COMMENTARY
Rush Limbaugh apologized to Sandra Fluke:
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.
I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. 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? 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.
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.
Although Mr. Limbaugh said he would not apologize, Sleep City, Sleep Number, Citrix, Carbonite, ProFlowers, Legal Zoom, and Quicken Loans convinced him that he should. Aparently Carbonite said the above apology was not sufficient and continues to pull its advertising. Earlier, he had stuck to his slurs, although explaining them in the context of government control over medical care.
Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul expressed doubt on Sunday that conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh truly meant it when he apologized for calling a law student a “slut” over her support for President Barack Obama’s new policy on insurance coverage of contraceptives.
“I don’t think he’s very apologetic. He’s doing it because some people were taking their advertisements off his program. It was his bottom line that he was concerned about,” Paul told the CBS program “Face the Nation.”
“Yes, I think he should have apologized. I had said he used very crude language. And I think he gets over the top at times,” added Paul, known for his libertarian views.
Mr. Limbaugh is a bombastic entertainer who is taken seriously by many Conservatives. I get the feeling he takes himself way too seriously these days. I don’t have time to listen to him, but on occasion I do (mostly when I have to drive somewhere), so I get his spiel. He’s very good on some things, but he wears quickly on me; I find his egotistical demeanor grating. But he is often amusing and entertaining. As to his comments about Ms. Fluke, I think Mr. Limbaugh has some serious hangups. Whatever.
If more of his sponsors also find his apology lacking in sincerity, my guess is that he will find room in his heart for more humility.
Perhaps Rush is finding something about himself that he didn’t know before: that for him economics trumps his principles.
Limbaugh is a pompous windbag, and I think his apology was strictly driven by his commercial interests. He was also completely spot on in his characterization of the woman’s testimony.
Oh the horror that somebody would have to pay for their own contraception. Everybody else in the world should pay for their sex drives. And the second horror, that somebody should actually point these facts out and not be polite about it.
This is a perfect illustration of the perversions of statism. One side wants free sex with society picking up all the costs. The other side wants to act like sex is a sin and should never be allowed except within their religious dogma. Both sides are more than willing to use the power of the state to enforce their views on all.
geoih,
i agree 100%. i dislike Rush and would never listen to him. however he is correct in this situation. those who don’t get that he is correct in this situation will get smashed in the coming decades. the free loading is going to end at some point, it always does.
to add, i do not approve of Rush’s descriptive of the woman, and Jeff clearly has a point: we know what matters most to Rush.
So if a person conducts herself like a slut, that is okay… but it is politically correct to call her a slut.
If a president conducts himself like a socialist, that is okay…. but it is politically correct to call him a socialist.
Do I understand the new standard now?
I think Rush has the right to express himself as all others in our politically correct world. His apology, which was not warranted, was just right. He apologized to those he offended, however did not apologize for his views. Why are the conservatives always required to apologize but the progressives can say whatever they please, no matter how outlandish and no apology is required. Those advertisers that are pulling their ads are free to do so, we also are free to no longer purchase from them. That is the American way, at least so far, until the president takes this away from us as well.
I think Rush was right in describing Ms. Fluke. Though I would have characterized her as a political whore and an anti-Christian charlatan. Where are the apologies to Mrs. Palin? Ann Coulter? ad infinitum….