Today Rush Limbaugh issued what he must regard as an apology for having insulted a young woman – actually all women – who are seeking to obtain health care coverage from private insurance companies.
For three days Limbaugh has been defending having called Sandra Fluke a “slut” and a “prostitute” merely because she spoke out on behalf of women’s rights to equal treatment under the law. The firestorm of revulsion that Limbaugh created has resulted in several of his advertisers removing their support for his radio program.
This is the sort of groundswell that developed into a successful campaign to get Glenn Beck booted from Fox News. And Limbaugh knows it. Consequently, after digging in his heels for three days he has capitulated and posted a statement on his web site in an effort to quell the controversy:
For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.
I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit? In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone’s bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level.
My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.
If Limbaugh thinks that that mealy squeal is sufficient to get his neck out of this noose he is denser than the skull bone that houses his pea-brain.
First of all, what Limbaugh’s PR flacks have composed for him is not an apology at all. He is expressing regret only for having chosen “the wrong words,” not for the substance of his tirade. In other words, he’s sorry he called Fluke a slut, but not sorry for having and expressing that as his opinion. And there is nothing in his statement that is anything close to a recantation of that opinion. In fact, he reinforces it.
Limbaugh’s continuing and deliberate distortion of the underlying issue is evidence that he has no contrition whatsoever. His so-called apology says that “I do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities.” The activities he is referring to are rampant, unbridled orgies of lust. Or at least that’s how he sees it in his perverted, lecherous, Viagra-fueled brain. But no one else is suggesting that any private sexual behavior be financed by the state. This is about decent women and couples having access to health care products that are legal and necessary through their private insurance policies, not government handouts.
What’s more, these contraceptive products actually have medical uses that transcend pregnancy prevention, including alleviation of menstrual cramps and lowering the risk of ovarian cancers. Although we shouldn’t expect either idiots or misogynists (or both in Limbaugh’s case) to understand this. It’s too bad there is no pill to correct the insensitivity and hostility that has infected Limbaugh’s corpulent soul. If there were, unlike Limbaugh, I would gladly support making it available under his medical insurance.
[Update: Note the difference between the left and the right. When Keith Olbermann or Ed Schultz or David Shuster made inappropriate comments, MSNBC suspended them from their hosting duties. When Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh do so, there are no such consequences. In fact, today Limbaugh’s radio syndicator released a statement backing Limbaugh, saying “The contraception debate is one that sparks strong emotion and opinions on both sides of the issue. We respect the right of Mr. Limbaugh, as well as the rights of those who disagree with him, to express those opinions.” Apparently they also respect Mr. Limbaugh’s right to be a hateful pig.]
The campaign to hold Limbaugh accountable should continue despite his utterly disingenuous attempt at crisis management. Here are some resources you can visit to keep the fight alive:
ThinkProgress: Stand with Sandra Fluke
Daily Kos: Advertisers: pull your support for Limbaugh
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee: Denounce Rush’s Vile Misogyny
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: Denounce Rush Limbaugh’s Anti-Women Tirade
Rush Limbaugh’s Syndicator:
Premiere Radio Network,
1270 Avenue of the Americas, Fl. 19
New York, NY 10020
(212) 896-5200
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
(202)-418-1000
“What’s more, these contraceptive products actually have medical uses that transcend pregnancy prevention, including alleviation of menstrual cramps and lowering the risk of ovarian cancers.” This is the whole point everyone seems to be missing in all this with the exception of a few. Check out Rachel Maddows segment on this from her show last Friday at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ and click on her show. She points out how this whole thing shows Limbaugh does not understand how birth control pills work nor does Romney for that matter, based on what they say about this subject.
I did not expect Limbaugh to apoligize for this and I don’t consider his apology an apology at all. It is the closest thing you will get to it and the only reason he did anything at all was because of the sponsors fleeing his show. In other words, it was threatening his show. I don’t think he cares about the money, he has more of that than he even knows. His big concern would be to lose the bullhorn he has on right-wing hate radio. If this doesn’t go away and his show is threatened he would apoligize more completely but it will never be sincere.
In addition Limbaugh is misleading his audience into thinking she wants the government to pay for her birth control. That is not the case at all, as was pointed out in this post, it is private insurers who are being asked to pay for prescription pharma like they do for other things routinely.
When you write a piece condemning left wing misogyny I’ll have a tiny bet more respect for you.
Oh, here’s an example you might want to look at.
You didn’t actually read the article did you?
Rush’s “apology” was no apology at all. He only apologised for saying the wrong words, but the opinion he expressed with those words remains, it has not been recanted.
It’s like calling someone a pervert, saying that you should not have used the WORD pervert, but still expressing the belief that that person is one.
Ordinarily I don’t respond to comments that just attempt to change the subject. Your tactic of avoiding this issue is all too obvious. However, I want to point out that I am opposed to ANY display of misogyny from anyone. Take for instance Ed Schultz who was cited in the article you linked to. What he said about Laura Ingraham was just as bad as what Rush said and he deserved to be held accountable.
But here’s the difference. Schultz was held accountable. He apologized profusely and sincerely, calling his comments “vile.” He made it clear that it was the content of his remarks, not just the words, that were offensive and inexcusable. He made the apology on the air on his television show (although the original comments were only on his radio show), and he also phoned Ingraham to apologize personally. And he took himself off the air for a week.
Rush, on the other hand, only posted his apology on his web site instead of the venue he used to make the insulting comments. He only apologized for a bad choice of words, not for the intent of his message. He never attempted to contact the victim of his hate speech. And he has not volunteered to suspend his show at all.
So Schultz was appropriately contrite. And I agree that his comments were offensive and he deserved to be punished. How about you? Will you now agree that Rush crossed the line and should do at least as much as Schultz did?
Not to mention the fact that the article that Dave “derp” Richards posted cites examples of liberal media personalities and one comedian who were picking on women in the public arena. I personally think it’s fair game for someone to make fun of Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann if they say something stupid (since they do it so often…). Also the fact that Palin and Bachmann probably have the same misogynistic beliefs that Limbaugh engenders makes the point that “derp” is trying to make even more off the mark; and more importantly–lame.
Also, targeting Hilary Clinton is easy because she comes off as a ball-buster. And the people accused of mocking her are men. Most men don’t like strong women.
I think that Rush’s misogyny was the lesser of his crimes. He used his vast power (yes, conservative politicians are afraid of him. Even George Will says that.) and huge microphone to bully one, powerless person. It’s cowardly. It’s the worst kind of bullying. He’s like that kid in school who, when only all his other bully friends are around, picks on the weakest kid. He’s a fat, criminal pussy.
Rush is powerful, but after this he is less so. Look at all the Republicans(not enough but a few), who have condemned him for what he said. They are like a pack of wolves, when their pack leader is wounded they can sense it and will attack him. They also know what he said can hurt them politically and their number one objective is to get elected or reelcted, whatever the case may be. Look at Scott Brown of Massachussets, he won’t be looking for any endorsements from Limbaugh anytime soon but he is from Massachussets after all. I’m sure someone like Jim DeMint won’t do anything like Brown. I’m waiting for all the Rush supporters to come out next and show their support, probably in inappropriat ways.
How Limbaugh lasted this long saying the crap he says is a miracle, unless you consider the media machine that keeps itself well lubed on the spittle he spews on his microphone.