(CNN) - Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh apologized Saturday for calling Sandra Fluke a "slut" this week after the Georgetown law student advocated for contraception coverage in a Democratic hearing.
“My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir,” Limbaugh said in a statement on his website. “I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.”
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Limbaugh made the original comments Wednesday, in which he also suggested Fluke wanted taxpayers to pay for her to have sex.
"What does it say about the college co-ed [Sandra] Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says she must be paid to have sex?" Limbaugh asked. "What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex."
His remarks set off a major outcry, prompting top Republicans and Democrats alike to denounce the famed talk show host.
President Barack Obama called Fluke on Friday to offer his support, while Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum labeled the comments as “absurd” and Ron Paul described them as “crude.” Mitt Romney said Limbaugh's words were "not the language I would have used."
But Limbaugh repeated his comments during his show on Thursday and Friday, even taking them further to suggest that women who accept free contraception should film themselves having sex so taxpayers could watch.
In his apology Saturday, Limbaugh said he disagrees with the notion that contraceptives should be covered under federally backed health insurance plans, saying he finds it “absurd” that Americans are “discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress” and argued taxpayers should not “pay for these social activities.”
But Limbaugh admitted Saturday his choice of words referring to Fluke were “wrong.”
“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.”
From CNN Politics
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Every day we have a $5 pool to guess which Republican will say something to promote hatred or incite violence. That's the easy part.
The winner must guess which person will try to walk it back...
He's old, he's senile, he's wrong.
Rush Limbaugh apologized for one reason: his sponsors forced him to do so. Anyone who believes there is one sincere cell in his corpulent form knows nothing about this vile, vicious, arrogant being.
I truly hope Ms. Fluke rejects Rush Limbaugh's phony apology, and all civilized people of our country boycott every sponsor of Mr. Limbaugh's disgusting broadcast.
i don't like rush limbaugh, but his comment was not off base. insensitive? yes. but not off base.
This man is a disgrace to America. He meant what he said. He proved that by the "just send me the videos" comment. We all know he is drug addicted moron. Did his insurance pay for all his illegal prescription drugs? How about his Viagra? Women should not have to explain or defend themselves against fools like this. Good-bye Rush. You will not be missed by most Americans.
Yeah, right. He doubled down the day after, but now, after sponsors are leaving him, he apologizes. What's funniest is all the dopes who twisted themselves into knots supporting this overweight drug addict. Congratulations on your collective inability to tell right from wrong.
So, Rush was just attempting to be funny? Right. And, can he explain how he's had 4 wives and no children? Hmmm ... couldn't be because of, oh, say, birth control? Either that, or there IS a god and we're not being inflicted with Baby Rushes!
Thank you Rush. Now can you please say like you mean it? I know your sponsors are forcing you to do this, but can you please say it, like you really mean it?
Thanks...
Sincerely,
A Father of a Daughter
"Sincere" apology? Yeah... sure. How can people not see that the Hard Right is quite literally crazy?
Rush Limbaugh is a big fat sack of MITT. Sandra Fluke has more courage than Limbaugh, Romney, Santorum, Paul and Gingrich all put together. It will be a sad day in our history if any of these candidates should happen to win the Presidency.
He's a liar, of course, but when it cost him sponsors, he saw the money,,.er, writing on the wall. He is an embarrassment to the civilized world.
He is an idiot.
Wow Rush, you're sort of going Palin here. Mugging for attention about a non issue. Excellent in Broadcasting my ass.
This air bag is a disgusting pig and a sub-human. He takes the opportunity of an apology to flatter himself ( "I created a national stir").
Hasn't he been married like 4 times with NO children of his own? That means he has been the recipient of birth control, quite frequently. Either that or he shoots blanks. Which is it, Rush?
The insincerity of this apology only deepens the original insult: 1) we just didn't get RL's supposed humor and 2) he's losing sponsors fast. How long will his dwindling audience be fooled?
The was one of the lamest non-apology apologies I have heard in a long time. More proof this pathetic-excuse-for-a-human-being is full of himself.
Only apologizes when sponsors threaten to cancel. He is a bully with a microphone, and it's a psychological fact that bullies have no empathy for their victims.
After he loses sponsors, magically contrite.
Why should we believe him – he's just in hot water and says what he thinks he has to – REVOLT, Advertisers...please pull the plug on this piggy windbag!
Here's how you apologize people. You say 'I'm sorry, I was wrong." Here's a better idea, think about what you're saying before the stupid comment comes out.
Empty words from the world's most corpulant and crudest drug addict!
Rush is only sorry because he is losing advertisers over this. He is a disgusting pig.
This man owes an apology, not only to Ms. Fluke, but to all women, in general. Personally, I wouldn't accept his apology, if it came gift wrapped. I feel the only reason he is apologizing at all, it because his sponsors are pulling out on him.
Remember the "nappy-headed ho's" comment made by Imus? He was fired, fined, etc. Why is Limbaugh not bound by the same code?