(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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First of all, that wasn't a sincere apology at all. Rush would NEVER do this little if he hadn't lost money due to his potty mouth. But more importantly, Rush STILL does not understand what the young lady was saying. It would be far better for someone to explain to Rush that contraceptives are used for many more things than birth control and that is what the young lady was explaining. Then, maybe he could say that he either misunderstood what she said or that he made incorrect assumptions about what she said. This lame apology is simply an effort to change the subject and all the while Rush remains as ignorant as ever. The only absurdity is Rush.
Sucks when your own turn against you, huh Rush?
He is pathetic and toxic , spreading venom in society
See rush, here is the problem..you are never funny. i do not know whoever told you that but most of the time you are a disgusting pig.My father and his generation like you for some reason that is far beyond me and they are in their 80's. When they are gone...you got nothin!
He meant every word he said. Friday he tried to portray himself as the victim. He is only offering an apology because smartly the advertisers are dropping like flies.
I learned the word "disingenuous" from an article that described Sandusky and his explanations of his relationships with his victims and I immediately thought of that word when I learned of Limbaugh's apology. There is no way he is sincere and his pure motive is to stop losing sponsors - in other words - money.
Limbaugh = I’m no longer relevant = I needed back in the headlines. Ms. Fluke was incorrect about him not understanding, albeit he is not smart, he is a clever entertainer who needed headlines ... think Lindsay Lohan, my career is fading so I all steal a purse ... Rush, my career is fading I will call her a name that everyone will react to ... they are all the same whether Washington or Hollywood ... no headlines = no money
Rush is just s blow hard who like's to stir the pot and incite hate in people,this time it bit him in the ass.
What an idiot.
Rush.... you've been married 4 times and produced no children....You are birth control.
Tell it like it is, Rush!
Rush attacked and misrepresented what that student had to say for 3 days. She never talked about herself or her need for BCP's; she tried to talk about women she knows and the expense and difficulty in getting the medical care they need.
Rush's "apology" is as shallow and stupid as his original comments.
Now Rush's followers are upset that he apologized and are going to boycott his advertisers, too, for pulling their ads. Maybe Rush should sent them some ProFlowers.
The only thing Limbaugh's sorry about is losing his sponsors. He routinely demonizes those who don't share his extremist views; that's his stock in trade. Maybe now some of his dittoheads will realize that their Svengali is a sociopath.
If we continue to allow the most ignorant and offensive to drive the focus of our daily discussions we will not continue to grow as a society. Each moment of thought we give to Mr. Limbaugh and other Bafoons is a lost moment for creating positive change in our society. "...I created a national stir." Seriously people, is this the best we can do? I don't believe so.
Once again Rush Limbaugh is showing that is he is just a blowhard. He said that all drug users should be shot while he was paying a nurse to steal narcotics for him because he was addicted. He'll say any lie, promote any deception – the perfect example of hypocritical demagoguery.
Al Franken was right. Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot.
If he honestly fells that he is wrong, which he certainly should, then his apology should be on-the-air and at least as long as the original tirade plus the two days of denial-talk on Thursday and Friday. His sponsors got to him and I highly doubt any true remorse or reconsideration.
He should have been fired.
With 'apologies' like these, is it any wonder Mr. Limbaugh is on his fourth wife?
You suck...Rush....You are just mad because it not funny and it going to cost the GOP votes.
This was no apology!! Where was the "I'm sorry – I was wrong"? This was simply an effort to appease sponsors and right wingers. The man was WRONG in interpretation and WRONG in response.
If anybody believes that he is sorry and that that fat f-was trying to be humorous, I have bridge to sell them.
College dropout Rush Limbaugh is totally not credible. He thinks he can cover up his slanderous
comments about a young woman expressing her opinion with a lame apology. Unfortunately his fans
will support him and allow him to continue to denigrate anyone who disagrees with him.
Sooooooooo, let me get this straight, viagra is ok for the gov. to pay for but not birth control. what a slug.
I sincerely hope that Rush Limbaugh continues to show his true colors, and those of the GOP. Rush and the GOP would love to take this country back to the pre-suffrage era, when women were considered inferior. He thinks this poor girl's parents are ashamed? I would be proud to have a daughter that stood up for what she believes in. Ashamed? Imagine being Rush's daughter...that's the definition of ashamed, and of "shamed." Rush has some obvious personal Oedipal issues he needs to address. Rush, please continue to demonstrate what the "O" in GOP stands for.....OLD. This strategy should work out great for all of you in November – GOP theoretical strategy discussion: "Hey, I have a great idea, let's alienate 50% of the population of the United States. Females shouldn't be allowed to vote anyway."
This guy is an inhuman freak. Most of the republicans are becoming like him. Please do not watch or listen to him anymore. We make him rich.