Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) wanted to make a big show of honoring the late, racist shock jock Rush Limbaugh after Limbaugh died last week at 70. By Wednesday, that plan had fallen to pieces as it became clear DeSantis’ subjects weren’t too thrilled about the idea.
In a defiant statement Tuesday night, a county commissioner in Palm Beach County, where Limbaugh lived, said the county would defy the governor’s directive to lower the county courthouse’s flag in Limbaugh’s honor.
“Our decision is to keep our flags at normal protocol today,” Lisa De La Rionda, director of the county’s public affairs department, subsequently confirmed to TPM on Wednesday.
The governor said on Friday last week that flags across the state would be lowered to honor Limbaugh, who he called an “absolute legend.” But Democrats including Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried objected, saying DeSantis was using the flag as a political prop.
When DeSantis finally issued a formal memorandum Tuesday on honoring Limbaugh it specified just three buildings that would lower their flags to half staff: The state Capitol, the city hall in Palm Beach, and the courthouse in Palm Beach County.
Melissa McKinlay, a county commissioner, wrote on Twitter Tuesday night that the courthouse would not lower its flag in Limbaugh’s honor.
“Although Rush Limbaugh was a significant public figure, he was also an incredibly divisive one who hurt many people with his words and actions,” McKinlay wrote. “I cannot and will not support the lowering of flags in his memory.”
Meanwhile, DeSantis posted a picture on Twitter of the flag at the state’s Old Capitol Building, in honor of his late friend.
Rush. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/ztP6JylfmO
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 24, 2021
