Limbaugh Crosses the Line; Cavs and Quicken Loans Do the Right Thing

Chances are you've heard the story about how radio host Rush Limbaugh referred to Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke who was scheduled (but not allowed) to testify two weeks ago at a House hearing on contraceptive coverage as a "slut" and a "prostitute." He also said this: ""So Miss Fluke, if we are going to ... pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/824286/updated%3A_sexist_ru...

It's worth noting that nowhere in her testimony does she talk about her sex life. She mostly uses examples of OTHER students who used contraceptives for health reasons other than sex, such as ovarian cysts.

Here's Fluke's testimony:

http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/statement-Congress-letterhead-2nd%...

If a progressive radio host had said something even a fraction as offensive what Limbaugh said, Republican leaders would be demanding that Democrats sever all contact with him and publicly repudiate him forever. But they have barely been able to muster up a flutter of outrage over this. Go figure.

A spokesperson for Boehner not only said weakly that Boehner believes the remarks are "inappropriate" but turned it around to blame Democrats, saying it's equally inappropriate for Democrats to try to raise money of the remarks (because I guess Republicans have NEVER tried to raise money by evoking the scary specter of something those on the left said or did). And House majority leader Eric Cantor's spokesperson said, "It's not language the majority leader would condone."

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/abortion/213847-boehner-distances-h...

That was virtually exactly what Mitt Romney said tonight in Cleveland (after first trying to avoid saying anything, of course):

“I'll just say this, which is it’s not the language I would have used."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/02/romney-silent-to-cnn-on-...

Meanwhile, Rick Santorum pooh-poohed the attack by saying, “He's being absurd, but that's you know, an entertainer can be absurd." Yeah, just an "entertainer" the entire Republican establishment cowers in fear of offending.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/03/02/436960/santorum-calls-limba...

I've ignored the flurry of handwringing petitions from women's groups and progressive organizations telling Rush to ... what? His track record of insulting misogynist remarks is very long. He likes the attention. I won't sign the petitions.

But there are indications that this time he may have been just a little too blunt, and in addition, he's facing a climate where women have become angry and are pushing back on the assault on their basic rights. A more powerful weapon than petitions has been deployed: advertiser boycott.

Lists are circulating, and sponsors are beginning to drop out, apparently realizing that Limbaugh has moved from right-wing provocation to openly demeaning women in a very touchy climate for that sort of thing. There's a Facebook page providing information on advertisers to contact: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Rush-Limbaughs-Sponsors-to-SHUT-HI...

It's working. He's been dropped by sponsors like Select Comfort Mattresses, Sleep Train Mattresses, Quicken Loans, and the Cleveland Cavs. Quicken Loans and the Cavs are both owned by Dan Gilbert, who also owns the casino about to open in Cleveland in May.

http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/02/436852/rush-limbaugh-advertise...

Via Think Progress link above:

From Kelly@QuickenLoans: "Due to continued inflammatory comments– along w/valuable feedback from clients & team members– QL has suspended ads on Rush Limbaugh program."

And from sports blog Waiting for Next Year:

Quicken Loans has decided to suspend any and all on-air advertising with the Rush Limbaugh radio program, citing “inflammatory comments” coupled with valuable feedback from both clients and employees. This news comes from Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner and Quicken Loans CEO Dan Gilbert.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/03/cavs-suspend-advertising-with-...

You can express your thanks to them for doing the principled thing here:
http://www.quickenloans.com/about/contact

Of course, an unrepentant Limbaugh has doubled down saying Fluke "is having sex so frequently she can't afford all the birth control pills she needs," revealing not just his antagonism toward women but complete ignorance of contraception.

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201203020014

And he received backing from his pal Bill O'Reilly who said Fluke wants to government to pay for her social life. (In her testimony, she talked about a fellow student who was prescribed contraception for ovarian cysts.)

http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/02/437076/bill-oreilly-attacks-sa...

As Limbaugh keeps piling on the outrageous remarks, basking in the blowback he's getting, he's riling up his army of the bitter, insecure misfits he once dubbed "Dittoheads." One blogger who calls himself Ace of Spades posted, "Please don't call Sandra Fluke a slut. Respect her for what she is, a restless rent-a-cooch from East Whoreville."

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201203020019

This is how you lash out in fear to try to shut up "uppity" women, to let them know that if they stand up for themselves, you will brand them with their own sexuality, never mind that you don't even know anything about it. The attacks on her are pure intimidation, the kind of stuff boys and men have long used against girls and women to keep them in their place, to keep them silent, to keep them afraid.

Luckily, Sandra Fluke doesn't scare easily, and today she got a call from President Obama, saying he's behind her.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/03/usa-contraception-obama-idUSL2...

Limbaugh likely won't be scared much either. Even if all his advertisers drop out, as happened to Glenn Beck, Fox will probably prop him up. But forcing advertisers to take a stand sends out a message to the world: women are mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore.