{"id":51230,"date":"2021-02-23T16:21:27","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T16:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/radiofree.asia\/?guid=9373c36eee81bb8f2b8893fdbdb33dbf"},"modified":"2021-02-23T16:21:27","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T16:21:27","slug":"floridas-ag-commissioner-refuses-to-fly-flag-at-half-staff-for-rush-limbaugh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/02\/23\/floridas-ag-commissioner-refuses-to-fly-flag-at-half-staff-for-rush-limbaugh\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida\u2019s Ag Commissioner Refuses to Fly Flag at Half-Staff for Rush Limbaugh"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Florida<\/a>

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced late last week that he would soon order flags in his state to be lowered to half-mast to recognize controversial conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, who died on Wednesday. But at least one executive branch official is planning to buck such an order.<\/span><\/p>\n

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat who oversees several government properties, said <\/span>she wouldn’t comply with the governor\u2019s decree to honor Limbaugh<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Lowering to half-staff the flag of the United States of America is a sacred honor that pays respect to fallen heroes and patriots. It is not a partisan political tool,” she said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

All parts of state government under Fried’s purview \u2014 which include around two dozen inspection stations, nine licensing offices, and over three dozen state forests \u2014 will “disregard the Governor\u2019s forthcoming order to lower flags for Mr. Limbaugh \u2014 because we will not celebrate hate speech, bigotry, and division,” she explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

DeSantis had originally announced his intention to lower flags<\/span><\/a> in the state for Limbaugh during a press briefing on Friday. He described the honor as something that the state does for important figures “when there\u2019s things of this magnitude.”<\/span><\/p>\n

DeSantis also said Limbaugh was “an absolute legend, he was a friend of mine and just a great person.”<\/span><\/p>\n

But in an interview regarding the matter, Fried explained that Limbaugh was not a deserving recipient of the honor.<\/span><\/p>\n

“My concern is that the governor is bending over backwards to honor a radio host who has consistently made racist, polarizing and conspiracy comments,” <\/span>Fried said on Monday<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I will not lower the flags at my Department\u2019s state offices for Rush Limbaugh. Lowering our flag should reflect unity, not division \u2014 and raising our standards, not lowering them. https:\/\/t.co\/HqtzeoUHkr<\/a><\/p>\n

— Nikki Fried (@nikkifried) February 22, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n