I'm sympathetic for Rush Limbaugh's health situation. But he is a poor choice to be a recipient of the Medal of Freedom. It is to be awarded "for especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors". Rush was just as divisive as our president.
Look at past recipients of this same award and then re-read what you yourself quoted.
Actor Robert DeNiro (whom I
love as an actor, but cannot stand as a political mouthpiece) was awarded with the same honor by President Obama. DeNiro cannot put forth a single sentence about Trump without also dropping multiple F-bombs and going on a spastic tirade about inflicting personal violence against the President. Talk about being divisive... Rush Limbaugh is much more qualified for this award than DeNiro, IMO. But we are not the ones making those decisions. Obama was
fully within his right and prerogative to give this medal to Robert DeNiro - an actor who has had numerous memorable movies and roles throughout his career. Trump was
absolutely and undeniably qualified to honor Rush Limbaugh in the same way.
ANYONE who accepts one and rejects the other is a short-sighted hypocrite, plain and simple.
Turning to your quote (which comes straight from the award terms itself: "cultural or other significant public or private endeavors"... talk radio as a source of news and entertainment would not exist today in the form that it is were it not for Rush Limbaugh. This isn't about agreeing or disagreeing with his political views. This is about cultural contributions.