Rush Tirades vs. Rush Apology

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 07:02:06 PM EST
Tags: Rush Limbaugh (all tags)

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As BTD noted, Rush Limbaugh has now apologized to Sandra Fluke.

Contrast the tone and brevity of his apology with his screed yesterday mocking objections to his attack on Ms. Fluke and with his original verbal assault on her. Either he's completely obtuse or he got arm-twisted. Either way, his apology is unlikely to satisfy anyone.

No one would be up in arms if he had just vigorously stated his position on funding or covering the cost of contraceptives without the completely gratuitous character assassination of Ms. Fluke. While it may be his job to be polarizing -- it's why he has a million fans on Facebook and gets the big bucks -- this time he struck a raw nerve across America. He over-played his role as the playground bully and abused his pulpit. No one likes a bully who beats people up for sport. And that's just what he did. In his "apology" he describes his attack as an "attempt to be humorous." Even followers of the Church of Limbaugh aren't laughing with him on this one. [More...]

Rush Limbaugh may have finally marginalized himself. He seems not to realize or appreciate that America already gave him a huge free pass years ago on his oxy addiction. He's 61. With no shortage of younger, equally misguided conservatives who would love to shove him aside and take his place, he's on thin ice. I'd say this is strike two for Rush. One more misfire like this one, and even his own will declare him out.

Time to wise up, Rush. You're expendable.

Update: I'm starting to have flashbacks to the sudden and stunning fall of Don Imus for his remarks about the Rutgers' women's basketball team. He got a big settlement from CBS after being fired, and eventually got back on the air, but he never really came back ratings-wise.

< Fox News Gets John Edwards Filing Wrong | Limbaugh Advertisers Suspend Ads Despite Apology >

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Rush Tirades vs. Rush Apology | 22 comments (22 topical)

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I hope people double down (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by TeresaInPa on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 07:22:37 PM EST

on the complaints to his sponsors.

: complain to his broadcast stations (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by DFLer on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 08:33:24 PM EST

He probably can't help it. (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by Edger on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 07:40:28 PM EST

Like most wingnuts, he's been listening to himself for so long now he probably believes he makes sense.

except.................................. (5.00 / 2) (#11)
by cpinva on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 09:21:14 AM EST

absolutely they should make themselves heard.

unlike mr. limbaugh, they lack a nationally syndicated radio program.

i wouldn't make too awful much of this "apology", it's all part of the rightwing script: say something clearly outrageous, receive the approbation of the "decent folk" (meanwhile, your ratings skyrocket), offer a half-hearted "apology", which usually includes a "gee, i was just trying to be funny." clause. rinse, repeat.

as i noted on another thread (jeralyn's, i believe), the advertizers "suspended" their ads, they didn't announce permanent termination. they'll return as soon as the heat cools, and it will. mr. limbaugh has, indeed, learned a lesson, a lesson learned years ago: outrageous always makes more money.

: Sadly, I think you're probably right ... (none / 0) (#13)
by cymro on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 11:04:46 AM EST

... though I wish you weren't. The real problem is the existence of such a large audience for his style of uneducated right-wing ranting.

Hit'em where it hurts (5.00 / 5) (#12)
by Sweet Sue on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 11:00:53 AM EST

I emailed ProFlowers as a "great customer" to tell them that they will lose my business forever if they don't drop the Limbaugh hate fest, I mean show.
I got a pro forma answer: We advertise on a lot of programs and don't necessarily agree with the content, blah, blah, blah.
I wrote back that, this time, that wasn't good enough and I and other women will not deal with a a company that sponsors a misogynist who thinks we're sluts and prostitues.
Local florists, here I come.

that's very nice sue, good for you. (none / 0) (#14)
by cpinva on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 01:22:42 PM EST

that, and 50 cents, will get you a small coffee at mcdonald's.

here's the thing: absent a continuing campaign (much like media matters' against glenn beck), this will soon be forgotten. i give it a half-life of a couple of weeks, at best. then it will be on to some new outrage. and that is the key to the republican strategy: a constant bombardment, making it nearly impossible to keep up.

you want proof? no problem. i give you both the voter ID laws, and the anti-choice legislation, promulgated at the state level, by nearly every republican dominated state legislature, since 2010. the fact is, it's cheaper to legislate, then it is to fight that legislation, once passed.

the rightwing is funded by many very rich, powerful individuals and entities, the progressive side not so much. there are scarce, allocable resources available, and much scarcer on the progressive side. the progessive side represents mostly people of modest means; there is only one george soros, and his resources aren't infinate.


I don't get your point (5.00 / 2) (#17)
by Sweet Sue on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 02:47:56 PM EST

What's your point-do nothing because it's hopeless?
Looks like ProFlowers has thought about it and are suspending advertising on Limbaugh's show.
I'd be a lot happier if they just dropped him for good, but, hey, it's a start. And all because of a lot of little people giving ProFlowers and other enablers-er, sponsors, an earful.


let me repeat that again, for those of you (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by cpinva on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 07:19:37 PM EST

on drugs:

it requires a sustained campaign, not simply a one-off.

these guys have been shilling their wares on mr. limbaugh's show for how long now? years, i'd bet. they've simply "suspended" their advertising, and only on mr. limbaugh's show, not on Clear Channel. when the heat dies down, they'll be right back there, and you, because you probably (like most sane people) don't listen to his show, won't even notice.


: I get it. (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by Sweet Sue on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 08:10:28 PM EST

Thanks for mansplaining, I've been on a sustained campaign before you were born and I'll keep at it until I keel over but, once again, thanks for the heads up.

: Has Rush been subject to campaign (none / 0) (#20)
by observed on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 08:33:10 PM EST

like this before? I know he's been in hot water before, but to the extent of advertisers pulling spots?

Pro Flowers (none / 0) (#21)
by athyrio on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 09:32:57 PM EST

they are pulling their ads as of today they announced this afternoon...so obviously your email did some good...:-)


: Hey. She's here. Good. (none / 0) (#22)
by oculus on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 09:37:11 PM EST

Obama's call to the woman (none / 0) (#3)
by Towanda on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 07:47:54 PM EST

was great. Now, will he get her and Rush into the White House garden for a beer? Nah, better that he give her the names of some good lawyers.

This all is so reminiscent of the horrible slurs against the women's basketball team a few years ago -- was they from Duke, as I recall? -- that Rush must have been too drugged up and missed it.

Don Imus, on Rutgers Basketball team (none / 0) (#4)
by KeysDan on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 07:52:55 PM EST

"nappy headed hoes".


: Eew, that was horrid (none / 0) (#5)
by MKS on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 07:55:15 PM EST

: Thanks, yes, that was it -- Imus (none / 0) (#10)
by Towanda on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 10:07:30 PM EST

and Rutgers. I remember the team's presser. And I remember the women's parents, especially. Imus would not have wanted to cross paths with those dads.

No reason people can't blow (none / 0) (#6)
by observed on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 08:11:46 PM EST

off steam by contacting Rush's and CC's advertisers.

: if they want him off the air (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 03, 2012 at 08:55:56 PM EST

absolutely they should make themselves heard.

Seems to me Mr. Limbaugh is constantly (none / 0) (#15)
by oculus on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 01:51:22 PM EST

beating people up "for sport."

: I think you're right, and it sells. (none / 0) (#16)
by Mr Natural on Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 02:11:44 PM EST

He operates in the same vein as comedians Don Rickles and Lisa Lampanelli, both mean to the point of disgusting.
Some people lap it up. So yes, there's a market for public bullying.

Huh??? (none / 0) (#23)
by pluege2 on Mon Mar 05, 2012 at 10:03:07 AM EST

No one likes a bully who beats people up for sport.

isn't that pretty much the definition of a bully?