I'm not sure what you mean, are you saying one can't make money using GPL software? Are you saying programmers can't charge for their labor? What message are you referring to?
I see many successful businesses, for example IBM, making money hand over fist using Linux. Linux of course is "free software".
I suspect that RMS's message would be rejected however he dressed: it is antithetical to many/most forms of business as we know it in the US.
Actually, from what I've read of RMS, I'm not even sure how he envisions successful business to operate.