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Rush Limbaugh Apologizes to Sandra Fluke

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FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 photo provided by the Las Vegas News Bureau, radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. (AP Photo/Las Vegas News Bureau, Brian Jones)

Rush Limbaugh started a firestorm earlier this week after calling college student Sandra Fluke a “slut” and a “prostitute” for her remarks made during an unofficial hearing on contraception. Now, the conservative radio show host is apologizing for the “insulting word choices.”

Limbaugh released a statement on his official website Saturday night saying he chose the wrong words during his radio show in an “attempt to be humorous.”

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.

Even the president stepped in after hearing Limbaugh’s comments, with the White House saying that President Obama placed a call to Fluke, thanking her for speaking out, and expressing concern for her after she was thrust into the national spotlight this week.

The White House also responded by calling Limbaugh’s remarks “reprehensible.”

The Associated Press reported that Quicken Loans, LegalZoom, and two bedding companies, Sleep Train and Sleep Number have pulled their ads from Limbaugh’s show.

The firestorm started after Fluke had tried to testify at the official Republican-run Congressional hearing on the contraceptive mandate in the nation’s healthcare law. Republicans said that her name was submitted too late, but Democrats like House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) questioned that explanation, which led to the unofficial hearing.

During the hearing Fluke told the story of a friend who had to have her ovary removed because her insurance company wouldn’t cover the prescription birth control she needed to stop the growth of ovarian cysts.

Said Limbaugh: “So Miss Fluke and the rest of you feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch.”