On his show, Rush Limbaugh called a female Georgetown law student a “slut” and a “prostitute”. Sandra Fluke had been slated to speak at a Congressional hearing about the mandated contraception coverage debate. Fluke was denied a time slot to speak in. The hearing ended up only hearing from male speakers, leading to several congresswomen walking out of the hearing in protest. Fluke was later invited back to a second, Democrat-only, hearing. Her remarks made national news since Fluke’s college (Georgetown) is a Jesuit school and finds itself in the thick of the fight. She said that she felt politicians were playing political football with women’s health.
Rush aired his opinion about Fluke and her comments on his show.
“What does it say about the college coed Susan [sic] Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex.
“She’s having so much sex she can’t afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex. What does that make us? We’re the pimps.
“The johns, that’s right. We would be the johns — no! We’re not the johns. Well — yeah, that’s right. Pimp’s not the right word.
“So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex. We want something for it. We want you post the videos online so we can all watch.”
It is no surprise that a comment like that would bring out the liberal backlash on Twitter.
Some begged to differ.
But, the response did not stop with derision from the usual cast of characters. Legislators got into it. Nancy Pelosi has called on the Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives to disavow Limbaugh’s remarks. That got a reaction too.
But, then came the advertisers. ProFlowers, a show sponsor, was beset with complaints and ended up replying to dozens of tweets.
Then came Sleep Train mattresses.
Then, Select Comfort, makers of the Sleep Number beds went next.
When confronted about some market buys of advertising that put its brand in commercials during Limbaugh’s program, the Lending Tree company was obliged to tell many customers:
A campaign was launched to bring pressure to bear against other advertisers who support Limbaugh’s program. That campaign listed several businesses. Some pulled their ads in response to Limbaugh’s remarks. The listing, in part, includes:
Quicken Loans
(800) 863-4332
1050 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI48226
Tax Resolution Services
Online Ad on Rush Site
1-866-IRSPROBLEMS
Heart & Body Extract UPDATE::: PULLED THEIR AD 3/2/12
Online Ad on Rush Site
1-866-295-5305
CARBONITE, Inc.
617-587-1100
177 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Direct Dial Office: 617-587-1100 EXT:1115
Mid-West Life Insurance Company of Tennessee
9151 Grapevine Hwy.North Richland Hills, TX 76180
Phone (800) 733-1110
LegalZoom
800-773-0888; Fax: 323-962-8300
Citrix Online (GoToMyPC)
6500 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117
Phone: 805-690-6400; Fax: 805-690-6471
ALSO KNOWN AS GOTOMEETING.COM
Mission Pharmacal Company
10999 IH-10 West Suite 1000
P.O. Box 786099
San Antonio, TX 78278-6099
Telephone: (800) 531-3333
But then, the President chimed in.
Sandra Fluke told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that President Obama had called her personally.
“He encouraged me and supported me and thanked me for speaking out about the concerns of American women. And what was really personal for me was that he said to tell my parents that they should be proud. And that meant a lot because Rush Limbaugh questioned whether or not my family would be proud of me. So, I just appreciated that very much.”
Limbaugh has been under advertiser fire before. And, he’s still here. It all depends on how much flak advertisers can take before having to make a business decision to go elsewhere. The same tactic was used against Glenn Beck, and he eventually was let go from Fox.
