Rush Limbaugh accused of blaming Robin Williams' suicide on his being 'politically leftist'

Counter reports claim his words were taken out of context

Limbaugh said the left's attitude is one of 'pessimism, darkness and sadness' (AP)

Conservative US radio host Rush Limbaugh has provoked the ire of the internet by drawing comparisons between Robin Williams' decision to commit suicide and the "darkness and pessimism" of liberalism as a whole.

On his weekly show which regularly attracts audiences of 15 million, Limbaugh discussed the possible motives behind Williams' death and intimated that all liberals are "miserable".

"What is the left’s worldview in general?" he asked listeners. "If you had to attach, not a philosophy, but an attitude to a leftist worldview. It’s one of pessimism, and darkness, sadness.

"They’re never happy, are they? He had it all, but he had nothing. Made everybody else laugh, but was miserable inside. It fits a certain picture or a certain image that the left has."

He went on to make assumptions about the Good Will Hunting actor's life and suggest that he guilt was a factor in his suicide.

Robin Williams was found dead at his home on Sunday night (AP)

"Robin Williams felt guilty that he was still alive while his three friends had died young, and much earlier than he had," he added. "He could never get over the guilt that they died and he didn’t.

"Well, that is a constant measurement that is made by political leftists in judging the country."

The Examiner claims that Limbaugh's comments were taken out of context, and were a judgement on the media and pop culture rather than Williams himself, but this has done little to plug the tide of anger.

"If you need any more reasons to think Rush Limbaugh is an awful human being - here's another," one Twitter user wrote, with another adding: "Dude! You were addicted to painkillers! Smarten up!"