SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California lawmaker is calling for a boycott of companies that advertise on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show after the conservative commentator refused to apologize for mocking China’s president.
State Sen. Leland Yee launched the campaign after Limbaugh’s Jan. 19 radio program, during which he did a nonsensical impression of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s speech with President Barack Obama, the San Mateo County Times newspaper reported Wednesday.
After Yee complained about Limbaugh’s crude imitation, Limbaugh poked fun at the Chinese-American lawmaker, who’s running for mayor of San Francisco.
Limbaugh did not immediately respond to an e-mail request for comment from The Associated Press.
Yee told the newspaper that Limbaugh’s actions were “extremely hurtful” and damaging for children to hear.
Yee reached out to civil rights organizations Tuesday and launched an online petition asking people to join the boycott.
The lawmaker said he received a racist threat that was faxed by someone who appeared to be a Limbaugh supporter. Yee’s office sent out a copy of the alleged fax to the media.
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Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.