Called Her "Slut" On Radio, Apologized By Website..Rush Limbaugh, A Class Act

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"My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir," Rush Limbaugh posted on his website.  "I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."

Sandra Fluke, a third-year law student at Georgetown University, testified before an unofficial congressional hearing conducted by Nancy Pelosi, arguing that contraceptives should be covered by health insurance at religious institutions.  Fluke was previously denied the opportunity to testify at the official congressional hearing.  Fluke testified that her fellow students at Georgetown pay as much as $1,000 a year for birth control because contraceptives are not included in the university health plans. 

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Limbaugh raised the question on his radio show, "What does that make her?"  "It makes her a slut, right?  It makes her a prostitute."  Limbaugh went on to say, "She wants to be paid to have sex.  She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception." 

Limbaugh's comments did not go without notice.  Democratic  leaders denounced his comments immediately.  Rick Santorum called them "absurd".  John Boehner called them inappropriate.  The list of those outraged was significant.  Georgetown University released a statement defending their student calling Limbaugh's attacks "misogynistic" and Sandra Fluke, "a model of civil discourse."  President Barack Obama called Fluke to thank her for "speaking out about the concerns of American women."

Also concerned by the comments of Limbaugh directed at Sandra Fluke were a number of the sponsors of Limbaugh's radio show.  Reports are that several sponsors immediately redirected their advertising pulling their support for his show.  Almost makes me want to determine each of his sponsors and make a point to purchase their products if they chose to withdraw their support for his show. 

These comments like Limbaugh's directed at other Americans is becoming common place.  Civil discourse is an unalienable right of every American.  The problem is that the discourse we hear so often is not civil anymore.  Calling someone a slut and a prostitute is unacceptable.  It isn't appropriate and it isn't the American way.  Those who listen to Limbaugh and support his show and such comments add to the growing divide among our people.

A week to remember in the America that I love.  Someone calling a young woman a "slut" and "prostitute" for speaking in support of all women.  A Republican Presidential candidate calling the President of the United States a "snob" for wanting kids to go to college.  The same candidate saying he "wanted to throw up" reading the words of President Kennedy's religious tolerance speech. 

Is it not possible to choose to disagree with someone else without the name calling?  "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" was a phrase we all grew up.  Words do hurt in the same fashion today as they did when we were youngsters on the playground.  All of us need to show just a little more care with the selection of our words.  Hopefully Rush Limbaugh will take a moment of his program on Monday to apologize on-air for his defamation of a young woman who obviously is working hard at becoming a responsible American citizen.