(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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Contraception pills are used for various (medical) reasons. Preventing a pregnancy is only one of them.
Rush will be back at it on Monday. Different story, different rant, different absurd assault, same ol' Rush, same ol' followers!
Has Rush ever been funny, other than the fact that he IS a joke?
Rush Limbaugh you are a disgusting PIG and that is an insult to pigs. you have no clue what women face in their health issues. you need to get a clue before you open that big fat mouth of yours. didn't like you and your opions before like you even less now if that is possible. go back under the neanderthal rock you came from!
2 little, 2 late and 2 unsincere.
The only reason he's apologizing is because he doesn't want to lose any sponsors.
Wow. . must have been MAJOR backlash that we haven't heard about yet, if Rush has been forced into an apology.
I really don't buy it, based on what I know of the man, he said it to provoke a reaction - meaning he knew EXACTLY what he was saying.
(ESPECIALLY since he doubled-down on the comments on Thursday & Friday)
but still, nice he attempted an apology, so I'll give him credit for realizing he created a backlash against himself, and trying to make it right.
Another Carnival Barker that needs to be outted. Rush is an embarrassment and a hypocrite. He was probably was having a good oxycotin day and got a little wound up.
Good luck getting your advertisers back, Mr. hate speech.
Don't you have any decency, RL?
How does this man have a national following? By what alice-in-wonderland world have we found ourselves that this buffoon is a nationally syndicated radio host? He spits venom and clearly disdains women.
"Attempt to be humorous".
My first reaction was "how did I know he'd try to say it was a joke?". My second was "remind me why this idiot still matters to anyone?"
Rush Limbaugh is a radical, and a hypocrite; few nice americans care what he has to say.
While Rush went about it in the usual way, he is right. So Georgetown doesn't offer contraceptives. Big deal. You can call the DC health department up and they'll gladly deliver free condoms and lube to your doorstep at no charge. Its not like these girls or guys have no other options out there too them.
yep. he just gets his red-meat eating listeners going. No facts. No legitimacy. Just an entertainer.
Hell, he knew what he was saying. I wouldn't accept his apology if it was up to me. I am sure he said it after so many sponsors dropped his show. Good riddance and don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out. Don't you need to go to your doctor to get a refill on your pills? No not that doctor, that doctor.
He got hit where it hurt, the advertisers. First Susan G. Komen, then SOPA, now this. The internet is the most powerful tool the people have.
Mitt Romney really has not core...out of all of the statements that decried Limbaugh, Romney's was the most tepid...I can't wait for him to lose and go away
Rush Limbaugh continued on for several days with his assault on this lady. Now that advertisers are pulling from his show, he is apologizing for his "word choice." Yet he went on and on attacking her for days – this is not a simple slip of the tongue. Rush is simply pathetic....
Humorous? He wouldn;'t know what humor was if it slapped him in the face. He is full of anger, contempt and vile. He will follow Breitbart unless he changes his tune....Pretty sure he is on blood pressure medication. Quite impossible that he isn't with such pent up anger. Rush is an idiot, albeit an idiot that has figured out how to attract the rest of the idiots and make money doing so. When he's gone from the national picture, I will say "good riddance"!
Yeah, Rush. Why don't you just be honest and say: "OK, now that I've got myself the free publicity I wanted, I apologize". You're the lowest form of life.
Big deal, she got a call from the black founding father – now how did that start – the fall of Apairthied in Africa, while Bush/Reagan and others, bamboozeled the country concerning what was already criminal .
sue!!! sue!!! sue!!!
What ever kick him out of this country go move to Israel rush dum-ass
That's not an apology – that's reloading. Try again.