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

csmonitor.com

"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. 

technorati.com

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.     

Senator Olympia Snowe Walks Away From The Senate

abcnews.go.com

It is unfortunate that a legislator of Olympia Snowe's stature, success and strength has decided to retire from the United States Senate due to the political partisanship, gridlock and dysfunction that exists in politics today.  Snowe has exhibited great leadership since her arrival to the U.S. Senate with her election from Maine in 1994.  A moderate Republican, she came to be a key player on nearly every significant piece of legislation over her 18 years in the Senate. 

Snowe shared her reasons for leaving the Senate by saying, "People are just stunned by the debilitating partisanship, polarization and the overall dysfunction of the institution and political paralysis as we come, you know, to the point of extreme when it comes to resolving the problems facing our county."  Snowe went on to say, "It's become an all or nothing proposition and that failure has eroded the public's confidence about the direction of this country and about governing institutions to be at the front lines of solving these problems." 

Snowe's departure from the United States Senate is just one more moderate who has had their fill of partisan politics and decided to walk away.  She joins Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas and Jim Webb of Virginia.  There's a good shot that Richard Lugar may be the next to walk away.  This troubling trend will certainly add to the polarization and partisanship in Washington and lead to even greater gridlock, paralysis and dysfunction of the United States Senate. 

The all or nothing approach of both parties to legislation only hurts the nation.  Losing leaders of the stature of Olympia Snowe give the American people little hope for the years to come.  If we continue to elect legislators that refuse to budge from party positions and focus only on defeating the opponent, we all lose.  Negotiation and compromise have always been key components of our nation's leaders.  There have always been fights and party differences but at the end of the day, our leaders have always risen to the occasion to do what they feel is in the best interest of our nation. 

Those days are gone.  Our only hope is that the more moderate Republicans, Democrats and Independents fight back at the voting booth and defeat the hard-line conservatives, liberals, tea-partiers and others filled with ideology and elect leaders who wish to work together for the common good.  It is possible.  It has happened before.  It can happen again.  The American people need to get serious about choosing leaders who want to work together, not apart. 

I remain thankful that I live in a nation that allows the diversity of attitudes, opinions and ideology.  I just would like to see the more moderate, pragmatic approach to governing.  What is nice about our nation, is that every two years, every four years, we have the opportunity to get it right.  Here's hoping that 2012 may be the beginning of a new dawn in Washington.    

Eve Of Michigan And Arizona Primaries, What Can We Expect?

grist.org

Rick Santorum's lead over Mitt Romney has all but evaporated based on polls released the last couple of days.  Not just in Michigan but across the landscape of America.  Santorum's center stage moment has come and gone.  His week or so in the spotlight was all about social issues and ideology and even the Republican base saw red warning flags.  Like so many of the others, Santorum's reign atop the polls has flamed out.  He now joins the likes of Rick Perry, Donald Trump, Michele Bachman, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.  Proud company for sure. 

The question is, "Has Santorum fallen so far where Romney will capture the win in the State of Michigan?"  No question that Romney will win Arizona.  The early voting in Arizona was solid in Romney's corner.  Michigan, however, is a slightly different animal.  Santorum raced ahead prior to last week's debate but his center stage performance and much of the discussion of ideology has softened his numbers.  One has to consider who led Santorum down the path of talking ideology once he captured center stage.  Did the media force the conversation?  Did his advisors encourage it?  Did he just go there because it is central to his beliefs? 

There is also the question of how Michigan voters view the entire auto industry bailout scenario.  Neither Santorum nor Romney supported the effort put forth by Bush and Obama.  In the end, it is only one issue among many for Michigan Republicans.  I suspect it will play no role in the primary vote.  However, one must believe it will be a negative for the Republican nominee come general election against President Obama.  By all accounts, the bailout was a win.    

Michigan is key for both Romney and Santorum.  A win by either candidate will shift the Republican race.  For Romney, it would shore up the frontrunner position again and put him on solid ground going into Super Tuesday.  For Santorum, it would be an upset win and once again, revitalize his candidacy and make Super Tuesday all the more important. 

One must not forget Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.  Neither candidate is expected to have much of an impact in Michigan or Arizona.  If the Republican party is lucky, Super Tuesday will diminish both of these candidates to the sidelines.  Either way, it would appear that President Obama will continue to benefit from a protracted primary season among the Republican candidates.  As they continue to sharpen their criticisms of each other and their plans and projected policies, it can only help President Obama.  The most recent polls show Obama with a commanding double-digit lead over Romney or Santorum   This will narrow as it always does once a candidate is chosen.    

One still has to believe that Romney will persevere and continue his march toward the nomination.  There is no indication there is another candidate willing to enter the race.  In the end, it would appear the Republican Party will be stuck with the next in line, Mitt Romney.