Rush Limbaugh: It had to be Joplin

When Rush Limbaugh arrives Monday night at Landreth Park with a refrigerated truck full of tea, it won't just be because Joplin residents entered his contest.

On his program Friday, which was aired locally on KZRG, Limbaugh said people from all over the country were suggesting that Limbaugh bring his "Two if By Tea" promotion to Joplin.

Initially, the promotion was only about the truck of tea, but Limbaugh decided to make the trip himself, as he explained to his listeners:

"As an added bonus I have decided that I am going to go. I'm gonna be there. We're gonna be part of the celebration, small part of it. They got two country bands, but I want to be part of this. I want to be in Joplin along with a lot of us from Two If By Tea. This really isn't about the tea. We're talking here about American exceptionalism. You ought to see some of the entries. Some of the entries we got were from people not in Joplin suggesting that we go to Joplin because of the tornado that literally wiped out two-thirds of the city. Literally wiped out two-thirds of Joplin, Missouri. And the people there have been working together as a community to rebuild. They haven't been complaining; they haven't been whining. They've been doing whatever they can on their own.

"You people in Joplin should know that people all over the country submitting entries suggested you instead of their own communities. Not everybody, but it was a hands-down, easy choice."

Limbaugh said he is scheduled to speak at approximately 8 p.m. "but don't worry, I'm not gonna take up a lot of time."

During the program, Limbaugh read one of the contest entries from Joplin:

"Joplin, Missouri's, most recent historical event was an EF5 tornado. Moments after the tornado ravaged the city of Joplin and surrounding areas on Sunday, May 22nd, 2011, our community set about doing what brave Americans do in times of catastrophe. The forces of nature destroyed human lives, 158, homes, 8,000, and livelihoods as well, but moments after the tornado exited the east side of Joplin leaving only 70% of our community standing, our recovery began.

"The Fourth of July will have extra significance to Joplin as we proudly celebrate our American way of life and the resolve of our community to support the self-reliant people who are rebuilding their homes, rebuilding their businesses and their lives. Only moments after the storm many volunteers have been in perpetual motion helping those who suffered losses. Someone questioned why so many people, famous, not so famous, have come from far and near to help.I believe Americans are compelled to offer assistance because, quote, "nothing feels as good as sacrificing to help others in need."

Another entry Limbaugh read:

"Dear Rush: Our town is an old mining town. We are on 'The Mother Road,' Route 66. We took on Bonnie and Clyde. We are a place of hometown values. If you drove around the sites damaged today, you couldn't go two steps without seeing a makeshift flagpole with an American flag waving beautifully in the wind. We embody the real hope and change the other side only thinks they are becoming. We may be a small town, but we're mighty in number, and it doesn't take a tornado to prove the American spirit that's always been among us. Thank you for the chance to do something for the people who are too filled with humility to do it for themselves. Thanks, and God bless."

A third one read by Limbaugh:

"The people in the heartland are the hardest workers in the world. When the tornado hit Joplin, they wasted no time jumping in and taking care of whatever needed to be done. They didn't whine, they didn't wait, they didn't wonder why no one came," and, you know, folks, that's true. We all saw the pictures out of Joplin and we were just stunned at the devastation -- the satellite pictures before and after -- and there wasn't a lot of whining, even from the two people from the Rebuild Committee who happened to call the program here. Nobody was whining, and there wasn't any looting, and there wasn't any begging, and there wasn't any "Where's FEMA?"