Like the great Don Imus before him conservative talk show host, Rush Limbaugh apologized to Georgetown University Law Student, Sandra Fluke after heavy criticism from Democrats, Republicans & a resounding public outcry for Limbaugh's job in the passed few days. Limbaugh branded Fluke a "slut" & "prostitute" on his talk radio show a few days back after Fluke testified to congressional democrats supporting their national health care initiative that would compel her college to offer health plans that cover her birth control.
Limbaugh's remarks prompted both public & media outrage as several advertisers discontinued their business relationship with the talk host's show after a boycott of the show & its advertisers began gaining steam on the internet. Many also wanted Limbaugh fired.
Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio show host stated Saturday via his website, "My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir, I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."
Attempts to reach Fluke by telephone and email were unsuccessful.
The law student, Sandra Fluke had been initially invited by Democratic lawmakers to testify to a House of Representatives committee about her university's health care plan that does not include contraception coverage. Republican lawmakers deaded that noise, but Democrats invited her back and she spoke to the Democratic lawmakers at an unofficial session.
President of the United States Barack Obama, whose landmark health care overhaul requires many institutions to provide birth control coverage, contacted Fluke from the White House on Friday to express his support.
The contraception issue has been a much debated point in the current presidential race, with Republican candidates particularly talking mad shit about the Obama plan's requirements on such employers as Catholic hospitals. Democrats as well as many Republican leaders, have suggested the issue could provoke women to vote for Obama and other Democrats in November.
Limbaugh however, wasn't feelin' none of what Fluke had to say to the House panel.
He said on the Wednesday show that sparked the controversy, "What does it say about the college coed ... who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex."
The day after Limbaugh refused to budge, standing by his statements while being a pervy douche in the process.
"If we're going to have to pay for this, then we want something in return, Ms. Fluke," Limbaugh said. "And that would be the videos of all this sex posted online so we can see what we're getting for our money."(wow, what a douche move.)
Limbaugh didn't stop there though. He also asked the 30-year-old Fluke: "Who bought your condoms in junior high?"
And for his coup de grace on Friday, still shitty even after Democrats beat back Republican retorts to the new health care law, Limbaugh scoffed at the Democrats' talk of a conservative "war on women."
"Amazingly, when there is the slightest bit of opposition to this new welfare entitlement being created, then all of a sudden we hate women. We want 'em barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen," he said. "And now, at the end of this week, I am the person that the women of America are to fear the most."
By Saturday, six advertisers said screw that noise and pulled sponsorship of Limbaugh's show while some Republicans had distanced themselves from the comments.
By Saturday evening, Limbaugh decided to concede saying,
"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."
But then went on to say the entire debate was "absolutely absurd."
"In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone's bedroom, nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a presidential level," he said.
Limbaugh's detractors called bullshit on his statement.
"In all seriousness, this isn't an apology. It's a public relations statement. It's hollow and deceitful. Don't be fooled," tweeted the account StopRush, the effort online to pressure advertisers to abandon the popular conservative radio host.
This whole madness stemmed from a recent requirement in the president's health care law mandating that religious-affiliated institutions such as hospitals and universities include free birth control coverage in their employee health plans. Georgetown, a Jesuit institution, does not provide contraception coverage in its student health plan.
Many Republicans and some religious organizations accused the president of waging a war on religion. As protests mounted, Obama killed those accusations by proposing religious employers be able to opt out, but their insurers would still have to pay for the birth control coverage.
In his apology, Limbaugh repeated his aversion to the rule.
"I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities," he said. "What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit?"
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