I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that the de facto head of the Republican Party,Rush Limbaugh, has gone off the deep end in his vile attacks against Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown Law student, whom Republicans prevented from testifying to a hearing on birth control. Democrats have responded appropriately, condemning his remarks. Some Republicans have criticized him in the vaguest possible terms, but none have actually condemned his remarks. In my opinion, there is only one viable alternative for responding to Rush.
…Democrats saw opportunity even as they expressed outrage. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on House Republicans to disavow the statements and referenced the “vicious and inappropriate attacks” in an email soliciting signatures for a petition against “the Republican war on women.” Other groups launched fundraisers, asserting that Limbaugh’s opinion only emphasized the importance of recruiting and supporting Democratic women to run for Congress.
House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) kept quiet on the matter, but his spokesman said Boehner “obviously believes the use of those words was inappropriate, as is trying to raise money off the situation.”
Santorum said Friday that Limbaugh was being “absurd,” but dismissed him as an entertainer.
Meanwhile, at least two of Limbaugh’s sponsors, Sleep Train and Sleep Number, announced on Twitter that they had pulled their ads from his show. Sleep Train, a Sacramento-area mattress company, had advertised on the show for more than 25 years.
A spokesperson for Sleep Number said on Twitter that the company had decided to immediately pull its advertisements because Limbaugh’s statements “do not align with our values.”
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the president called Fluke “to express his disappointment that she has been the subject of inappropriate personal attacks, and thank her for exercising her rights as a citizen to speak out on an issue of public policy.”… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <LA Times>
Perhaps the best coverage on this issue I have seen came from Ed Schultz, who covered this story in four segments. Here are two of them. In the first Ed discusses the incidents and Rush’s lost advertisers, and he interviews Al Sharpton.
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Note how Limbarf kept Arguing that Fluke was “having so much sex that she couldn’t afford her birth control. How absurd! First, Fluke’s testimony concerned a friend who lost an ovary, because she could not afford the medication, as a treatment that had nothing to do with birth control. Second, only someone stupid enough to be a Dittohead (Limbarf acolyte) woulk fail to realize that the cost of taking one pill per day is the same, whether one has sex once a year of fifty times a day. “So much sex” has nothing to do with it, and Limbaugh presented it in that way solely to defame her character.
In the second segment, Ed talks about boycotting Limbarf with Krystal Ball and Karen Finney.
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Limbarf claims that we on the left are trying to silence him, but Republicans play the victim, whenever called to account for their actions. One might as well try to silence a bull moose in heat.
The one viable way to respond to Rush is to take away his microphone by refusing to patronize any business that supports his hate speech with their advertising dollars.
There are several things to do here. One is to complain to Clear Channel at (210) 822-2828. Another is to find out who his local advertisers are in your town and contact them. A third is to sign a petition at BoycottRush.org. They are also keeping an updated list of his national advertisers. This rabid Republican needs to be muzzled. Putting it another way, flush Rush.
33 Responses to “Responding to Rush”
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From the artcle —
Rush’s words — ” . . . being compassionate . . .” and “. . . a credible critic . . .” in reference to himself. What a pile of bear scat! If he were so credible and compassionate, he would stop the rhetoric and apologise. But if you ask me, any apology he might offer is worthless. He would be so disingenuous so as to nullify anything and everything he said in the apology. As said by Ed Shultz, Limbaugh is trying to portray himself as the victim. It’s too bad that Limbaugh didn’t actually see and read the testimony of Sandra Fluke because I did see chunks of it, and nothing he has said lines up with what I saw. I hope others see the same stupidity in his rant that I did.
I find it incomprehensible that the GOP candidates and leadership are not taking him to task. Their lack of effective action just goes to show that they think women in general are nothing to be concerned about.
Signed the petition. I hope this insecure little man who has to build himself up by denigrading others, in this case women, becomes extinct.
So Santorum finds this kind of filth entertaining? Go Santorum!
(Go a long way away . . . oh, just get lost!)
As for Rush, anybody so blatantly in need of porno needs to explain why those who SATISFY his demands are sluts. Because HE needs THEM, right?
And talking of wanting sex however many times a day, Rush can still obtain his Viagra, true or false?
Does it protect mens’ health or does it enable them to have sex ten times a day? (Which is sometimes a killer, I have heard.)
Is even one slut woman out there interested in watching Rush in action?
Tell me again, what is the definition of ‘slut’ and is there a masculine equivalent word?
Welcome Faith! 🙂
You certainly understand him well.
Very well said, Lynn. You are quite right on all points.
Even if Limbaugh were just an entertainer, why would that make it OK for him to say such revolting things?
We need to keep the heat on his advertisers. It’s long past time for this bloated gasbag to have his Hindenburg moment.
Infidel, what a magnificent analogy!
Infidel, love that phrase “to have his Hindenberg moment”! Outstanding!
I’m amazed that Rush can even SINK any lower. ANYBODY that listens to his show or watches FOX news has some DEEP psychological problems….but did you ever try to debate or discuss ANY topic with these kind of people?? It’s a TOTAL exercise in futility…..it’s like they’ve LOST THEIR MINDS!!!
You can’t reason with someone like Rush. They’ll just talk louder than you and voice over your remarks, just like Bill O’Reilly does on his show. I don’t know why O’Reilly bothers to have guests on, especially ones that he doesn’t like for their views. O’Reilly should just sit there by himself and read a script. Same goes for Rush. Some say it is free speech, but slandering another person is another matter.
You’re both right, and talk about birds of a feather.
The truly sad thing is that the bigoted, misogynistic, hate-mongering typical of Repubicans is not limited to just one “Bad Apple” like Rush Limbaugh – with their Party, it’s a virtual orchard!
Three years ago Newsweek magazine’s feature story was by a fellow right-winger David Frum who apologized fom Rushbo’s hate-mongering excesses. Their cover had it exactly right: ENOUGH!
It’s too bad nobody listened then!
“A spokesperson for Sleep Number said on Twitter that the company had decided to immediately pull its advertisements because Limbaugh’s statements “do not align with our values.”
Rush Limbaugh has crossed the line…
He’s so far across it that he’s over the horizon.
Rush has been saying vile things throughout his “career,” and it’s high time that advertizers and the public held him accountable. I hope his advertizers pull out in droves.
They are!
So signed and forwarded! I loathe this pig.
I thank you, but you pissed off the pig community. 😉
NOT going to support his advertisers until they pull their money from him.
Welcome Barbara! 🙂
Way to go!
It’s time to shut that lobnoxious ying son of a bitch down for good! I have just posted a well-deserved rant about Limbaigh over on roundtree7 (http://www.roundtree7.com/). This outrageous bastard has got to go!
Good One!
I’m happy some advertizers are waking up, even if they’re trying to put people to sleep!;) But this is FAR from the first time Ru$h has gone off the deep end..he regularly spouts all manner of RepubliCON filth, I mean “family values”.. so why does Sleep Train suddenly find his brand of sexist, racist, prescription-drug addled hate speech inappropriate after 25 YEARS???
” Meanwhile, at least two of Limbaugh’s sponsors, Sleep Train and Sleep Number, announced on Twitter that they had pulled their ads from his show. Sleep Train, a Sacramento-area mattress company, had advertised on the show for more than 25 years.
A spokesperson for Sleep Number said on Twitter that the company had decided to immediately pull its advertisements because Limbaugh’s statements “do not align with our values.”
Excellent news, Yvonne.
I would love to see the day when we don’t have to respond to Rush. Someone who spews hate every second they are on-air is not what this country needs. It pains me to think that there are people who eat up the hate he spews and pant for more. I’m beginning to fear that we will never see the day when racism and hatred are in the past.
Welcome Kat! 🙂
The key is to keep struggling. The closer to tht day we come, the better off the world will be.
Dear friends in USA,
I just cannot believe the bigotry, in-fighting, individual stupidity of these (so called) politicians, vying for the Presidency in the next Election in USA. When and whereto did ”common sense” depart?
Super-ancient, super-right-wing religious principles and (world-view) current-day politics just don’t mix.
What Mr. Bimbo ….sorry… Mr. Limbaugh is proposing is an antiquated form of (Christian??) SHARIA rule in USA, where women do not matter and should do/behave/ act and tow the line as their menfolk commands….. while he himself indulges in smoking his fat cigars …. for which the American tax-payer has to pick up the tab, when his lungs collapse – Plus – of course his expenses …..and the rest of it. What happened to the (old Christian) principle of ” Do unto others what you wish them to do unto you” ???
I simply cannot understand how anyone can be taken in by his bumbling rhetoric?? This is not the Americans that I have as friends and love….. …And what does Bimbaugh know about who is( or is not) a prostitute…. unless he has personal experiences that are still hidden in the cupboard? Ms. Drake’s demeanour and ability to deal with this rather unsavoury ( so called) politician and aspiring President candidate, has been exemplary.I take my hat off to her…. the pressure must have been enormous. HERE is a young lady with dignity, intelligence, composure, and common sense. WELL DONE YOU!!
From ”Across The Pond” and from a cynical old Swede, this whole American Political Circus – although entertaining – is not quite what I expect from my American friends…..
We have a great affection for you ( in Sweden too….), but please do consider your options, reality, practicality, the Freedom of Choice for the American people, WHO exactly you choose for your next President and your own standing in the rest of the World……..
We all wish you well!!
Welcome OSGU! 🙂
That folks on your side of the pond are seeing this play out is a national shame. May we do better!
You need to remember who the fat dope addict’s boss is. Hint: he used to be Governor of Massachusetts. I’m not kidding; I’ve got a post up about it right now.
For that reason, I believe that all the stops will be pulled out to save the fat dope addict. Willard is going to need every Dildohead in his corner come November.
Right you are JR. Bain Capital owns a big piece of Clear Channel.
Here’s the latest on his advertisers from BoycottRush.,org
Here is a list of the companies we believe to be Rush’s advertisers. (Note, things are happening very quickly, so we cannot guarantee right now that these are all current advertisers). We will update these as they react to the “Boycott Rush” movement, or confirm they are no longer supporting him.
I want Rush to keep talking. And I want women voters to listen very carefully while observing how no one in the GOP dares to cross him. And I want these women voters to think about that when they go to the polls in November. I feel certain that he lost votes for the party this week – thousands of them.
When it comes right down to it, what Rush is saying is not that much worse than what Republican politicians are saying.