It’s time for radio host Rush Limbaugh to take a stand. The shock jock may court controversy, but his behavior on “The Rush Limbaugh Show” recently crossed a definite line. On Jan. 19, when Chinese President Hu Jintao was in the middle of his visit to the U.S., Limbaugh highlighted the visit on his show by mocking the Chinese language. That’s right. Limbaugh did an impression of Jintao speaking Chinese by slipping into nonsensical “ching chong”-filled blabber. Even grade school kids know this is offensive. Limbaugh apparently does not. When Asian-American organizations and lawmakers collectively demanded that he apologize, Limbaugh not only stood by his insensitive impression but also ridiculed one of the lawmakers, California State Sen. Leland Yee, on air with the help of a caller.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there. After Yee threatened a boycott of Limbaugh’s sponsors, a fan of the radio host sent the legislator hate-filled faxes that included a sketch of a noose, racial slurs and a call to death. It declared, “Rush Limbaugh will kick your chink ass and expose you for the fool you are.”

So far, Limbaugh hasn’t addressed the threatening faxes, which must be taken seriously during a time in which an Arizona congresswoman just faced an assassination attempt. He also has yet to apologize for mocking the Chinese language. Limbaugh needs to take a stand and condemn the faxes sent to Yee and tell his audience that he disapproves of anyone threatening the life of a public official. But let’s not hold our breath until Limbaugh puts his foot his down. Let’s tell the sponsors of his show that they will be boycotted unless Limbaugh takes responsibility.