Rush Limbaugh wants the world to move on after his ugly tirade against Gerogetown University Law Center student Sandra Fluke. But the outraged listeners who heard him calla her a slut and a prostitute aren't going to let America forget.
This week a hard hitting new radio campaign against him took to the air on Thursday, aimed at weakening his influence through his business interests. Media Matters for America, a nationally known progressive group, is spending at least $100,000 for two advertisements that will run in eight cities.
Limbaugh's will hear himself condemned through his own words, rallying against Sandra Fluke, who appeared before a Congressional committee to argue that contraception should be paid for in health plans.
Limbaugh claimed that this meant Fluke wanted to be paid to have sex, which in his mind made her a 'slut' and a 'prostitute.' To qualify for contraception Fluke should be required to post videos of herself having sex, he added.
Limbaugh's comments united both liberals and conservatives in a chorus of condemnation and eventually, in a rare move for the talk radio titan, he later apologized.
The new attack ads urge listeners to call their local station if it carries Limbaugh's show to say 'we don't talk to women like that' in our city.
In response Limbaugh told his listeners on Wednesday he was being targeted a long-planned attack, failing to add it was his words that ignited the firestorm in the first place.
'They're not even really offended by what happened. This is just an opportunity to execute a plan they've had in their drawer since 2009,' he claimed.
To date radio stations in Hawaii and Massachusetts have dropped his show, 58 companies have specifically asked that their ads be excluded and a further 98 advertisers now want to avoid his and all politically controversial talk shows.
Meanwhile another group with several stations that air Limbaugh published a new list of 31 advertisers who don't want to be on Limbaugh's show. Companies woo do not to want to advertise during Limbaugh's program include JC Penney, NAPA Auto Parts, Chapstick, Gold Bond, Green Mountain Coffee.
Valerie Geller, a radio consultant who worked at Limbaugh's WABC flagship in New York, told true Huffington Post that advertising money coming into Limbaugh's show is slowing down. 'I think it's a very big wakeup call,' she said.
Media Matters is banking that that station managers, market by market, may conclude that Limbaugh's relentlessly partisan positioning is just not worth the trouble.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.DaithiSuibhne | Mar 26, 2012, 06:55 PM EDT
I still can't believe anyone, other than my son-in-law, still listens to to the B.S. that comes out of this guys mouth. Please get a life if you possibly can.
jflanagan | Mar 26, 2012, 01:21 PM EDT
I wish they would go after all the gynophobes and mysogynists no matter whether they are liberal, conservative or neutral. Not defending the self important Rush Limbaugh, just trying to stop all the women haters in the world.
joanxis | Mar 24, 2012, 01:53 PM EDT
God, You people are still not listening. Borefield - NO WHERE in her testimony did Ms. Fluke ever mention wanting contraceptives paid for because of birth control. It was only for medical reasons that birth control can help with that she was talking about. But, you still won't believe it. Sad.
borefield | Mar 24, 2012, 01:47 PM EDT
I heard no such outrage when Sara Palin, Michelle Bachman, Laura Ingram, Christine O'Donell and many others were called much worse. If Sandra Fluke wants to have protected sex 24/7 that is her business, LET HER PAY FOR IT. I don't want to contribute. I am no supporter of Rush Limbaughs and he did apologise, the Leftist Democrats are so biased and our president reflects these attributes too.
DsM2shoes | Mar 24, 2012, 12:26 PM EDT
This election period has proven beyond any doubt that the average American doesn't listen. And if they do then they only hear and understand what they want. When I can pick up the paper, tune in the radio or flip on the television and see or hear that Rush will be in town on the 22nd and 23rd for 2 shows only. And you will need to get your tickets at Ticketmaster or at the box office. For 3 hours of laughter music and insightful political commentary. Then and only then can he be qualified as an "Entertainer". The likes of George Carlin, Mort Sohl, Lenny Bruce and lets not forget Bill Maher! But until then he is nothing more than a fat ass pervert who pulls "facts" out of said fat ass. Which in itself is no sin, the sin is that people listen to his verbal bile.
BrianO | Mar 24, 2012, 09:37 AM EDT
George Stephanopolis introduces contraception into Republican Primary Debate---- President Obama starts fight with Catholic church over forced contraception---Left wing activist picks fight with private Catholic university over contraceptives---democrats declare republican war on women over contraceptives. This red herring was devised to trick women into believing republicans want to change laws on contraception, framed in the classic " have you stopped beating your wife" scenerio. As for Rush his mistake was apoligizing, but he plays in a tough playground and can take it, SeamusMor you are funny you made me laugh thanks.
SeamusMor | Mar 24, 2012, 01:43 AM EDT
Lush Bimbo will belch anything to create controversy. It boosts ratings and revenue. Those who will do anything for money are usually prostitutes, who, at least, provide some satisfaction.
seabeetom | Mar 23, 2012, 09:13 PM EDT
JUST ANOTHER CASE OF THE ULTRA LIBERAL SOLIALIST obummer LOVING MEDIA. THEY MUST HAVE BEEN RUNNING OUT OF MUCK TO SLING AND RUSH OBLIGED THEM. HOORAY FOR YOU RUSH.
MegK311 | Mar 23, 2012, 08:50 PM EDT
Enough of the hypocrisy by the left. It is ok for them to make ugly remarks about Sarah Palin and her two daughters and her Down Syndrom son. The Bush daughters were attacked Lora Ingrim has been called all sorts of rotten names but I don't hear liberals apologizing. This Fluke woman is not some poor little college student she is a hard nosed political wanna be. It is time to knock off the nonsense and people on both sides of the political divide stop calling women nasty names and lets leave the children out of it. When you start attacking children especially one who is developmentally disabled you are really hitting an all time low. Rush was wrong to use the language he used and he apologized which is more than David Letterman or Bill Maher have done. Rush's listners will continue to support him and people who advertise on his program will probably regret taking their advertising else where. Many businesses have been made because they advertised on his program. How about if we attacked Michelle Obama and her two daughters the way the liberals have attacked Republican women. There would be an out cry. So people lets act more civilized because I don't want to have to listen to all this crap.
LarryLinn | Mar 23, 2012, 07:42 PM EDT
Rush can put it out , but he cannot take it. What a wuss.
seanomelb | Mar 23, 2012, 07:10 PM EDT
There was no rush(excuse the pun)by advertisers to condemn or ban Maher. The GOP channel crucifies anyone who makes even a glib remark against their "darlings" and the silence of the anti feminine FOX blond bimbos who defended Limbaugh's position is reprehensible. If media Matters position causes the demise of Limbaugh they are doing the U.S. a great service.It appears OK for Fox to denigrate the first lady.Pelosi and other free thinking liberal women and defend lowlifes like Limbaugh,Hannity,O'Reilly,Malkin,Kelly,Palin......
joanxis | Mar 23, 2012, 06:03 PM EDT
Seanmor - I never heard the things Mahr said, but as I said before - I find his comments disgusting, as well. And . . . how could you possibly believe the last statement you made "The Democratic Left has never forgiven the former Alaska governor for being so compassionate as to take a Down syndrone baby to term, when she could easily have put that severely handicapped human being to death." You are so off base and rude to even put those words on paper. Just because YOU don't believe in abortion - which is your right - doesn't mean that people who do are so callous that they would not want Ms Palin to bring a down syndrome baby to term. Down Syndrome children are adorable, lovable and have a fairly long life expectancy. Before saying such trash, show me your statistics. No you can't. You just enjoy maligning those who disagree with you.
merefalow | Mar 23, 2012, 05:13 PM EDT
collkelly.the irish loved the nazis ,are you illiterate,45,000 irish died fighting them,the irish state stayed neutral because the island adjacent to it had tried to envelope,subjugate and desroy it as an independant nation for 900 hundred years,hardly surprising it had no wish to ally with it,after onl;y a brief period of partial independance..
Seanmor | Mar 23, 2012, 03:58 PM EDT
Rush made a trementous blunder by applying term "slut" to the sexually active law student who expects Geogetown Ubiv. to pay for health insurance that would provide her with free contraceptives. Even though Rush has apologized for his outrageous comment, he is still the target of Leftists who are trying very hard to force him of off the air. However, these same so-called progressives didn't seem to mind in the least when stand-up comedian Bill Maher called Sarah Palin the "c" word in one of his performances. Why the double standard? The Democratic Left has never forgiven the former Alaska governor for being so compassionate as to take a Down syndrone baby to term, when she could easily have put that severely handicapped human being to death.
occassio | Mar 23, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT
Dear Posters, this isn't a matter of conservative or liberal. It's a matter of good manners. Both gentlemen should be summarily criticized for their verbal assaults on women and men.
EphraimKibbey | Mar 23, 2012, 12:34 PM EDT
As the "Etch-a-Sketch" interview reveals, the right wing spokesmen are great at hunting "paper tigers." They make something up (THEY LIE) and then use it to show how evil the left is and how righteous they are. This may have had some use in the days before recordable media but now the rest of the world just laughs at them. We all can watch Ms. Fluke's REAL testimony and see that she did not say what Rush says she did. He LIED!
EphraimKibbey | Mar 23, 2012, 12:32 PM EDT
When Mitt says that he never believed that the health care plan he established in Massachusetts would be appropriate for the nation, we can all go back and see the tape of him saying that the it should be used as a model for a national program or read the article he wrote saying that it should. HE LIED - and he does it all the time! Before recordable media, it was hard to catch them in their LIES but now it is just a "Google" away. It puts the truth to the old saying: "How can you tell if they are LYING? Their lips are moving!"
slainte39 | Mar 23, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT
Isn´t double standards a fact of life on either side of the political spectrum. I hear many more talking heads on the right that don't believe the conservative cause has any fallacies than I do on the left. Double standards...the American way.
EphraimKibbey | Mar 23, 2012, 12:06 PM EDT
We all learned from our parents, long ago, that the excuse "everyone else is doing it" didn't hold much sway. If some of you wish to contact the sponsors of Bill Maher or David Letterman, you are certainly free to do so. Limbaugh only sorta apologized for the two derogatory words but not for the original lie about her testimony nor the request for sex tapes of her. He even blamed the left for making him do it - some apology.
BrianO | Mar 23, 2012, 11:50 AM EDT
George Soros anyone.
crny925 | Mar 23, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT
Bill Maher should have been called out long before Rush Limbaugh! Give me a break you Liberal fools with your double standards!
joanxis | Mar 23, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT
You know what, johnnyb, If I heard Bill Maher say the things you say he did, I would have condemed him too...and I believe you when you say he said them. There is no reason anyone should be called any of these names. Colkelley - why don't you and the conservatives go after Bill Mahr. That's what most of America did with Rush. Your defense of Limbaugh sounds as if you think it was all right for him to have said the crude things he did. Why can't you condemn him and then accuse the left and other sensible Americans of being so disgusted with Limbaugh that they want to get rid of him.
SingleDonald | Mar 23, 2012, 11:22 AM EDT
I agree with colkelley; enough is enough, already! Rush apologized, as well he should have! It is extremely insensitive for a man to demonize a woman over alleged consensual sexuality. There comes a time, though, that the transgressor should be left alone, so long as he doesn't make the same mistake again! The Bill Maher anology is right on target, though I shudder to consider what he called Sarah Palin (didn't see/hear his tirade).
johhnyb | Mar 23, 2012, 10:48 AM EDT
You really need to listen to Bill Maher and what he said about Bristol Palin and then give your opinion on Rush. Go on, give it a go. You will be repulsed, unless of course conservative women are fair game.
CelticQueenUSA | Mar 23, 2012, 10:43 AM EDT
colkelley makes no sense to me. When one is rude, crude and lude, they should apologize for their mistakes. It is the sponsors' right to withdraw from something that is offensive and by gosh that's Rush Limbaugh!!
colkelley | Mar 23, 2012, 10:30 AM EDT
So Bill Mahr and other so-called "Liberal intellectuals" can call any woman who does not agree with their left-wing rot any foul name they choose and they are "exercising their First Amendment right to free speech" but let someone on the right side of the philosophical scale open his mouth and insert foot - apologizing unlike his left-wing equivalents - even though the "offended party" is simply a shill for left-wing ideology and NOT "in need" herself and he must be censored and run out of town on a rail. What gives the left the ONLY freedom of speech without consequence while anyone on the right must be censored. Well, the Irish loved the Nazis so much they would not fight them in WW2 and now they are perfectly willing to agree to apply Nazi tactics to stifle any voice that does not parrot the "party line." Hey...I do not like your editorial and I want you to be punished for it and not be able to publish any more - now that's fair, right? Besides "Media Matters" is simply George Soros' bought and paid for public mouthpiece. You and he are of no consequence.