Initially silent, Romney addresses Limbaugh ‘slut’ remarks
Cleveland, Ohio (CNN) - Mitt Romney steered clear of the Rush Limbaugh controversy until Friday evening, even avoiding a CNN reporter earlier in the day, when he addressed the issue after an event in Cleveland.
“I'll just say this which is it’s not the language I would have used," Romney said. "I’m focusing on the issues I think are significant in the country today and that’s why I’m here talking about jobs and Ohio.”
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After an event in Bellevue, Washington, CNN asked Romney for a comment on Limbaugh who called Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke a "slut" after she testified before Congress on the importance of insurance coverage of contraception.
The former Massachusetts governor was within a few feet of CNN's camera when he was asked the question. But Romney walked by without comment.
Limbaugh ignited a political firestorm Wednesday when he suggested Fluke's support of contraception coverage was an attempt to force Americans to pay for her sexual activities.
"It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex," Limbaugh said.
Romney's main rival for the GOP nomination, Rick Santorum called Limbaugh's comments "absurd" in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
– CNN Political Producer Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report.
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Romney the coward . . . never wanting to be the one who takes the hit first. What a loser.
Funny-I don't remember Obama saying anything when Ed Shultz called Laura Ingram a vile name. Rush may be inappropriate, but so is Maher, Schultz, Sharpton, etc.
Mitt was silent because he knows Limbaugh can destroy his entire candidacy in one show. He's going to keep his nose so far up Limbaugh's butt that he's going to be able to tell what he had for lunch.
Make no mistake... Limbaugh speaks for the character and virtue of the modern Republican Party. They are about hatred, bigotry, greed and dishonor. He has been made a very wealthy man by the following from Republicans. This disgusting, evil man is the spokesperson for the GOP and I most certainly hope his sponsors are pulling out in droves. I have been actively trying to identify products I might buy from those sponsors and crossing them off my potential shopping list.
Romney's waiting for a poll to inform him about what his position is on this, what he can say which is most conducive to his getting elected, and what he believes.
I hope all the companies that advertise on Rush's show give some thought to what it means to be an American, The right to free speech dosen't mean we have to give every stupid entertainer a large contract and a microphone. It's time to pull the plug on uncivil discourse.
Rush Limbaugh is indeed the major mouth piece for the majority of the republican Party. They call him an entertainer when they need to distance themselves from things like this, but they are always careful to never offend him or do anything to get him angry. Millions of republicans will think, say and do anything Rush tells them to do. The GOP knows this, he is who they are whether they like it or not.
Folks, we have to turn our nation away from this and we have to do it now, or we won't have an America anymore.
Mitt Romney needs to grow up, he can't take a stand on anything without checking with his advisors.
I think those voting for a republican candidate should consider the fact that Gingrich and Santorum were not organized in their planning to be on Virginia States ballots shows the lack of organizational skills for the individuals. Do we want another President like this to lead the United States? I think NOT!!! I also do not want a canidate that calls democrats to vote for him. Is this called "TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM?"
The headline of this piece is clearly anti-Romney. Give the man a break – he had to do some polling & focus-group testing before he could know what convictions to express regarding this.
takes nothing to make a news story these days
Like most of the hi-jacked Republican party, these people are cowards. They display little or no principals, have no ability to seperate right from wrong and it's a sad day in right wing American politics.
Mitt Romney should go to the head of the line with his flip/flopping self, of cowards.
Romney has no back bone, a Flip Flopper and Artful Dodger, who won't take a stand. He cannot be depended to make hard choices demanded of a President.
Romney is a GOP nazi.
Wow. Like someone else said, talk about Profiles in Courage. But then, about what we've all come to expect from Mitt Weathervane –
Romney is gutless. If the American people elect Romney or Santorum President, you can kiss womens rights, the middle clas and poor goodbye!!! Wake up Folks!!!
Hey Rush, Breitbart's waiting on you.
somehow i think had President Obama or any other Democrat had made such a statement Mitt would have been more vocal about it. But just like the other GOP he's scared of Limbaugh too. Pitiful!
Maybe should talk about the jobs he sent offshore. He did impress us all when he told us about all of the cars he owns or the money he keeps offshore to avoid paying taxes in America. He's a fat-cat being propped-up by the other fat-cats.
Nice job Mitt... don't want to offend the Rush crowd. No, it is much easier to say you wouldn't have used those words... would you have used more graphic words? We know that those Rush lunitics are the ones who will vote for you... so please don't be man enough to say what everyone really knows.... it was rude, crude and socially unacceptable... but hey Mitt, you keep standing up for the fat bald blowhard and let the young women be called names.
II applaud the answer from Mitt Romney to CNN. There are far more important issues that need to be addressed than Limbaugh's comments on Sandra Fluke. In my opinion, candidates should focus on issues that are top priority: economy, foreign policy, energy, immigration, and national security. Irrelevant discussions on social issues and religion are simply a distraction. I definitely support Romney for being the most conservative, honest and best prepared candidate to beat Obama and restore America's greatness. It is all common sense!
As an Obama Democrat, all I can say to Mitt Romney is, "Just keep talking!" As for Rush Limbaugh, who was he again?
What a coward Romney is.
I think the time has come for Mr. Limbaugh's career to either voluntarily end or be destroyed. He is nothing but poison; and all to make money. He contibutes absolutely nothing to humanity or our culture. This vermin needs to go away or be thrown away - NOW!
This is going to come back on Romney. He should have been condemning the fat one's remarks yesterday.