Monday, March 5, 2012

Sandra Fluke Says Rush Limbaugh's Apology Doesn't Change Anything

PHOTO: Political commentator Rush Limbaugh, left, and Sandra Fluke, a third-year law student at Georgetown University and former president of the Students for Reproductive Justice group there, are shown in these file photos. The Georgetown law student who drew an apology from Rush Limbaugh this weekend after the conservative radio host called her a "slut" on his show said that his public apology wasn't sufficient during an appearance on ABC's "The View" today.
"I don't think that a statement like this issued, saying that his choice of words was not the best, changes anything, and especially when that statement is issued when he's under significant pressure from his sponsors who have begun to pull their support," said the 30-year-old student, Sandra Fluke.
Limbaugh called Fluke a "slut" and a "prostitute" on his show last week after hearing her testify to Congress arguing that her university's health insurance should cover contraception for female students.
On Saturday, he wrote an apology after several sponsors pulled their advertising from his program in response to the Fluke comments.
"My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir," Limbaugh wrote in a released statement. "I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."Fluke said she has not heard from Limbaugh personally but added that she's not hoping to speak with him.
"The statements he's made about me over the air are personal enough, so I'd rather not have a personal phone call with him," Fluke said.
On his show today, his first on-air appearance since advertisers began dropping out, Limbaugh said that "those two words were inappropriate" and that he didn't think Fluke "was either of those two words."
"The apology to her over the weekend was sincere," he said. "It was simply for using inappropriate words in a way I never do."
On Friday, two days after his initial comments, Limbaugh repeatedly told his listeners that Fluke has "so much sex she can't afford it." President Obama called Fluke to offer his support that day, and Limbaugh drew out his crusade by mocking the president for placing the call.
AOL today announced it was yanking its advertising from Limbaugh's radio show, the latest in string of advertisers to do so. The company wrote on Facebook that Limbaugh's comments "are not in line with our values."
Another advertiser, ProFlowers, pulled out after more than 7,000 people commented on the ProFlowers Facebook page about Limbaugh's tirade against the Georgetown University Law School student.
"Mr. Limbaugh's recent comments went beyond political discourse to a personal attack and do not reflect our values as a company," the Internet-based flower delivery company wrote in a statement on its Facebook page Sunday afternoon. "As such, ProFlowers has suspended advertising on The Rush Limbaugh radio program."
Fluke didn't take a stand directly on whether advertisers should abandon Limbaugh, but she said that "Americans have a long tradition of supporting companies that share the values that they have."

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