(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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Three brothers seperated at birth.
Rush, Trump & Gingrich.
Rich, mean, rude, ugly, fat, vain bigots.
We all know Rush is full of –it,,,,to little to late PumpkinHead
Give me a break. He's not sorry about his comments. He repeated these comments for 3 days. He's only sorry because advertisers are pulling out of radio show. He meant exactly what he said. He didn't care about this young lady at all. She was expressing her opinion just as he does everyday. Spewing his hatred every chance he gets. He is such a joke, I can't believe intelligent people actually listen much less agree with this fool.
I wish the guy would just go away!
He is absolutely the worst that our country has to offer.
He must have been under a lot of pressure from his bosses and sponsors to actually apologize. "Birth control pills" aren't just for birth control. I don't think rush will ever tell the whole story when he discusses any topic.. He"s not there to inform, he's there to inflame and dupe the right wingers with anger and hate. Anyone that's not wealthy and supports the republicans has certainly been duped.
Nasty thugs of this nation are This fat idiot, Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, Maureen Dawd, Karl Rowe, etc, etc, Do not consider them, they are the nasty idiots of this nation.
Although I'm not that impressed with the job Boehner is doing, he's right on this one. Granted the girl's statement is a bunch of Pelosi bull, calling her fowl names further alienates moderate voters. Most of Limbaugh's favorite Republicans are so far right it's difficult for independents or moderate Republicans to vote for them!!
That was no apology! Just a bad choice of words – certainly it was that but more to the point, the man has a black heart and he did not say that he was wrong.
Why is it national news if a clown says something stupid?
Well, now that you've gotten all the milage you can out of this – you apologize
What a man, What a man!
His apology is not sincere. It has taken several days of intense pressure for him to apologize. What that means is when he started to see $ walk out the door, his PR advised him to issue this fake apology. There seems to be a pattern of behavior from right wing extremists. Make an inflammatory statement to rile up your base and then apologize. You have seen it recently from Santorum, Graham, and now Limbaugh. It is a sad statement on our society that knuckleheads like Limbaugh are thought of as thought leaders by some.
Limbaugh suddenly feels his choice of words was "inappropriate"? And he was trying to be "funny"? He is complete liar. The ONLY reason he flipped-flopped on his position is because he began losing sponsors. What a pathetic example of a human being he is.
I believe him as far as I can throw him with the help of some friends and even we couldn't pick him his fatness up to throw him.
Hell has officially frozen over!!
The men, women and children of America should look at the poster boy and prototype of the Republicans and ask the question " Which type of American listens to Rush Limbaugh."
This is the GOP party asking you to vote for the party of Limbaughs
The companies supporting Limbaugh should be made public ...it would be interesting to know
He made the "mistake" on three separate shows. Not buying his apology one bit. Take something away from this fat pig and let him live in regret.
No surprise here. Rush is a bigoted hate-monger. Why would anyone be surprised by anything that comes from him. I think the only thing that would surprise me was a truly sincere apology.
I am truly not the litigious sort, but I hope that Sandra Fluke sues the bah-jeezus out of Rush Limbaugh and Clear Channel. She was defamed and libeled on national radio after all. Oh – and while her lawyers are at it, go get Bill O'Reilly too.
I am a life long Republican who works with inner city kids. When did we turn into a party of knee jerk reactionaries? Free contraception is a cheap, viable, responsible alternative to having society take care of the children produced by low income families. I see it everyday. Feel free to use my tax money to fund all the free pills we can hand out! The alternative costs about 1000x's more and the moral implications are enormous.
Limbaugh is such a disgrace.....
Oh well. Now we can't even depend on Limbaugh to stand by what he says. Now days, as soon as somebody gets his/her little feelings hurt and runs to the media (or Nancy Pelosi) for support, it's time to issue that "heart-felt apology".
Limbaugh is a clown. Unfortunately the vast majority of Republicans follow in his footsteps and are afraid to confront him. The only solution is to silence the right wing by voting every one of them out of Congress this year.
Not enough - the hate-mongering needs to stop. He's NOT funny – he's offensive and demeaning to half the people in this country,
That's not an apology. It's a skate-by. He only backtracked because of pressure from his producers because of consumer boycotts on his advertisers. Then, it was a backhanded "oh, if I offended you..." wrapped round and round in thick layers of caveats. Sorry, not working for me. People should continue to boycott this jerk until he gets down on his knees and makes a real, sincere apology to this young woman and to all women in this country.
Why are we still giving audience to a known drug addict and shameless hypocrite?