Boycott against Rush Limbaugh’s Advertisers is Not Enough

By Brigitte L. Nacos

His hateful tirade against a female law school student and her demand for insurance-covered contraceptives even at church-related institutions cost shock jock Rush Limbaugh according to today’s New York Times seven advertisers so far. But as successful as the spontaneous on-line protests against Limbaugh’s despicable attack on Sandra Fluke was--by extension an attack on all women practicing birth control and requiring insurance coverage--, the pressure must not stop but expand to a boycott of all radio stations that carry Limbaugh’s talk show and TV- and radio-networks they are affiliated with.  

It is telling that the usually unapologetic Limbaugh issued an apology after one advertiser after another jumped ship over the weekend. To stem this tide and financial harm, he issued a lame apology. “My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir,” he said in his statement.  “I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.”

That was actually a non-apology. What Limbaugh said in his endless rants in his broadcasts on three consecutive days was not simply a poor choice of words-- he called Ms. Fluke “slut” and “prostitute”--but rather another shameful manifestation of his disrespect for many groups, including women and minorities.

Since Limbaugh strives on controversy and attention-getting hate-speak to promote his show and excite his huge audience, one might conclude that it would be best to ignore the episodes of particularly vile insults. But that would ignore the reality that Rush Limbaugh is for many years the most influential voice in the Republican Party.   

In the past, even the slightest criticism of Limbaugh’s most distasteful outbursts resulted inevitably in “forgive me, Rush” apologies. That explains the reactions of leading Republicans this time around. Mitt Romney said, “It’s not the language I would have used.” In other words, Romney has no problem with the substance of Limbaugh’s attacks, rather with his linguistic choices. This leaves me to wonder whether Romney would have used more civil terms (perhaps sex worker?) to substitute Limbaugh’s choices. Rick Santorum called the controversial Limbaugh episode “absurd” but nevertheless “justified” since Limbaugh is an entertainer. Ah, an entertainer with so much influence in real Republican politics!

If politicians who compete for the highest office in the land either think along the lines of Rush Limbaugh except for his choice of words or are too afraid to confront him, they do not deserve our votes. I am glad that at least one prominent Republican, Senator John McCain, stood up to the radio host and said that Limbaugh’s statements are completely unacceptable and should be “condemned” by people across the political spectrum.

The syndicator of the Limbaugh show, Premiere Networks, declared in a statement its commitment to offer listeners “a broad range of opinion and commentary” and its respect for “the right of Mr. Limbaugh, as well as the rights of those who disagree with him, to express those opinions.”

So, yes, those who disagree with Limbaugh can and should exercise their rights. Since neither his syndicator nor the stations that air his show and their affiliated networks have any intention of reining in the highly lucrative talk show star, those stations and networks should be boycotted—until they do.

I, for example, will no longer watch the ABC TV-network since ABC's local affiliate carries Limbaugh's show. Here is a list of those radio outlets that air the Rush Limbaugh show.

Comments

[Boy]

It's funny that he calls the Republicans "Sociopaths" when he himself seems to fit that dipsrection much better than any of them."Why does anyone care what this seacow has to say?"Well, why does anyone care what this brainless, bigoted Youtube psycho who's too cowardly to even reveal his identity or voice has to say?P.S. Moron, if Limbaugh is so unpopular, then why is it that he has attracted so many sponsors and such high ratings, while Air America crashes and burns everywhere it goes? I don't listen to his show, but he's got to be doing something right to be as popular as he is.

[Elna]

Good Link, Joshua..."...America, uh, is not what it could be... and I don't want that urtufe for my kids..."DUH! The urtufe, Obambi, is nearly unlimited possibility, you moron! When you say "America ... is no longer what it could be..." you sound like an addled, naive, leftist fool. "Obama is no longer what he could be... no longer can Obama become what he might have been had he been what he should have become, but Obama can yet become what he might be, if he is still what he can be, in America... sort of..."

[Hilda]

....against my better jngedmeut, i agree with the words that the senator from illinois and it is not lincoln stated.granted the response was not what it should have been, given the poser of the question.however, myself not being as nuanced as the senator from illinois and it is not lincoln is, i will be specific.1) i wish we still had a southern border.1)a) i wish the border was clearly marked and identified.1)b) i wish the border was enforced by those other than targets for what passes as the mexican army.2) i wish the country of china did not own the US.3) i wish the country of saudi arabia, our eternal friends, did not own the US.4) in 1940, had someone flown a plane into, say the empire state building, other than the b-25 that did, and claim they did it because of their religion, i wonder what would have happened to that religion/culture/tribe.5) i wonder when the war on drugs will be over.6) i wonder when the war on poverty will be over.7) i wonder when the global war on terror.........oh forget it.8) i wonder why i feel afraid to defend myself in my own home.unless it is a 24 hour clock and/or digital, a stopped clock is right twice a day.sorry, couldn't think of a better "cliche inserted here".the US is the greatest nation on the earth and in history.why not make it better?and not use marxism to do it.

[D]

Rush can say whatever ha wants and we can do whatever we want about it. I'm mad at him but his job is to be an ignorant a$$. The thing that has stunned me is how afraid republicans are of him. The only one with no fear is John McCain. Do you really think American woman will vote for a man who is scared of Limbaugh? I can guarantee you there is not one woman in America who is scared of him , but our GOP senate our GOP congress and our GOP presidential candidates are. Pathetic.

[J. Popp]

I have “suspended” my accounts with 2 of the companies I do business with who have pulled advertising from Rush Limbaugh.
Pro Flowers and Carbonite.
I readily admit that I wouldn’t be customers of theirs if it wasn’t for Rush.
I find it disgusting that these companies would bow to political pressure from known groups whose singular focus is to personally destroy and silence those who disagree with their agendas.
These “town criers” have ignored much worse that’s been said by those who they agree with politically.

This set-up by the left is also being ignored. Fluke is an activist only enrolled at Georgetown to force her views that are counter to the schools. And she was given a platform in a kangaroo court created by the left and the media for the soul purpose to distract the public away from The Obama admiration’s blatant disregard of the constitution. The contraception/abortion pill mandate is not about women’s reproductive “rights” and access. This is about an administration forcing institutions, religious and not and private companies to supply products for “free.”

Rush basically asked this question “What do we call a woman who wants us to pay for her to have unlimited sex without consequence?” Well?

Please “suspend” your relationship with these companies who have “suspended” theirs with Rush.

Pro Flowers ,Quicken Loans, Sleep Train, Sleep Number, Citrix Systems Inc., Carbonite and Legal Zoom.