(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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His sponsors are fleeing, and his apology statement was filled once again with attacks and lies. I just e-mailed another sponsor to let them know I won't be using them any time soon. Rush and his followers are disgusting racists, bigots and women haters, it's just that simple.
Humor? Limbaugh has a very strange sense of humor. Humor does not denigrate..
Rush
Is a a fat, stupid idiot!
end of story
Sorry Rush. It's not the word choices. It's the sentiment.
Rush! Wants forgiveness,Anyone who reads the bible Mr. Limbaugh knows there is forgiveness but there still remains the consquences of your sin.Your forgiven but your not let off the hook.King David was quick to sin and quick to repent but he always had to deal with out comes of his wrong doings.Lets see true repentance.Go and sin no more.
It's amazing how Limbaugh can backpedal and thinks that everything in okay. I say he's taken off the air permanently, the venom he spews on a daily basis is deadly. The women of the world deserve and we demand respect. It's about time the people turn his microphones off by boycotting anyone who advertises on his show, let's all hit them in their pockets.
Way to little to late
How does this blow-hard even have an audience? Don't people remember he lost hearing due to Oxycontin addiction? Do you know much dope you have to take to effect your auditory sense? A whole lot. A mother load. This guy jumped the shark years ago. PRO TIP to Republicans: alienating women is not going to get you very far. Remember when you were the party for fiscal conservatism, small gov. and liberal rights? Me neither. Abe Lincoln would lose his mind at the current state of the GOP. You've been hijacked by religious freaks and fundamentalists. I would add Wall St. to the aforementioned list but both parties are S.l.u.t.s for that crowd.
Surprisingly quick and gracious apology from Limbaugh. While he may be many things, stupid is not one of them.
Hey look folks. I didn't think I'd lose any sponsors over this. But I need my oxy, and that requires lots of money so...
Rush's pee brain at work again. Wow!! When is everyone is going to learn this guy hurts this country. Extreme views and fighting to the bitter end without compromise is just a uneducated bully tactic. I think he needs to lose about half his advertisers on his talk show, he has already lost a couple of them, that's the only reason he apologized. He meant everything he said and it goes to show there is not much up stairs but a mean dumb a$$.
Rush only apologized because the Republican party and sponsors of his program pressured him to. It was not sincere! He is the lowest of the low. Republican women stand united against degradation of women.
The man is a looser no matter what. He has no control over his mind or his mouth.
That's not an apology. That's an excuse.
Next topic after the Limbaugh apology:
Hell freezes over!
How can anyone take an insult seriously from some fat, pill-popping racist?
The sincerity of pig boy's apology is underwhelming. Sounds like he's lost a few sponsors of late.
LIAR !
When will our media shame Bill Maher into apologizing to Sarah Palin for his denigrating attacks? When will our media shame Mike Tyson into apologizing to Sarah Palin for his violence against women attack on Palin? Why is there no headlines like a "war on women", when conservative women are attacked?"
Miss Fluke does it hurt less to be apologized to after three days of being a public image of a bad girl in every news paper in America, and probably Europe, too?
A rather limp attempt at humor and a flaccid apology, Mr. Limbaugh.
In other words he didn't change his opinion. He just would have said if differently. What a pompous a$$.
Way too late for your very insincere apology Mr. Limbaugh. You are simply worried that you are losing financial support for your negative and frequently slanderous radio talk show.
Horse hockey. He got his free publicity, just like he wanted.
too late, rush! we already knew who you were. we just didn't know how low you could sink. those sponsors pulling out hurt, huh?