The people who want to drive Rush Limbaugh off the air are not assuaged or persuaded by his apology over the weekend. They say he was not sincere: He only apologized, for calling a Georgetown University law student a “slut” and a “prostitute,” because of pressure from advertisers.
Well, of course he wasn’t sincere. And of course he was only apologizing to pacify advertisers — who were getting pressured to pressure Limbaugh by these very critics. Oh, there might have been a political calculation, too, that he’d gone too far for the good of his ratings or his celebrityhood. But any apology induced in these circumstances is almost by definition insincere. You can’t demand a public recantation and then expect sincerity along with the humble pie. If they wanted a sincere apology, Limbaugh’s critics would have had to defend his right to make these offensive remarks, and then attempt to change his mind using nothing but sweet reason. Go ahead and try.
These umbrage episodes that have become the principal narrative line of our politics are orgies of insincerity. Pols declare that they are distraught, offended, outraged by some stray remark by a political opponent, or judicial nominee, or radio talk-show host. They demand apology, firing, crucifixion. The target resists for a few days, then caves in and steps down or apologizes. Occasionally they survive, as Limbaugh probably will, but wounded and more careful from now on.
More careful means less interesting. Limbaugh is under no obligation to stop saying offensive things just to keep me entertained. Still, it’s a pity.
Of course, the insincerity is on both sides. The pursuers all pretend to be horrified and “saddened” by this unexpected turn of events. In fact, they are delighted. Why not? Their opponent has committed the cardinal political sin: a gaffe.
A gaffe, as someone once said, is when a politician tells the truth. This is a bit imprecise. The term “politician” covers any political actor, certainly including Rush. And the troublesome statement needn’t be the truth, as it certainly wasn’t in this case: more like “the truth about what he or she is really thinking.” The typical gaffe is what they used to call a “Freudian slip.” But, with all due respect to Freud, why should something a politician says by accident — and soon wishes he or she never said, whether true or not — automatically be taken as a better sign of his or her real thinking than something he or she says on purpose?
People have the right not to buy a product or service they don’t wish to buy (except, of course, health insurance, but that’s another story). Limbaugh’s advertisers are free to transfer their loyalty to Glenn Beck if they wish, and Limbaugh’s critics are free to deny themselves the rapturous comforts of Sleep Number beds.
Nevertheless, the self-righteous parade out the door by Limbaugh’s advertisers is hard to stomach. Had they never listened to Rush before, in all the years they had been paying for commercials on his show? His sliming of a barely known law student may be a new low — even after what he’s said about Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama — but it’s not a huge gap. “We hope that our action,” said David Friend, the chief executive of a company called Carbonite, “will ultimately contribute to a more civilized public discourse,” as the company withdrew its ads. Ultimately! Where was this hope for “civilized discourse” a week ago?
Consumers who are avoiding products by Limbaugh’s advertisers are engaged, whether they know it or not, in what’s known in labor law as a secondary boycott. This means boycotting a company you have no grievance with, except that it does business with someone you do have a grievance with. Secondary boycotts are generally frowned upon, or in some cases (not this one) actually illegal, on the grounds that enough is enough. There’s sense to that outside the labor context, too. Do we want conservatives organizing boycotts of advertisers on MSNBC, or either side boycotting companies that do business with other companies who advertise on Limbaugh’s show, or Rachel Maddow’s?
As we all know, Limbaugh’s First Amendment rights aren’t involved here — freedom of speech means freedom from interference by the government. But the spirit of the First Amendment, which is that suppressing speech is bad, still applies. If you don’t care for something Rush Limbaugh has said, say why and say it better. If you’re on the side of truth, you have a natural advantage. And if you’re taking on Rush Limbaugh, you’re probably on the side of truth.
Michael Kinsley is a Bloomberg View columnist.
Yet Bill Maher calls women c#nts, bimbos, and dumb tw^ts, and gets a free ride….
Rush has been at it for 20 years!
It’s about time he is called out for his lies!
you can not find Any lies ever told on that show, you just dont like being Exposed, same as the smell emitting democrat politicians dont. he is effective and you just cant get over it.
Where the heck did you get that BS? Almost every word Limbaugh utters is a lie! I hate to be nasty but ignorant statements like yours are exactly the problem because it gives credibility to entertainers who think they are political sages. Limbaugh is an entertainer, get it! Entertainment has nothing to do with honesty. The wonder is that there are actually people who believe anything that man says.
LIMBAUGH: If there ever is scientific proof — and see, I don’t need scientific proof because to me the people who are promoting manmade global warming are a bunch of frauds. They are liberals, they lie. It’s not a generalization. It is an undeniable truth of life. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 3/8/11]
He lied when he said ON AIR that she “went before congress and said she was having so much sex that she can’t afford birth control”? Is no one bothered that he repeated that lie for three days and perpetuated it in his pseudo-apology? (His apology statement included “I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress.”) Her testimony didn’t discuss any of that. Now his legions of uninformed listeners are repeating his lie, as well as the lie that taxpayers are paying for it, because they haven’t bothered to check facts.
http://www.bleepthem.com/sections/news/limbaugh-archives.htm
Sure!
Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well. You have
controlled your fear. Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can
destroy Rush young Dlbrt.
yes, also, who’s show was that woman that calls herself a comedian, kathy griffin,on before, when she was asked about Scott Brown, new senator from mass,about his daughters?
she called his two daughters Prostitutes. no big buzz about that! why not??
kathy griffin isn’t a political actor.
So you’re OK with Maher’s statements as long as Limbaugh’s aren’t denounced.
He’s from the liberal corner, there are different standards for him and Kathy Griffin and the like.
They took Imus off for less than Limbaugh said.
Why do you listen, or watch him?
Because he is liberal
Liberals love stories like this because it takes the focus off their inability to do anything.
Why do you think Obama holds his first press conference of the year on Super Tuesday. Obama isn’t interested in leading this country. He is interested in playing games, focusing in on Rush Limbaugh calling some random person a name and taking the focus off the GOP by not worrying about what he is doing but about what he is saying it and more importantly, when.
Obama can call women who support his positions but he doesn’t blink when Sarah Palin or Laura Ingrham is called the C or S word.
Yet this same man, lectured us all over the power of words, when Gabby Giffords, a democrat was shot.
Anyone who continues to vote for this clown should be deported.
If the extreme right wing takes over this country I’ll be looking elsewher to live. You won’t have to deport me.
Bye Bye!
Don’t forget to say “megga dittos” to start and end any conversation. You could be deported as punishment:)
That’s “mega-dittos”, chuckles.
Elsewher? Wher is that anywho?
Oh my goodness. Another parser. Thank god, you have saved me from total embarasment. Why I must not be good enough for citizenship. Is missing a letter going to disqualify me from voting? Is this a warning? Will I be reported to the typo police? Oh woe is me, what will I do? Please don’t report me to Rush. That would be awful.
Please get over yourself. It was a joke.
Right because saving GM and the US dollar from collapse, pushing through healthcare reform despite the opposition of the other party, getting us out of Iraq and killing Bin Laden isn’t ‘doing anything’. As far as ‘deporting’ the more than half of Americans who will vote for him in the next election – have you considered that it might be you who lives in the wrong country? I hear that Iran is taking applications.
Almost, almost you convince me that Obama’s supporters deserve to live in Obama’s America. GM is not saved: the Dollar hasn’t collapsed – yet – because it’s being inflated (AKA ‘quantitative easing’) without mercy: selling a bad bill to your own party doesn’t make it a good bill: saying “I quit” is easy, living with the consequences may not be: and “killing Bin Laden” is crediting him with other people’s work.
Sheesh.
Like so many on this board, you endlessly repeat the republican propaganda. I’ll pass that.
What I won’t pass on is the continued reference to the Special Forces raid that resulted in the death of Bin Laden. Obama has not once claimed he actually took out Bin Laden. He continually heaps praise on the Team. But, like so many republicans who are blind to the accomplishments of this man, there’s one thing you should know. You either accept it or disregard it. For the record, President Barack O’Bama, the C-In-C of the American Armed Forces, was the man who authorized the raid. He, and no one else was responsible for launching that successful raid. He was also responsible in keeping his pledge to do just that. Bush brushed aside references to Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. He dismissed mention of Bin Laden by saying he “couldn’t care less” where he was.
Such raids, especially those involving the intrusion of the air space of a sovereign nation, are not put together by a few sailors knocking a few beers back in the slop chute a la “Dirty Dozen.”
Obama’s “killing Bin Laden” is Bangorian’s description of the event, not mine. For what it’s worth, I agree with you about its being a team effort. I don’t think, though, that once the military and intelligence communities had laid the groundwork there was anything very courageous about Obama’s approving an action which he’d have been severely criticised for not approving.
if That reprobates health care plan is so great, why then did all the congress ,all dems,make the law, or exempt them selves from it?? why does it not go into effect til well after any election cycle has passed?? well, bright one, got the real answer??
Oh yeah, he really saved GM. Tell that to the 11oo dealerships that closed down. Nice save, Prez.
He passed healthcare by doing exactly the opposite of what he promised, transparency and openness. Instead he did it behind closed doors. And of course we got the famous Pelosi quote about passing the bill so we could find out what was in it. Classy.
Obama did not kill Bin Laden. Obama was watching TNT’s halftime show when he found out Bin Laden was dead. Our SEALS killed Bin Laden. Funny but I haven’t heard one Democrat claim that Bush killed Saddam. I get the feeling they would say he wasn’t there, that he was probably too busy clearing brush on his ranch. Boy, I sure miss those gems.
I live in the right country, one that can recognize when an Un-American buffoon is leading it. Good luck in November, you are going to need it.
Another misguided and knowledgeable republican strategist.
President Barack Obama is the C-in-C of the American Armed Forces – like it or lump it. He was the one who pledged to kill Bin Laden. He was the one who dispatched the Team from the aircraft carrier. He is the only one who was able to give the command for such an operation. Operatives of Seal Team 6 were responsible for killing Bin Laden. But without the Commander-In-Chief’s consent, we would still be wondering where Bin Laden was. The president continually praises the efforts of the Team and other vital support services that helped make the operation a success.
It was George Bush who said he couldn’t care less where Bin Laden was.
As a Democrat, I can tell you that many more beside me always believed that killing Hussein was Bush’s main goal for invading Iraq. It certainly wasn’t because of WMD., because he and the rest of his Chicken Hawk followers knew there were none.
Your “Un-American” flip rekindles images of Sen. Joe “Tail Gunner” McCarthy – the communist witch hunter – whom Senator Margaret Chase Smith R-Me., blasted out of his chair. In those good old days, Lucille Ball – comedian – was branded a “Red” because of her red hair. Returning States side, we were cautioned not to wear red neckties. And, the foolishness continued, as many talented people were “Blacklisted” for life and forced to live abroad.
President Obama did save GM, and the GOP has criticized him for doing it ever since. Sadly some jobs were lost however without President Obama’s commitment to saving American jobs ALL of the GM employee’s would be out of work right now, today. For heaven sake, if you’re going to accuse someone of something at least do a little research to make sure your facts are right will ya.
What did he do to save the dollar from collapse?
GM would have gone through bankruptcy like all the other corporations are required to do. The US dollar has been “collapsing” since the gold standard ended. Obama has added more debt faster than any other president. His budgets are a joke with $1 trillion per year in deficit spending. He talks about cutting the deficit, but rarely acts on it. he pushed through health care reform but when 49% of the people do not want something, is it the best course of action to force it upon them? See the 2010 midterm for the answer. The surge ended the majority of the violence in Iraq. We would have left no matter the President. We are still in Afghanistan, and have been there longer than Iraq, and Guantanimo is still open even though he promised to close it. He ordered the hit inside another countries borders on Bin Laden. I am glad the guy is dead, but I would like some proof. Also how would you like it if Pakistan killed someone inside our country, helicopters and all? We have 30 million lawbreakers, excuse me” illegal aliens”, or undocumented workers. They all have broken a law, and should be deported, and THEN we can get back to the rest of the people who supported amnesty and other traitorous activity.
More than half of Americans will not vote for him because we are lucky to have 45% voter turnout. So if you were to say more than half of Americans who actually cast a ballot in 2012, you may be correct, but we will have to wait and see. Days before the 2010 election Nancy Pelosi was telling anyone who would listen the Democrats would not lose the house. She either had her head in the sand, or was lying.
In 2008 Barack Hussein Obama received just shy of 70,000,000 votes. 69 million and some change. 69,000,000 out of 340,000,000. Not what one would call an overwhelming majority.
Bush had a higher approval rating in 2004 than Obama does in 2012.
Facts hurt.
Facts do hurt. We’re still haggled and straddled by Bush’s eight inglorious year reign, his huge deficit and two world wars.,
TWO WORLD WARS???? We lost more men, June 6, 1944 on the beaches of Normandy than the entire Iraq campaign. The germans lost 12 million people, and the soviets 20 million in the second world war.
THESE WERE NOT WORLD WARS. Stop listening to the liberal professor telling you how bad they were! They compare to Vietnam in length with less than half the casualties.
And Bush’s deficit? Obama has wracked up more DEBT in his 3 years than Bush did in 8. Haggled means negotiating a price. How are we haggled? Do you mean haggard? The largest Bush Deficits were in 2007 and 2008 When THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE CONTROLLED BY PELOSI AND REID.
Please do research before blaming EVERYTHING on Bush.
The major difference between WWII and Iraq is -WWII had to be fought. Iraq didn’t.
Armchair General at best. Looking back it is easy to decide which wars are/were “worth it.” Had we ended up losing WWII, there would have been many people saying we did not have to fight, we could have asked Japan for peace and given them Hawaii or the Phillipines. Not every single person at the time even thought World War 2 was worth fighting. The war had been going on for several years before a surprise attack on our own soil FORCED us in. Had that not occurred we may have never entered, or entered too late to change the outcome. Japan had been at war with China for many years, into the 30’s. Germany declared war on Poland in September 1939. The United States did not enter until December 1941, 27 months from when hostilities in Europe broke out.
So keep telling yourself we did not have to fight Iraq. But please go back and watch or listen to the tapes from the generals, and put yourself in the decision room in 2003.
Hell, even Obama could not resist bombing a country, and sending in Special Forces. See Libya. Are you going to tell me know that Libya is worth it, and we should occupy them for 10 years, or was bombing them enough, and we should let them sort it out since they have had the same government since 1969. They do not know the first thing about implementing a new government, and we/NATO are the straw that broke Gaddafi’s back.
Koolaid time
Why bother?
“Anyone who continues to vote for this clown should be deported. ”
Riiiiiiiiiight!!! As opposed to voting for the intellectual, moral and financial geniuses fielded by the Republicans.
Joe Scarborough, a republican talk show host, was expressing his party’s disenchantment today with way this so-called race went for the GOP presidential nominee.
It’s pointed out by everyone, not just Democrats, but Republicans, too. Romney can’t connect. He’s so aloof. Even when he removes his necktie and jacket and dons Jeans, he looks like a miscast from a Hollywood B movie. His wife’s comments only push him further apart from the ordinary. Santorum aims to cut out sex and convert everyone to Catholicism. Gingrich is too busy planning Moon excursions, and putting together his giant Jobs Plan so that poor Blacks can scrub school toilets. Paul is anti-war. He is the only one of the four top contenders – or, still in the race – that makes sense.
If you like war without actually participating – TV and the movies – then Romney is the man to lead the invasion of Iran. If you want to be converted to Catholicism and give up sex for life, Santorum. To get away from it all, join Gingrich’s Moon Colony.
The facts speak for themselves.
Do you honestly mean to say that anyone disagreeing with your opinion or political beliefs should be deported?
You sound like Hitler’s Germany, and today’s Russia, North Korea, Syria, Iran, Libya, Cuba. Instead of deporting you, they either imprison you or shoot you.
I will be voting for Obama come November. Where do I pick up my papers?
I feel confident that Rush doesn’t need sponsors for his show. There must be millions of ‘Ditto Heads” out there in radio land that would be glad to support his show financially.
Strikes me as odd as well. He makes these “gaffes” every year or so and I am just thinking that if he would sign on the dotted line with satellite radio like Howard Stern or Opie and Anthony, he could say whatever he wanted and wouldn’t have to fake apologize to anyone. What he said was dum, but it is his right to express his opinion, and if you are going to express dum opinions on radio for a living, then might as well have the security of satellite radio.
Howard Stern is still on the air? People still listen to that dirtbag?
To the tune of about $80 million a year, and his contract with SiriusXM goes to 2015 i think.
80 million a year for a complete slimebag. That’s a reas shame, but it does say a lot for the misguided direction of this country.
Depends on how you view it, I mean sure it is lowbrow, but at the same time he is a champion of free speech. He uses ridiculousness to show how ridiculous many FCC rules are and how they stifle free speech. Yea he is an @ss but he is one in the same way that George Carlin or Larry Flint are/were. Just because you don’t like what someone is saying, doesn’t mean they should be censored or silenced, and $80 million a year sounds like the market has determined they like free speech.
Too much, way too much attention being lavished on this man.
We’ve forgotten about tornado-ravaged America, where people have heroically saved their kids, families and neighbors. Instead of bashing a woman expressing her views before Congress, just think of the good-real good- Limbaugh could do, by going into the field and drumming up support for his fellow Americans.
Likewise with the candidates. They should escape their daily mush and whistle down to the country where towns and villages have been flattened within minutes. Americans cling to life, struggling to bring some order back into their lives, as these three or four millionaires pander to their sheep.
You are absolutely correct. It seems that the candidates running for nomination are far too busy finding fault with each other and the President. I’m confident that if they could figure a way to spin it they would blame the tornados on the opposition.
As far as I know, not being a listener for at least 15 years, Limbaugh doesn’t do charity very well.
I heard Rush’s piece on the Georgetown student, but did not stay on air long enough to hear the slurs. He was absolutely hilarious. Rush illustrates absurdity by being absurd. His biggest critics are those who rarely if ever listen to his show. They simply do not understand him nor do they wish to try.
Bill Maher, Ed Shultz, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews – pick any one of these radical leftists and you could find something just if not even more outrageous than what Rush said any day of the week.
Yes, Rush was out of line. At least he is man enough to admit it, unlike the creeps listed above.
Nah, don’t actually hear people being called slurs to often on cable news. You’re making a false equivalency.
BTW- the BDN’s photo of Rush is very much out of date, and is perhaps among the worst photos I have ever seen of him. Time to update, BDN. Maybe you could find one as nice as the Gov. King photo in your editorial today.
We all know that pictures used in newspapers and news broadcasts are specifically selected to make conservatives look stupid and liberal look appealing. Have you ever seen a bad picture of Obama or Pelosi in the BDN? Of course not. And you’ve never seen a good picture of Bush, Palin or Cheney. That’s just the way it is with this left wing rag, and with the mainstream media as a whole.
I disagree. I think it would take a very skilled photographer to make Pelosi look favorable. And most news outlets don’t employ that type of photographer. I have also seen many pictures of Obama where he looks haggard and worn. Palin has lots of great pics–she seems to be great fodder for a camera. Bush usually looks goofy, and Cheney looks sinister a lot of the time.
“But the spirit of the First Amendment, which is that suppressing speech is bad, still applies.”
Yes, it does. That means that when we don’t like what someone says, we’re allowed to dissent. We’re allowed to choose another program to listen to, another product to buy. The First Amendment isn’t a mandate that we applaud everyone’s expression of themselves and their thoughts. We don’t have to. To call not doing so “self-righteous” is actually pretty moronic.
The Truth is!
Limbaugh engaged in Slanderous remarks on a three day tirade!
Slander isn’t covered by the 1st amendment and its about time that he is called out for his lies!
Truth is an absolute defense to the charge of slander.
{ Rush illustrates absurdity by being absurd } ab·surd /æbˈsɜrd, -ˈzɜrd/ Show Spelled[ab-surd, -zurd] Show IPA
adjective 1. utterly or obviously senseless, illogical, or untrue; contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false: an absurd explanation. noun 2. the quality or condition of existing in a meaningless and irrational world.
“The First Amendment isn’t a mandate that we applaud everyone’s expression of themselves” Great comment. Thank you
Just a little market correction going on. I hope the WVOM advertisers catch grief too…vote with our feet !
Rush didn’t commit a “gaffe” (which, according to Mirriam-Webster, is “a social or diplomatic blunder; a noticeable mistake”) — he spent three days verbally and crudely attacking a young woman whose only crime was testifying her beliefs before members of congress. Unlike Rush, or the public figures he normally abuses, she was without a forum to defend herself to his listening audience. But what brought this rain of hatred down on Rush was not directly Rush himself — it was the attitudes of his followers and colleagues — we waited for them to chivalrously jump to this poor girl’s defense. And they remained silent. Worse, some of them even joined the dog pile. And it was then that it dawned on us that Limbaugh’s toxic misogyny had spread, that his views toward women were no longer just HIS views. Then we began looking at all the anti-women legislation that has been creeping into our state laws. Then we realized we were in trouble. And this is why courageous women and decent men are fighting to get this virulent voice off the airwaves — it’s truly for the best.
That’s funny. I listened to Rush denounce Ms. Fluke. I thought he was being ridiculous. I thought his point was not being made. I wondered why he kept coming back to the issue day after day. But I felt no need to come to Ms. Fluke’s defense. To feel such a compulsion would indicate that somehow Rush’s opinion is more valuable than my own. It isn’t.
Rush survives, not because he corrals all the haters out there and validates them, but because he articulates beliefs that many people share. And he analyzes current events astutely much of the time. But not all the time. To say his listeners hate women, that he hates women—well that is your opinion, but it doesn’t make it true.
According to what I have read of Ms. Fluke, I put my money on her being able to defend herself very well. She appears to be a strong, vocal, confident woman. I seriously doubt that the opinion of Rush Limbaugh matters a bit to her–except for being able to use his comments to attempt to silence him.
This issue kind of reminds me of the recent welfare posts by the young, female college student…was it Christine Rousseau? Some of the comments aimed at her on her blog were downright nasty. She took it. She defended herself just fine. I hope women have moved past the point where we shrivel into sobbing hysteria when someone disagrees with us, or calls us names. We are not that fragile. When men get attacked, they don’t cry out: Oh–you are all just man-haters!!! Why should women get to play the misogyny card every time someone picks on them?
Re “I thought he was being ridiculous.” I’m very glad to hear that, and I would hope the majority of his listeners thought the same. Alas, if you’ve visited any of the ‘dittohead’ forums in the past week, as I have, you might feel otherwise (I saw one post that was calling for Sandra Fluke to be sexually mutilated — and I’m paraphrasing). I wish it were the case that Limbaugh wasn’t influential, or that any of his listeners weren’t impressionable. But the inane trend of anti-women litigation that is spreading at the state and federal level has me (and most women I know) very, very concerned. None of these women are “shrivel[ing] into sobbing hysteria” over this matter, but I do know of many who are fighting to stop the spread of toxic misogyny seemingly seeping into every corner of the country. Don’t agree? Explain the following:
H.R. 3: Seeks to redefine rape. (Additionally, Georgia Republican State Rep. Bobby Franklin wants to rephrase the criminal code so that survivors of rape, stalking, and domestic violence are no longer “crime victims” but “accusers”)
H.R. 358: Would allow emergency room doctors to refuse treatment for women needing emergency abortions – in other words, letting them die.
The Pence Bill: Seeks to defund Planned Parenthood, which would leave millions of women without basic health care.
Unbelievably, South Dakato was recently considering a bill that would make abortion grounds for justifiable homicide — essentially allowing the legal murder of women who had undergone an abortion (along w/ the doctor performing it). Fortunately, that one’s been tabled – for the time being.
And don’t even get me started on the variety of personhood and forced ultrasound bills that have passed or are on the verge of passing in republican-controlled states. Very strange litigation indeed when more pressing problems involving the economy abound.
ALL of the above litigation was proposed by Republican males (a demographic essentially and almost exclusively Limbaugh’s base). I’m not saying he created this environment — he’s perhaps even a product of it — but I think we can all agree that he’s perpetuating a serious lack of respect toward women. Can we be blamed for fighting back, or are we supposed to subservently take it?
Thanks for the intelligent and thoughtful reply.
PS – Approximately four women have died today, and every day, as a result of domestic violence. Civil discourse and respect for women will go a long way toward helping to improve those numbers (and certainly can’t hurt — best of all, doesn’t cost anyone a dime).
Concerning H.R.3 — No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act: I just read through all 4 versions of the bill, and nowhere in any of them is the definition of rape being changed or even discussed. You have been misinformed. And you’ve most likely been misinformed about the rest of your claims.
Check it our for yourself: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:h3:
Whew — I’m glad the language of the original bill was changed: “…if the pregnancy occurred because the pregnant female was the subject of an act of forcible rape or, if a minor, an act of incest…” (meaning abortion for statutory rape or ‘non-forcible’ rape, or incest for those over the age of 18 was allowed)
It now just says “…rape or incest…”
Kinda’ makes you wonder why it was worded so strangely in the first place. Thanks for the info! I welcome any other clarifications — we must stop the spread of misinformation!
Let me also give the pot another little stir:
“In other news, a Wisconsin Republican legislator has just introduced a law that would make being a single mom considered child abuse.” I know that this sounds absurd, but there you have it. It is confirmed.
Whatever the case the box it’s packaged in is stamped with BS on all sides. Though Limbaugh is center stage I can’t help but wonder if what we are really seeing is a fissure in the media/political engine that drives extreme thinking into our daily lives. Or is the Party of Lincoln contorting and purging it’s self of the extreme influence that has made its own constituents, the one of enemy.
Ab -surd
noun
2. the quality or condition of existing in a meaningless and irrational world.
That be Rush!
The longer the libs beat up Rush, the longer it will be before they have to talk about the real issues that are facing this naition, like unemployment, gas prices, out-of-control spending, loss of freedoms and liberties, and the socialization of America by the President. Oh, wait. No matter what, they’re not going to talk about those issues. Not until after the election.
Rush messed up, and the left will use him to deflect for as long as they can. That’s how pitiful and empty the left’s agenda is.
What’s really funny is that every time Limbaugh brought up something important or newsworthy in the past, everyone on the left made sure we all knew that he’s nothing more than an entertainer and should not be listened to. But when he messes up, for some reason all of those lefties that “never listen” to Rush jump all over him and completely neglect the idea that he’s just an entertainer. And, of course, since the left works with double standards on everything, they get away with it.
At some point, those of you who’ve ridden the ditto train for twenty years need to ask yourselves if this guy really speaks for you. He isn’t getting this backlash because of an occasional use of poorly chosen words, after all. He has a long track record of being the guy who serves drinks to an angry crowd, helps to light the torches, yells “Let’s lynch the bastards!” and then claims he’s just an entertainer.
Limbaugh’s celebrity is primarily due to the fact he is a person who gains favor by pandering to the “conservative” point of view. He seems to excite the passions and prejudice of his conservative audience. He is articulate in his delivery of conservative opinions. His comments are pleasing to many because they tend to border on the extreme. He is the classic definition of a “demagogue”. So it is not surprising his broadcast sells to a national following. Be that as it may, he has become so arrogant as to squander his celebrity by defiling innocent people like Ms. Fluke with despicable less than deserved characterizations. As civilized people, we ALL have our bounds. And, Limbaugh has clearly overstepped his. Perhaps it is time for him to go.
Here is a news flash for you. This country is more conservative than it is liberal/socialist/communist/marxist/democrat. So if he is “pandering” to the conservative point of view it is no wonder he has the number one rated show on radio…..by a very wide margin.
So . . Harry. How’d he do on TV ? You know – that medium that most Americans now listen to ? Check back with us on November 7th, and let us know how conservative the country really is.
He is a cult leader he knows every thing you are sheep you fallow him he is your leader an hes god. He dose not like free thinking americans
Oh the libber hypocrites! Limbaugh did a stupid thing.
What does the libber media and the sheep that follow do?
They make a huge deal over another entertainer spouting off.
I don’t see any of the sheep going bonkers when Eddie Schultz
goes off the deep end or Keithie Olbermann for that matter. Where
were the sheep when Laura Ingrahm was called a Sl**t? Where were
you when another female named Sarah Palin was just about called
everything under the sun? Has anyone gone after Bill Maher or those
wonderful women on the View for the things they have called people?
Naww! If it isn’t the libbers saying it, it’s bad. By the way, where is the
outrage about Robt Kennedy Jr calling Sen. Imhofe a prostitute and call girl?
The sheep only bleat when it their heroes who call names and make false accusations.
When Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson make racial accusations they are heroes.
When a black female conservative tells it like it is, she is condemned.
Instead of focusing on what we really care about, the libbers need contraceptives
to rally their sheep. What a cause.
This is just too funny!
“On Saturday, Carbonite CEO David Friend released a statement on his company’s website declaring that Carbonite had decided to “withdraw” advertising from Rush Limbaugh’s radio show in the wake of his controversial remarks involving Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke because it will “ultimately contribute to a more civilized public discourse”…
However, it hasn’t done much to contribute to his company’s stock price. Since the market opened on Monday through its close today, Carbonite stock (NASDAQ:CARB) has plummeted nearly 12 percent, outpacing the drop of the NASDAQ index in that same time period by nine-and-a-half points. It was also one of the biggest decliners on the NASDAQ on Tuesday.”
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/06/investors-flee-carbonite-after-limbaugh-announcement/#ixzz1oRY5WKrj
Typical commie leftist media trying to pull us down and insert an authoritarian dictatorship in Washington. No longer will opinions be allowed.
Are listeners and advertisers not allowed their own opinions?
Of course, for now. Liberals are all for expansion of ideas, as long as they are theirs. The push to hush Rush is not new and if the Libs are successful, well good, but that will not placate them, only enbolden for more.
LOL, no, not at all.
Rush is allowed free speech just like the rest of us. However, he’s on the radio which relies on advertisers and listeners. Advertisers and listeners are allowed the freedom to choose where to advertise and what to listen to.
Honestly, it’s pretty stu pid and nonsensical to, in the same breath, argue against what you’re arguing for. Do we have the freedom of speech or not? Is it for some and not for all or what?
Thanks for the lecture. The point is we are in danger of losing our republic and then you will find out what rights you have. Rush is exerting his right to free speech, is he not? Too bad if some do not like it. Some of his rants I do not like but some are ideas I like and I do not see a lot of people talking about. Or perhaps just take anyone you don’t like out back and shoot them.
Look, pumpkin, the whole idea of free speech is that I don’t have to like someone else’s speech. The First Amendment isn’t a mandate that I become a cheerleader every time someone exercises their rights.
No one is advocating shooting or killing or silencing, so your suggestions of that are pretty stupid and clearly hyperbole. As a consumer, I can choose to buy whatever product I want. As advertisers, they can choose where to advertise.
You’re the one advocating that we remove our freedom of expression. You want us to high-five Rush every time he opens his mouth and lets out hot air. Well, guess what, that’s not American.
Keep truckin’ buddy. You clearly have an agenda. All a part of free speech or perhaps unpopular speech. Turn Rush off if it bothers you, sometimes I do too.
BTW, you like the phrase “pretty stupid”? You used it twice, great point.
I say that because the initial point is nonsensical. If you want to make a free speech argument, of course Rush is allowed to say what he wants, but that also means others are allowed to react and dissent to what Rush has said. To claim that dissent and/or opting to advertise elsewhere is somehow censorship? That IS stupid. You don’t get to applaud Rush for exercising his rights and then scold others for doing the exact same thing. Again, it’s “pretty stupid.”
Who is applauding Rush and scolding others? You speak for others and it is presumptuous. Your sensorship to fit your agenda is dangerous. Speak for yourself.
Keep your garbage about speaking for others and “dangerous agenda” to yourself because it doesn’t even fit here. You’ve mischaracterize what I’ve said. I’ve no where near advocated censorship. I said Rush can say what he wants, but so can advertisers and listeners too. Free speech for all is what I advocated. Period.
“Rush is allowed free speech just like the rest of us. However, he’s on the radio which relies on advertisers and listeners. Advertisers and listeners are allowed the freedom to choose where to advertise and what to listen to.
Honestly, it’s pretty stu pid and nonsensical to, in the same breath, argue against what you’re arguing for. Do we have the freedom of speech or not? Is it for some and not for all or what?”
See? That’s not censorship. Read again.
Calm down cowboy and look in the mirror. You are the one who skewered the original point. If you do not want to listen to unpopular talk radio, then don’t. To rant and use the word stupid over and over shows … well, you can see…goodbye.
LOL, yeah OK. You can apologize now for trying to claim that I want to censor people. I never said that. Advertisers choosing to advertise elsewhere isn’t censorship. Listeners and others dissenting Limbaugh’s rants isn’t censorship either.
You said “Typical commie leftist media trying to pull us down and insert an authoritarian dictatorship in Washington. No longer will opinions be allowed.” If people complaining about Limbaugh constitutes “authoritarian dictatorship” well then what does Limbaugh complaining about Fluke constitute? It’s the exact same thing. I was simply highlighting your hypocrisy while maintaining free speech for all :-)
Whatever. You went off on a tangent and used name-calling to try and make your point. I am done here.
LOL, kind of like calling someone a “sl ut,” right?
There, you have made my point. Off on a tangent again.
He has no need to strain himself in exerting his rights to free speech. He knows the FCC has no right whatsoever either to censure him, or call for his removal. The FCC will be quick to back this up. Under the Free Speech Amendment Mr. Limbaugh’s rights as a journalist permit him to express his opinions as he wishes.
It’s merely a matter of taste. The millions who follow him, and religiously pander to his coarseness and ugly insults – have none.
My point was the dangers of the liberal media.
Limbaugh is completely unfettered. You have no worries.
You should be more concerned with Rupert Murdoch and his Goebbel-like propaganda machine.
Knowledge to discern the difference in whatever boogeyman is talking is a gift not all citizens possess and many are prey to herd mentality so the jungle often Goebbels some up.
Murdoch, like Limbaugh, has millions of bucks and millions of followers who have swallowed the bait.
Yes and it does not make for fun. There are many more with money and influence who are much more subtle. Their aim is to divide and conquer. My aim is to get out of the way.
Liberals with ideas ?? ? ? ?
Incidentally, Michelle Malkin’s column today is worth reading. I’m fairly sure the BDN won’t be publishing it.
Thanks for the link. The left’s been maliciously attacking her for years, it only makes her stronger.
lol, she’s just a rabble rouser.
Mr. Kinsley is correct in one respect, the outrage over Limbaugh’s statments clouds the issue. Limbaugh should be called out on his misrepresentation of the facts, not on his worthless namecalling.
is there not more important things to worry about like oil prices so the sluts can stay warm
If only Rush had just called her a “Pig”, Democrats would have voted for him to be President. Just like they voted for Obama after he called Palin a pig.
But the left can call anyone on the right any name they want and scream “FREEDOM OF SPEECH”, but when the roles are reversed, the left screams, “BIGOT! HATEMONGER!”, then they try their best to censor. It’s been that way for years, and ain’t gonna’ chance any time soon.
Hmmm . . no – I think that I waited until John McCain called Barack a pig (you remember ? As in lipstick on a ….) before I voted for him.
Bye Flush enjoy your forced retirement in the Dominican Republic…………… Oh, and try not to forget to take your wife, what is she #4? Hope you find plenty of friends to supply you with Viagra, and hillbilly heroin. I can hardly wait for you to post some videos. Best wishes from your fan club of admiring mouth-breathers, flat earth, knuckle-dragging……….. oh well just sign me Ditto-Head. LMAO!
In the few days following this little flap it has been shown that Rush was Right again. The woman was a plant who misrepresented herself (LIED) before Congress. I do believe that it is a felony to lie to a congressional committee. (I’m sorry. What was I thinking. That is a place where lying is considered normal.)
It’s only a felony if the liar is a conservative.
exactly
Expound on her being a “plant” if you would, please.
I agree with one point… no one who has listened to Limbaugh for more than a few minutes, at any time over the past ten years, would be shocked at anything he says. His routines are the same from week to week, and from year to year, with only the specific subject of his ire changing intermittently. The language that he uses is not the most offensive thing about his show… it is the sentiment behind it, and there is nothing anyone can do to tone that down. Limbaugh will go on, unfortunately, until he drops from natural exhaustion, and not before.
It is obvious that the author of this article is one-sided with his comments. For the sake of being thoughtful to the victim (Rush), maybe OhOhbama needs to call Rush and tell him that everyone needs to be fair and not to be hurt by this article. True, Rush shouldn’t have used the s— word but where was OhOHbama when Palin was called a c— by Bill Maher,or Bachman a b—-? That is an example of poor politics. It is sad that today’s students see where liberals can say anything without problems,but conservatives can’t. Is this a new way to teach students that they need to be only liberal in words or actions. Food for thought, was the presentation by the young lady actually done in front of Congressman Issa’s committee,or was it orchestrated outside of the meeting?
Bachman and Palin are PUBLIC figures they chose to be so. They are not PRIVATE citizens that is the difference. Think this through and see if you can now see the difference.
The right wing wants the free market to rule, well this is the free market at work. People are telling Rush’s advertiser’s that they will boycott their products if those companies continue to support limbaugh. The advertisers are pulling their support as fast as they can.
That ladies and gents is the free market economy!
The only RUSH I listen to are from Toronto. The Rush you guys are babbling about is not worth listening to unless you want to poison your brain with conservative gobblygook.
The more “knowledgeable” among us simply switch channels, or, turn the damned radio off.
As with Limbaugh the same goes for Coulter, Hannity, Rove, O’Reilly, Palin, Morris, Petrino, Cheney. They’re all paid propagandists of the republican party. With the exception of Limbaugh, all of them appear on Rupert Murdoch’s propaganda network. Maher is a comedian. He’s amusing, except for his slander.
Skilled in propagation of their slanderous and prurient blurbs, whatever is said on Murdoch’s transmission dish, is automatically picked up by MSNBC., CNN., NBC., CBS., ABC., and every radio station in the country. They’re so fascinated with Limbaugh and the rest of the blubber mouths. What he says, along with the others is always “news.”
Amazingly, millions soak up their propaganda as if it were God’s own words. Limbaugh was wrong. But he has to keep his high ratings by playing Mr. Nasty. He’s a also a multi-millionaire and the most powerful man in the republican party. He doesn’t have a care in the world. His “apology” attests to that.
Maher is a comedian? Limbaugh is an entertainer. To excuse one and castigate the other is sheer liberal thinking.
Quite the contrary. Limbaugh is acknowledged as a “journalist” by the FCC., and, he is merely expressing his thoughts, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Maher on the other hand, I believe is classified as a comedian. I do not remember excusing one (Maher) for some of his rotten outbursts, no matter what he pretends to be.
good nuff—–limbaugh is a self proclaimed entertainer–neither is entertaining or funny at times, but it would be boring if we were all alike…
Ultra-conservative and proud of it!
Anyone who has listened to Rush for many years would have understood his satire referring to Ms. Fluke who was set up in a non-congressional hearing setting to get across the liberals’ view that taxpayers should be funding the prevention of pregnancy by those who want to engage in the frequent activity that might lead to it.
Any parent with daughters at this Georgetown Law School should be outraged that this “women’s reproductive rights activist” included them in her general statement of what is going on. Fluke went to this Catholic University knowing very well what it stood for, looking for opportunistic moments for her activism, and in her 3rd year(at 30 years old) she has received the break that she was looking for.
Perhaps a more thorough vetting of applicants will now be engaged at this university.
The hearing was about private insurance and covering costs related to female reproductive health, such as ovarian cysts, that are treatable by birth control pills. The last I heard, taxpayers do not pay my private health insurance premiums. And I expect my health insurance to cover costs related to such medical conditions. We can debate whether such pills should be free or available with the regular prescription copay, but I expect it to be covered.
Not sure what point you are making by including her age? I also delayed attending graduate school for a few years because I could not afford to go there straight from college. I worked for several years to save money to pay for it first. Graduated at age 31.
When the whole story comes out, the liberal media will pooh pooh it.
Liberals called Sara Palin a dumb twat numerous times and worse.
Liberals even attacked Palin’s innocent children.
Liberals are lowlife scum hypocrites.
However, Ms. Palin has not denounced Mr. Limbaugh’s comments. Having been a victim of such horrid comments, I would have expected her to stand up immediately and defended women everywhere from such slander. Oh, but I forgot… she criticized Rahm Emanuel for using a particular word used to denigrate mentally challenged individuals while giving Mr. Limbaugh a pass for using the same word…
Yet you are just as willing to pick up and throw mud yourself… so.. ?? You chastise someone by doing the very thing you chastise them for and,… .oh my head is going to explode… do you not see how ludicrous this appears?
Is no one offended that he lied when he said ON AIR that she “went before congress and said she was having so much sex that she can’t afford birth control”? Is no one bothered that he repeated that lie for three days and perpetuated it in his non-apology? (His non-apology included the statement “I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress.”) He knows very well that her testimony didn’t discuss any of that. Now he has his legions of uninformed listeners repeating his lie because they haven’t bothered to check facts.
Limbaugh has been calling people horrible names for years and will continue to do so. He has also twisted facts into lies for his convenience on multiple occasions. Yet, that doesn’t seem to bother anybody. People seem focused on the language. Lying bothers me even more.
We need to stop supporting hate speeches and bullying and step up and say it is WRONG. History has taught us that repeatedly but we still haven’t learned.
When anyone who hears slurs, insults, demeaning and degrading comments directed at another person and they say nothing or do nothing, they are just as guilty as the person who does the deed.When facts are missing or twisted it needs to be brought to light.
This is what we teach our children and one way we teach is by example. This is an example of a non-violent reaction that says something and does something that effectively gets Mr. Limbaugh’s attention and that of the companies that allow him a forum by supporting him.