There is an endless list of ridiculous and vapid outbursts that can be attributed to none other than the self-declared “male chauvinist pig” Mr. Rush Limbaugh.
Limbaugh’s most recent tantrum was sparked by Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) announcement of support for the proposal to create a commission to build a National Women’s History Museum. The commission, consisting of 8 members, would propose a location on or near the national mall and draft a report detailing a plan for building and maintaining the museum.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), one of the main sponsors for the bill, felt a National Women’s History Museum was needed because “As you walk around, women and their achievements have been largely neglected,” Maloney said. “Not only is there not a women’s museum, in these other museums there’s not a section that is focused on their achievements.”
The legislation was originally proposed in the late 1990’s but never progressed. In 2010, a version of the proposal was blocked due to the construction being funded by tax dollars. However, the most recent proposal, costing $1 million to $3 million, will be funded solely through private contributions, as will the construction and maintenance. This revamped proposal recently garnered significant bipartisan support; most likely due to the change in funding and to the fact that the “role of women in politics has risen to historic heights.”
Limbaugh attributes it to pandering and, predictably, he is against the proposal.
Beginning with a crass pun he states that the proposal “lingerie’d, I’m sorry, lingered in Congress for nearly two decades without ever reaching the President’s desk.” He continues, “We already have, ladies and gentlemen, I don’t know how many museums for women all over the country, they are called malls.”
Attempting to defend his assertion he states, “Satire, parody anyone?”
He ends by reminding us he could have been even more degrading, “Hey, I could have said brothel but I didn’t.”
Tact isn’t really expected from the man who suggested a group of women protesting sexual harassment are “out there protesting what they actually wish would happen to them sometimes.”
After the museum’s completion Limbaugh should probably visit. He could stand to learn a bit more about women’s history.
Chariese is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire.