Rush Limbaugh is not known for being the most restrained and circumspect of radio talkers. But he seems to have finally crossed the line of no return last week. He spent several days lobbing relentless personal attacks on Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, who had prepared testimony for Congress on why insurance companies should be required to provide contraception. (Because committee chair Darryll Issa allowed only those who agreed with his position — mostly religious men — to appear, she ultimately gave her testimony to a Democratic panel).
Among his most inflammatory remarks were branding her a “slut” and a “prostitute” and saying that if “we” are going to pay for her birth control, she should have to post sex tapes on line for “us” to watch.
As of today nearly a dozen advertisers have fled Limbaugh’s program.
And although Quicken Loans initially indicated support for Limbaugh with spokesman Paul Silver saying “While we do not condone or agree with Mr. Limbaugh’s statements regarding Sandra Fluke, we respect his right to express his views,” they quickly recognized what a shitstorm was brewing and pulled their support on Friday.
Dan Gilbert tweeted,
Due to Rush Limbaugh’s inflammatory comments along w/valuable feedback from our clients & staff, Quicken Loans has suspended ads on his show.
Since Cavs flagship station WTAM-AM 1100 also carries Limbaugh’s program, they’ll still be bedfellows.
Limbaugh “apologized” over the weekend, saying he used the “wrong words,” but blaming Fluke for talking about her “personal sexual recreational activities before Congress.” (She didn’t; she used examples of other students who used contraceptives for health-related reasons).
And an unrepentant Limbaugh is blustering “Don’t worry, folks. Advertisers who don’t want your business will be replaced.” — Anastasia Pantsios
This article appears in Feb 29 – Mar 6, 2012.
He’s right! The cowardly advertisers are responding to people that don’t listen to his show.
The only people who listen to this blowhard are neanderthals.
I don’t listen to Limbaugh and I recommend the same for anyone else who doesn’t like him. Attacking advertisers is more distasteful than anything Limbaugh has ever said if you ask me. He says things off the cuff and I prefer my entertainers to have that freedom. That means I don’t support the attack of advertisers whether we’re talking about Limbaugh, Tracy Morgan, Howard Stern, Opie & Anthony or Keith Olbermann.
I’ll choose which voices I listen to rather than allow some angry mob to do it, thanks.
After things cool down, Limbaugh’s radio ratings will determine the sponsors. Its not the talk host, its the listener base. The listener base are the ones with money to spend.
Limbaugh is just a closed minded, pill popping, loud mouth…
Rush Limbaugh’s ignorant to 10 decimal places, never restricted by fact, truth, honesty or decency. Those who think he’s something special are usually rednecks, skinheads, illiterates & those who think Mayberry RFD was a real place. Limpbaugh was caught smuggling Viagra into the US – too ashamed to admit he can’t get it up w/o chemical help? No wonder he despises women.That giant gold phallus he rants into each day is his sub for being not being able to get his own member to get stiff enough to hold that pose. He hasn’t truly apologized – not when he takes it back moments later with an ‘except for’, ‘but’ or ‘we all know’.
Decent Republicans’ve been waiting like sharks for the first sign of blood & are now circling to destroy this idiot who thinks he has only to wave his hand & everyone will kiss his…ring. He’s been an albatross around the Party’s neck for too long. Hopefully once the money dries up so will he – & blow away.
Communication is always being put up for discussion. The question is always ‘what does a guy like Rush say which so many men love to hear?’ Like violence and porno, or games like grand theft auto, it is not that they have the right to be a product or not, it is: what is the need and where does it come from? For twenty years Rush has said many things more offensive than the things he said about Ms Fluke, yet now, this week he has crossed the line? The public outcry or disgust with Rush was only now given any solid reaction. He is like a slave owner who has only now been told that he was not allowed to rape the slaves. Well he says, ‘you never minded before and you even watched and joined in before. What changed you so?’ I guess the times are changing. Our attitudes toward the super rich who think they can attack anyone who is not in their little republican club of cigar smoking, pushy pricks may be ending. Maybe it was OWS. Maybe it was the republican debates and the stupid things they say and get votes for saying. Maybe it is the lobbyists who control politics with money and power. All I know is it is about time people got the guts to tell guys like Rush that he is just another garden variety prick with a big fucking mouth.
What I find particularly interesting is that every single person in this forum that had a negative thing to say about Rush, did not give one example. Not only is it foolish, it doesn’t help make your point. You just sound like a bitter partisan. Which is Ok if you don’t mind sounding like a bitter partisan. But if want to sound like an intelligent analyst, you ALWAYS have to give examples.
He has his right to free speech but there has to be a barometer to measure when it is being abused…He found it!!!
LMAO!!!!!
I am surrounded by very educated and informed coworkers and none of them listen to this dude…
And the people that do listen to him tend toward blind partisanship and a VERY limited world view…They’re all in lockstep with massive blinders on…
Very disconcerting….
joe, It is not possible to defend Rush unless you agree with his rantings and ravings. Rush and his twenty year radio program is filled with examples of what those who do not like him, don’t like about him…his communication is hate-filled and judgmental. His arguments do not stand to any true debate test. He yells with emotion and sees no one elses points of view; He slams all liberal thinkers, most women, most races and most beliefs; He never really says he is wrong or is sorry unless it furthers his wrong and attack oriented agenda; He represents the things in which we in America have become sick and tired of hearing; His following is made of crude and angry men who think they are victims even while they are doing the damage; He has helped to bring the once (somewhat OK) republican party to the lowest point for fifty years; He has helped to spear-head the three + year gridlock and has instructed all of his following to hat every thing done or said by the president of the USA who was elected through fair and well-defined votes by the people of this country; He works to separate one American from another by race, money and any other reason he can find; He has helped to take our great country in the wrong direction and he has convinced so many of our less intellegent, yet ‘hard working’ (only in their own self-rightous minds and groups) right-wrong thinking men and their employees and families.
joe and gang..please, civil debate only. Try it, it can really help your anger and negative attitudes. Times are changing and you guys are holding back positive changes. Would a nice and non-angry, in-person debate help? We all live in Cleveland and want to help our brothers and sisters don’t we? Remember: Those who try to unite are good and part of the solution and those who try to divide and separate are wrong and part of the problems. Wouldn’t you like to be right for a change? Has Rush united people or separated them? And if you say he has united them, to what end has that been for?
joe and gang..please, civil debate only. Try it, it can really help your anger and negative attitudes. Times are changing and you guys are holding back positive changes. Would a nice and non-angry, debate help? We all live in Cleveland and want to help our brothers and sisters don’t we? Remember: Those who try to unite are good and part of the solution and those who try to divide and separate are wrong and part of the problems. Wouldn’t you like to be right for a change? Has Rush united people or separated them? And if you say he has united them, to what end has that been for?
@ Kenny…………that was wonderfully vague and nebulous. You didn’t met the challenge, Skippy!