin Luther King Jr.

Capitalizing on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, Rush Limbaugh claimed he has been told he sounds more like Martin Luther King Jr. than President Barack Obama does. These comments fly in the face of Limbaugh's extensive history of racially divisive comments.

Limbaugh Suggested He Sounds More Like Martin Luther King Jr. Than Obama Does

Limbaugh: “A Friend Of Mine” Is Reminded Of Things I Say When Reading The “I Have A Dream” Speech. On the August 27 edition of his radio show, Limbaugh claimed that he has been told that his commentary is more evocative of Martin Luther King Jr. than Obama's:

LIMBAUGH: I had a friend of mine send me some excerpts of Martin Luther King's speech fifty years ago, and there are four of them there. He says, you know, Rush, when I read what King said, I'm reminded more of things you say than things Obama says." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show8/27/13]

But Limbaugh Has A History Of Racial Attacks

Limbaugh: After Jeantel's Interview, “I Can Now” Say "'Nigga' With An A" Because “It's Not Racist.” On July 16, Limbaugh said he could say "'nigga' with an 'a' because some African-Americans have used that derivation of the racial slur:

LIMBAUGH: This was between 9 and 10 pm last night on CNN, who is in a quest to become the, again, most respected news organization in the country, perhaps even in the world. So, “nigga,” with an “a” on the end, well I think I can now. Isn't that the point? 'Cause it's not racist. That's the point. I could be talking about a male, a Chinese male, a guy at the Laundromat. I could be talking about a man. That's what she said it means. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show7/16/13]

Limbaugh Predicted Reality Show For Zimmerman Trial Witness Rachel Jeantel Titled “Homie Boo Boo.” On July 16, Limbaugh predicted that Rachel Jeantel, a witness in the Zimmerman trial, would star in a reality show titled “Homie Boo Boo”:

LIMBAUGH: You know it as well as I do, there's some TV network out there, I don't -- some little production house somewhere, even as we speak, drooling over the possibility of a Rachel Jeantel reality show. You just know it! 'Cause they all think last night, oh, charming, engaging, just likeable, loveable, funny, really, really well spoken. You wait! Maybe “Homie Boo Boo,” I don't know. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show7/16/13]

Limbaugh: “The Onus Is On The Black Population To See The Truth” About Republicans Not Being Racist. On April 10, Limbaugh disagreed with Sen. Rand Paul's comment at Howard University that the GOP “has a long way to go” to overcome accusations of racism, saying “the onus is on the black population to see the truth” about Republicans not being racist:

LIMBAUGH: What do the Republicans have to do? Prove a negative? Prove they're not racist? How do you -- that's not possible. Clarence Thomas, Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, there's all kinds of role models, what do you mean the Republicans have a long way to go? I know why he said it, but they don't have a long way to go! To me the onus is on black people to get it straight, the onus is on the black population to see the truth! [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show4/10/13]

Limbaugh Proposed A New Leadership Position For Rep. Jim Clyburn: “Driving Miss Nancy.” On November 11, 2010, Limbaugh proposed a new leadership position for Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC):

LIMBAUGH: Clyburn's worried about not having a car? Clyburn's worried about not having the perk of a big office? A driver? So, forth. The way this could all be worked out, Clyburn's new position: Driving Miss Nancy. He gets to keep the car. He gets to go everywhere she goes. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show11/11/10]

Limbaugh: “The NAACP Equals Racism.” On July 22, 2010, while defending Andrew Breitbart's discredited smear of Shirley Sherrod, Limbaugh said:

LIMBAUGH: Seems that the NAALCP [sic], which is -- which equals racism. Forget calling them the NAACP. They are now the R-A-C-I-S-M. NAACP equals racism. And they're all applauding her [Sherrod] when she's talking about racism. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show7/22/10]

Limbaugh: “For The First Time In His Life, Paterson Is Gonna Be A Massa.” On March 9, 2010, Limbaugh postulated what would happen if David Paterson, New York's first African-American governor, were to pick a replacement for the recently resigned Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY):

LIMBAUGH: Let's assume you're right [caller]. So, David Paterson will become the massa who gets to appoint whoever gets to take Massa's place. So, for the first time in his life, Paterson's gonna be a massa. Interesting, interesting. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show3/9/10]

Limbaugh: “Obama Is Uppity, But Not As A Black. He Is An Elitist.” On February 10, 2010, Limbaugh attacked Obama as “uppity”:

LIMBAUGH: When Clarence Thomas said uppity black thinks for himself means he's off the reservation, so to speak. He's not following the civil rights speech codes set forth by the Reverend Jackson and Al Sharpton and whoever else is in charge of them. But nobody -- Obama is uppity, but not as a black. He is an elitist. He does think he's smarter and better than everybody else. That's what he was taught. He's a Harvard man. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show2/10/10]

Limbaugh: “The Days Of Them [Minorities] Not Having Any Power Are Over, And They Are Angry.” On June 4, 2009, a few months after Obama's inauguration, Limbaugh said “angry” minorities are going to use their newfound “power” to enact retribution:

LIMBAUGH: The days of them [minorities] not having any power are over, and they are angry. And they want to use their power as a means of retribution. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show6/4/09]

Limbaugh: “NFL All Too Often Looks Like A Game Between The Bloods And The Crips Without Any Weapons.” On January 19, 2007, Rush denounced the “insidious, ridiculous, boorish, classless behavior” in the NFL by saying:

LIMBAUGH: Look it, let me put it to you this way. The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show1/9/2007]

Limbaugh Handicapped Races In New Survivor Series, Suggested “African-American Tribe” Worst Swimmers. On August 23, 2006, Limbaugh explained why he believed specific teams would succeed or fail on that season of CBS' Survivor, which had divided contestants into different teams based on their race:

LIMBAUGH: You accused me in a sly way of being racist by making comments about who would win the swimming competition. I know what you're saying. You're saying I'm being racist, you're saying I'm being racist because I'm saying blacks can't swim. I have here a story, and I read this from HealthDay news. “One of the largest studies of its kind confirms that young blacks -- especially males -- are much more likely to drown in pools than whites. In fact, almost half of all recorded drowning deaths among people aged 5 to 24 are among blacks, according to the study in the American Journal of Public Opinion. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 8/23/06]

Limbaugh: Halle Berry Supports Obama Because They Are Both “Halfrican American.” On January 24, 2007, Limbaugh described actress Halle Berry's endorsement of then-candidate Obama as one “Halfrican-American” supporting another:

LIMBAUGH: Hey, Barack Obama has picked up another endorsement: Halfrican American actress Halle Berry. “As a Halfrican American, I am honored to have Ms. Berry's support, as well as the support of other Halfrican Americans,” Obama said. He didn't say it, but -- anyway, there are those out there -- greetings. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show1/24/07]

Limbaugh On The NBA: “Call It The TBA, The Thug Basketball Association ... They're Going In To Watch The Crips And The Bloods.” On December 8, 2004, Limbaugh used gang-centric language to describe the NBA:

LIMBAUGH: You just gotta be who you are, and I think it's time to get rid of this whole National Basketball Association. Call it the TBA, the Thug Basketball Association, and stop calling them teams. Call 'em gangs. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show12/10/04]

For more of Limbaugh's worst racial attacks, click here.