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 Rush Limbaugh apologized on Saturday for his "insulting word choices" targeting Georgetown University student Sandra Fluke.
March 4th, 2012
07:40 AM ET
My Take: Georgetown backs Fluke vs. Limbaugh for civility's sake
By Stephen Prothero, Special to CNN (CNN) - Civility is hard to find in American politics nowadays, but one Roman Catholic university is doing what it can to dial things back a bit. On Wednesday, Rush Limbaugh blasted Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown law student who testified before Congress in favor of contraceptive coverage in health plans, as a “slut” and a “prostitute.” Friday, President John J. DeGioia of Georgetown University, in a public message called "On Civility and Public Discourse," praised Fluke for providing “a model of civil discourse.” DeGioia took no position on the question that started this latest skirmish in our ongoing culture wars: contraceptive coverage in health care. But he did not mince words when it came to Limbaugh, who doubled down on Thursday by saying, “I will buy all of the women at Georgetown University as much aspirin to put between their knees as they want.” CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories DeGioia wrote that Limbaugh’s behavior was “misogynistic, vitriolic, and a misrepresentation of the position of our student.” Meanwhile, over 100 professors and staff members at Georgetown University Law Center signed a letter supporting Fluke. "As scholars and teachers who aim to train public-spirited lawyers, no matter what their politics, to engage intelligently and meaningfully with the world, we abhor these attacks on Ms. Fluke and applaud her strength and grace in the face of them," the letter says. In a sign that U.S. politics really has turned sharply from economic debates to cultural warfare, President Obama called Fluke to offer his support just before she was to talk on NBC with Andrea Mitchell. Carly Fiorina, National Republican Senatorial Committee vice-chairwoman, appearing on CBS, called Limbaugh’s language “insulting,” “incendiary,” and “a distraction from what are very real and important issues.” A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner was more measured, saying, “The speaker obviously believes the use of those words was inappropriate, as is trying to raise money off the situation.” Meanwhile, Rick Santorum told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that Limbaugh’s comments were “absurd.” Limbaugh apologized to Fluke on Saturday, saying a statement on his website, “I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.” Both Fluke and DeGioia, however, focused on this battle as a moment in the rapid degradation of our common life. Fluke told MSNBC's "The Ed Show" that Limbaugh's remarks were "outside the bounds of civil discourse." Similarly, DeGioia’s overall message was a call to return to a tradition of tolerance that some conservatives, at least, have forgotten to conserve. This tradition runs deep in the American grain, from Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address (“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies”) to John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address (“Civility is not a sign of weakness”). But DeGioia ended with St. Augustine: “Let us, on both sides, lay aside all arrogance. Let us not, on either side, claim that we have already discovered the truth. Let us seek it together as something which is known to neither of us.” The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephen Prothero.
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  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Editor's note: Stephen Prothero, a Boston University religion scholar and author of "God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions that Run the World," is a regular CNN Belief Blog contributor.
Fluke better get a thicker skin if she wants to be a "spirited" attorney because politics plays a big roll in todays cases.
Each of you can voice an opinion of Rush by going to the FCC website to file a complaint against his broadcast for objectionable language. Maybe if they get enough complaints....
will that work for mayer too?? then we can tell him that mayer called palin a C- and obozo took $1 million from him. haaaaaaaaa you a comedian. it proves anyone can be a boot licker, wait.. obozo wears high heels
he thinks he represents God!
@shut_up
Is that all you can really say about this? Oh Bill Maher said something a little similar, so it's ok for Rush to say something a lot worse? Maher said something out of line, but he also apologized quickly and with sincerity. Rush doubled down first, then when pressure came from losing so many sponsors, he then gives a half assed apology.
I'm not a misogynist but I do believe that there are millions of women who are to blame for Limbaughs antics. If they would just educate there husbands as to Linbaugh's drug induced tirades against there own kind it would render him irrelevant and we could go on with a more informed less bigoted nation.
If you agree that it's high time we insist on civil discourse and civic decency on the air waves:
1. Boycott the advertisers of Limbaugh's program. They are listed on the Net.
2. Write to the FCC asking for Limbaugh to be taken off the air.
3. Write to the broadcaster of Limbaugh's program - "Premiere Networks" - and let it know you'll boycott their programs AND every advertiser until Limbaugh broadcasts are stopped. And,
4. Tell your friends to sell shares of "CC Media Holdings", the parent company which owns the broadcaster.
he is a billionaire creep! he can go to sirius radio anytime and probabvly buy a station, not like obozo buddy mayer that called palin a C- and then odummy took $1 million from him.
@HAWAIIGUEST, remember your not even from the continental 48 states you creep just like obozo. go worship a coconut or suck on a pineapple and go back to you $6 gas. hawaii doesnt contribute anything, its just a drain on our resources....
You must not think very much of Sarah Palin then. Her family isn't from the continental U.S. either. Coconuts and pineapple oooo something I've never heard before. The fact that you resort to petty little insults shows the depth of your character and arguments, which are about as shallow as a drop of water in an empty pool. Try being a little less idiotic.
Please, that woman looks like she's been around the block quite a bit. She's like the villiage bike, everyone's had a ride so get over it already
she has been ridden more than seattle slew. maybe obama called her thinking she was like monica????
Your remark is immature and degrading.
and I'll bet you're a Limbaugh fan, huh?
@Dave
So the way people look reflects exactly who they are? Post a picture of yourself and a link so people can go and judge you based solely on your looks then you little pri.ck.
@shut_up
Take your own tags advice and shut the hell up. You contribute nothing to this forum and your opinions hold as much weight as helium.
i like anyone better than" bill mayer obama" your desperate
Dave, she's sweet and innocent, unlike the owner of the huge gape you were squirted out of
Perhaps Rush Limbaugh went way to far...calling names of human beings not just Ms Fluke. Loose lips sink his ship even if he thinks he could say just about anything about everybody. He has to now put himself in other place and while he has rights to voice his opinions it is how he does it. Continuing support his talk show will always cause those who support him sink right along with him. There is a time to be respectful of others and their opinions liking it or not; you don't degrade, called names and make them feel smaller than what they are. Rush, you need a little time out to be punished for what you said to Ms Fluke. Like all of the degrading comments you have made about the President and others. You have really disgraced yourself and those who have been supporting you!
I am STILL waiting an appology from the hag Maxine Waters, who said I should go to hell for being a Tea Party supporter. You democrats are filthy, FILTHY vermine hypocrates! (I bet this doesn't get posted either). BTW, Fluke IS what she is proported to be.
You ARE going to hell, dipshit.
You must have the same amount of civilty as Rush. And probabaly the same education.....high school.
But at least we can spell.
Trying to compare the two clearly reveals you miss the point. That also means you fit right in with the tea party. I could care less if you go to hell or not as miserable people like you don't matter in the grand scope of things.
The type of negative comments made by Limbaugh represent a serious character flaw. 'I was just trying to be funny'???? Well, Rush, guess what – nobody is laughing and several of your advertisers agree. It wasn't that long ago that another warped hack, Don Imus, got drummed out of the service for calling some female athletes bad names. Rush has 'integrity'?? I think not. BTW – the Democrats are LOVING this form of self destruction.
hey dave..why don't you stick your head back up your rectum until nov. 5th. you dummy. instead of using the s word, I would make another statement calling her the c word !!!! ANY person not willing to accept an apology is not worth the powder to blow them to hell. sandra fluck was, and is looking for attention from obama and the rest of them people who have "change" in their pockets. Keep up the good work Rush "DC"
Dennis, you are delusional.
old stephen that wrote this dribble is an atheist like mayer. they should marry each other. both of them look alike. maybe obama could get in on the action
Rush...is that you?
Rush Limbaugh ...is that you?
Ooh, look, another internet tough guy who thinks about gay sex more than gay people do.
How does he justify submitting a speech to fans, with anger in his eye, when he victimized HER?! Truth is unless he gives Fluke an apology to her face or writing, he wastes time saving his little enterprise. It isnt supposed to be for his fans' perusal!
sandra, i say fluke you and the rest of the demon crats. what a set up as she appeared before democrtas and not congress as you caN Google.
this woman is a joke. Rush doesnt deserve this
Limp balls deserves this & MORE!!! I hope she sues the pants off his fat ass.
I liked him better when he was on drugs.
That dope fean Rush does not deserve to be on the air. If I knew who his advertisers were I would be sure that I did not do business with any of them.
If you agree with Rush, than you are the joke.
Are you any relation to Mr. Haney on Green Acres? You certainly sound like a teabagging hayseed.
Another one of Limbaugh's DITTO HEADS – you know, the ones that can't think for themselves and have to rely on Limbaugh for their thought process. Limbaugh only apologized when sponsors started falling – NOW up to NINE have pulled their ads. It's a good thing to, because this is the beginning of his downfall. He'll be gone soon enough and America can get back to having intelligent conversation between republicans and democrats. He's the one that started all the vitriol – after 20 + years of 3 hours a day, 5 days a week of constant complaining about anyone who didn't agree with him, people get tired of hearing it. How about something positive to talk about Limbaugh? NOPE – aint' gonna happen because then NO ONE would listen – that positive stuff is not vile enough to stir up more listeners.
Time to boycott the rest of this advertisers = don't give up now on writing them and telling them so.
Thanks for the list of advertisers, I will not supprot any of them. Shame actually I do like Jos A Bank. But this girl's dignity is worth much more. we've got to SHUT this MORON up.
What dignity???? She is a shill for the Dems. She wants something for nothing ,or at least at someone else's expense.
Hey Ray, do you get out much?? Doesn't sound like you've been out in the world since the 50's.
I thought the issue was the fact that Georgetown student insurance coverage does not cover birth control. Has the president of the university and the 100 professor against limbaugh protested the colleges policy?
Very good question.
No, they are protesting the way their student has been vilified for engaging in public discourse. They're not agreeing with her, but they are rightly defending her right to have her own opinions and to state them in the public forum without being called names.
Well said, abcdxyz.
Fluke came to Georgetown University interested in contraceptive coverage: She researched the Jesuit college’s health plans for students before enrolling, and found that birth control was not included. “I decided I was absolutely not willing to compromise the quality of my education in exchange for my health care,” says Fluke, who has spent the past three years lobbying the administration to change its policy on the issue. She’s a former president of the university’s chapter of Law Students for Reproductive Justice, and is an organizer with Catholic Students for Women’s Health, a coalition of students from Catholic colleges and universities.
Fluke has also appeared on NBC News three times in the last 24 hours. She’s also received a phone call from President Obama.
some speaker for catholics. she needs to keep her legs shut until she is married. Contraception should be the last thing on her mind.
Obvioulsy an activist and a plant. A useful idiot for the Obama administration and its willing accomplices in the press.
@glyder
Why is it so hard for people to understand the pill isn't only used for contraception!??! Is it so da*n hard to figure out what these medications can do!?? Seriously some of you idiots on here make me embarrassed to even be a human being! glyder go look on page 5 for my post on what exactly birth control pills can be used for. Educate yourself and don't be willfully ignorant.
damnit wrong thread.
Poe's law; I have no idea if you three are being satirically funny or deadly serious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe's_law
Hey, Beth, I've yet to meet a catholic who could keep their legs or their mouths shut. What are you, in your 60's?
@Beth Haney,
Why are so many condemning Ms. Fluke? As far as I know, she hasn't said anything about herself yet. For all we know she is still a virgin.
Considering that 98% of catholic women report to have used birth control at one point in their lifetime, then I'd say she can speak for catholics..
Beth: Did you keep your legs shut till you were married? Are you even married?
"some speaker for catholics. she needs to keep her legs shut until she is married."
Uh...duh...she'll still need the contraception when she is married.
It's nice to know which advertisers dropped this pill addicted pig.. but what would really be nice to know is WHO DARES to keep supporting him ? How about telling us which companies are still all in ?
Do you feel the same about Bill Maher and Ed Schultz (who used the same word Rush did)?
but isn't she also a pig?wanting more welfare for birth control.overload the system pig.it's what the progressives want you to do.then when they have so much control that no one can speak against them,you will find who the pig really is.
This is NOT about Rush who the Dems are loving right now because they do not have to talk about taxpayers subsidizing another victim group (30 year old college students who want someone else to pay for their birth control). We are bleeding in debt but yet we are talking about another welfare program cloaked as "womens rights"
@glyder
Why is it so hard for people to understand the pill isn't only used for contraception!??! Is it so da*n hard to figure out what these medications can do!?? Seriously some of you idiots on here make me embarrassed to even be a human being! glyder go look on page 5 for my post on what exactly birth control pills can be used for. Educate yourself and don't be willfully ignorant.
the pig is in the whitehouse moron
@glyder
"but isn't she also a pig?wanting more welfare for birth control."
You might want to read her testimony. Her examples cover cases that are not about birth control but the health of the person. In addition you might want to reconsider your "overload the system" comment. Wouldn't have babies be more of a burden on the system, anyway?
God made Eve from Adam ribs.
Eve should have no say in what happens to her body, she does not own it.
Adam does.
Rick Santorum is right, this country should be run by the bible.
Santorum 2012
Actually, I'm a troll and I haven't seen a Bible in years.
That's just crazy.
Sorry
You need to increase your medications, if you are not on medication, you should find a doctor to prescribe some for you.
Your lack of understanding – along with your overall lack of comedic value – is appalling.
Adam isn't demanding control of Eve's body, as your sarcastic quip would suggest. This is about Michael, the guy who lives a thousand miles away from Adam and Eve and has never met them before. You see, Michael is 60 years old and doesn't want to pay a dime more for his coverage due to the urges of Adam and his lovely wife Eve. Michael doesn't care what Adam and Eve do in their bedroom. He isn't trying to police it, and he isn't trying to restrict it. He simply doesn't want it to interfere with his finances.
Please note that there are tens of millions of "Michaels" in the US.
This is too funny. I'm gonna pee my pa//ts. There are people like you in the world. What the hell. LMAO
Your a hypocrite. The bible was written by man to control the popluation. Religion is only a tool to enslave masses and to force them to do the bidding as the rulers see fit.
If your Christians there are only one set of rules you should follow with an additional one that is the laws and rules spelled out in the 10 Commandments written by God in Gods language and presented to Mosses on Mt Sinai. And "Treat others as you want others to treat you".
You speak of the bible but how can you follow a book that called Incest evil and that your commiting sin by sleeping with inlaws and family members when the bibles says we are of Adam and Eve. I guess the bible throws an exception their way since they are the only people form where we came from. Tehre had to be incest all in that family shouldnt it? So why are you following a book that constantly contridicts itself????????????
10 Commandments and the Golden Rule are the only rules we should be following to faith and dump the bible fro it is only meant to control the population and not deliver its followers into heaven. Thats what teh 10 Commandments are for. !!!!!!
I'm sure Rush could hook you up with some decents meds.
DC Johnny, sorry but your response and those like it are idiotic. I don't want my insurance to go up because people like riding motorcycles which are more dangerous than cars so stop covering motorcyclists. I also do not want my insurance to go up because older men can't get it up anymore and need a pill to do so. I also do not want my insurance to go up because people think their broken bones should be fixed, so stop fixing broken bones. I also believe in religious protections and
Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions so no insurance should cover blood transfusions. I also believe arthritis is all gods plan so no medical treatment should be covered for any arthritic condition. Do us all a favor and go jump off a building, though please kill yourself to keep our health premiums down.
You are one sick puppy
Vote GOP Save the Rich - Thank you for proving the every-clear point that the most wretched of the Liberals are far more vile than the loudest, least-educated Conservatives.
Every example you provided can be rebuked quite easily. Motorcyclists themselves pay a much higher premium for their insurance coverage, and their plans come with vastly different stipulations. Blood transfusions are a proven medical technology that are required not by frivolous choice, but for strictly medical purposes.
And thanks for ending it with proof that you truly hate half of your fellow Americans with such contempt that makes me wonder why you even live here in the first place.
Bet you Sandra Fluke shows uo on Bill Maher show. Will you call her a hypocrite then ? Fiar & Balance
And what show would you not call her a hypocrite for going on?
*** Carl
Bet you Sandra Fluke shows uo on Bill Maher show. Will you call her a hypocrite then ? Fiar & Balance
--------------------------------------------------
Report card – C-
Have your parents report to me.
Thank you, your teacher,
Sister Mary Francis.
Excellent point. The morons above don't realize that their beloved Maher has used the same terms in describing several Republican and theological leaders. But it's okay for him to do it, because he's one of them.
Did Prothero really write that Fluke "..testified before Congress" ?? She 'testified' before a democratic party press conference. Whether she was denied the priviledge to testify before Congress is another subject, but Prothero should get his facts right and CNN should fact check his assertions before publishing them.
hey wallyman,
She testified before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
Get YOUR facts right.
Government should pull the licenses of radio stations who broadcast this idiotic, blasphemous, bigot over the airwaves. Down Limbaugh!
Sit, Limbaugh, sit.
That's a good boy!
No ... No .. Sit!
Government should do this....Government should do that! Government ... Government...Government!
Be careful what you wish for, moron! Bunch of sheep!
Naw, he didn't violate any FCC rules, I don't think. However, Ms. Fluke could sue him for libel, defamation of character, slander, etc. and perhaps put him out of business.
what the hells the matter with you jim? if u don't like Rush, don't listen to him....that's why there are 300 other radio stations...or do you want to be like obama...if u don't like it shut it down...that's what he wants to do to FOX TV also.....what happen to freedom of speech? I spent 2 years in Viet Nam believing I was fighting for freedom....70% of people my age either protested or went north to canada....FEEDOM HAS A TASTE THAT THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW. UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN IN COMBAT YOU WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE TASTE..I BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!!!!!
If you worked for a company that paid it's employee's by giving you a company credit card account that you could then use for goods and services but the card wouldn't work at any business or shop that weren't considered your companies affiliate, you would not really be free to spend your earned wages on whatever you want. The healthcare package is part of the earned wages of these employees, and to tell them it will not work for goods and services the Church disagrees with is a violation of those freedoms we worked so hard to attain in this country. It's that simple.
That may be the worst analogy I've ever seen.
A better analogy along the same lines would be where a small percentage of the employees decided that they want every single employee to contribute money to a fund that supplies the small subgroup with season tickets to the local baseball team. And if anyone questions why they should have to pay for something they do not need, they will be berated as evil, racist, and misogynistic, and will likely be shunned by all.
You see what I just did there? I made a real, factual comparison to what's really going on. What you did was spread an inflammatory lie about the underlying truth of this entire discussion, not unlike the liberal media and the masterminds in public democrat offices.
@DC Johnny – "the small subgroup" just happenes to include every woman in America minus the 2-8% of Catholic's that refrain? Do you call that "small"? "“Data shows that 98 percent of s e x ually experienced women of child-bearing age and who identify themselves as Catholic have used a method of contraception other than natural family planning at some point in their lives.” – Washington Post
The debate really is whether or not the healthcare provided is a reimbursement for their work or if it's some sort of charitable gift. If it's a gift then the Church has every right to say "NO". But if it is a payment for their work then it's illegal to discriminate against someone who chooses to use their paid benefit for something you or your Church disagree with. Period.
Oh, and you used no facts in your comparison so i'm not sure how you can call it factual, maybe foxual, but not factual.