(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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Well that's disingenuous.
"I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.”
Well, that is probably true. Limbaugh meant it as he means all his comments: to create a stir so that his ratings go up. Every time he gets media attention for behavior like this it helps his ratings.
However, that does not excuse his actions in any way. I fully expect Fluke to file a lawsuit against Linbaugh on the basis of defamation of character and for the suit to be settled out of court. They both will get paid for his 'mistake'.
As long as those who listen to his blather keep giving him good ratings, these types of actions will continue. In that way, his listeners are as much to blame for his actions as he is himself.
Rush, you peaked long ago. Eat another pill and retire. You ain't in Kansas anymore Dorothy. Everybody is sick of your empty whine.
He was gonna get the ax by the sponcers. This man is addicted to money, pills, distorting the truth. 4 wives and no kids?? Who are you fooling??
bla bla
I think someone in the GOP had a little 'talk' with Rush in the last couple of days.
Crazy lunatic pill popper
That was hardly an apology worthy of all the things he had said, I hope she sues him for slander.
Who cares what a junkie thinks anyway.
Limbaugh is disgusting! First lighting the fire (many times) and then:”… in the attempt to be humorous…”. Well, if you see the way many respond to it, the damage is already done! (Thankfully there is also a lot of support for Ms. Fluke!)
The GOP/TP and many of their supporters just have a very twisted sense of how life and government should be. If you prefer the party of NO first getting us into the biggest mess and then refusing to clean it up, openly despising a President that has class, energy, compassion, smarts, (and a lot more positives on his side), it is not anymore a question of politics but the GOP/TP that has lost all decency and relevance for the wellbeing of the country!
To vote for “that” is also a bad reflection on a voter who does and for a voter that does not go out and votes against it!
That is NOT an apology, but apparently the number of advertisers withdrawing has gotten the attention of his masters.
If you think contraception is expensive, you should look into the costs of NOT using it. They painted that picture pretty well in high school. Why don't the GOP guys have access to high school education? You want brith control or single moms and babies on food stamps? Beyond this, I've known a few women who use birth control pills for reasons other than contraception. What is the plan for them? One would think insurance companies would jump all over contraception rather than pay to deliver a baby and all those costs.
At what point does Herr Limbaugh he lose his job that uses the PUBLIC airways?
Limbaugh's apology to Fluke is a "fluke".
he had his fingers crossed!
HE WAS TRYING TO BE HUMOROUS!??? What does he take us for? He knew exactly what he was going to stir up by saying this filth – he was in his "bubble" – his "zone" – and when he fires off these ridiculous comments he knows they'll fly around like buckshot. Another fine example of a vapid, ill-advised, neurotic, religious conservative, IDIOT who speaks before he thinks, then believes that just by apologizing people will let him off the hook. Not a chance, buddy – you deserve to be held up as a mean soul who loves to hear yourself blubber on about nothing........shame on you!
this guy is whats wrong with your country americans
I hear a lot of people claiming they've identified the anti-Christ. I've just joined that group. Based on relative positive/negative influence on our society, I'd like to nominate Rush Limbaugh. I've yet to hear this man utter anything that could even remotely be considered 'constructive'. He is a disgrace to his species, among other more obvious faults.
The only thing Rush was really sorry about was losing advertisers.
I like the guy. He's entertaining. I wasn't offended.
Not a sincere apology. It;s not just the word choice, fatboy, it's the sentiment. It's the hypocrisy of calling her a sl.ut for using birth control and then saying you want to see intimate videos of her, all the while acting smugly superior. Not good enough, you sc.umbag.
why is contraception still considered only a womens issue? If a baby is born the man is half responsible, would you rather pay for an abortion, a child until the age 18 or my birth control?
Rather typical I'd say, like some of the republican candidates, Rush says whatever sensational thought he feels will engage his party and then apologizes afterwords if it enrages the entire population. Mr. Santorum probably felt that Lee Oswald was a patriot and Kennedy got what was coming to him. Everyone expects and has been rewarded by three of the four candidates who have put their feet in their mouths, only Ron Paul has seemed to be able to maintain a thought process when speaking in front of a microphone. I'll bet Rush has no thought of endorsing Mr Paul.
Rush, you thought and you said it, now you've got to live with it. Shows where your mind is, in the gutter.
The GOP hates women. Yes, it's that simple.