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Troll Rush Limbaugh Can't Stop, Won't Stop Slut Shaming

Ben Yakas

Published Mar 2, 2012

Modified Mar 5, 2012

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Ben Yakas

Published Mar 2, 2012

Modified Mar 5, 2012

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Yesterday, the Senate voted to reject a GOP effort to let employers and health insurance companies deny coverage for contraceptives if they have religious or moral objections. In the course of the debate over the bill, oxycontin aficionado and King of all Trolls Rush Limbaugh inserted himself into the debate by calling Georgetown Law School student and activist Sandra Fluke "a slut" for arguing that contraception should be covered by health insurance. And even with the vote over, he's continued to attack Fluke, saying women who want coverage should make sex tapes for him to watch.

On Wednesday, Limbaugh attacked Fluke for promoting casual sex, asking: "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." On his show yesterday, Limbaugh joyously continued to slut shame Fluke and other women who want health insurance to pay for birth control:

So, Ms. 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. And I'll tell you what it is. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch.

Of course, Limbaugh said this between numerous cigar breaks and hearty laughs at all the attention he's been getting over his remarks: "I think this is hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. The left has been thrown into an outright conniption fit!" You can read the full transcript of Limbaugh expertly trolling the universe with his nonsense talk here.

There were some consequences for Limbaugh this time—with all the added attention over his incendiary remarks, mattress retailer Sleep Train said it will no longer advertise on the show: "We don't condone negative comments directed toward any group," Sleep Train tweeted. "Thanks to all of you for your concern and input." Advertiser ProFlowers said it would also "re-evaluate" its marketing plan and dating site eHarmony insisted it will look into ‘the matter of "network buys"’.

In her first public appearance since testifying before Congress, Fluke appeared on Ed Schultz’s "The Ed Show" yesterday to address Limbaugh's attacks against her, and took the high road with the shock jock:

I guess my reaction is the reaction a lot of women have when they’ve been called these names. Initially you’re stunned but then, very quickly, you’re outraged because this is, historically, the kind of language that is used to silence women, especially women who stand up and say that these are their reproductive health care needs and this is what they need. And what’s been amazing to me today is the outpouring of support. Everyone from members of Congress to Georgetown faculty to so many women who’ve contacted me, and I think it’s clear from what they’ve said that they’re not going to be silenced by this.

It seems President Obama agrees with her—according to spokesman Jay Carney, the president called Fluke this morning to express his support for her. Obama "wanted to express his disappointment that she has been the subject of inappropriate personal attacks, and thank her for exercising her rights as a citizen to speak out on an issue of public policy,” Carney said at a briefing this morning. “It was a very good conversation.”

In an interview with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Fluke agreed and added that the phone call “meant a lot.” “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,” Fluke said.

Of course, it's one thing for Obama, "feminazis," Democrats, advertisers, and leftists to dismiss Limbaugh—but now even Rick Santorum thinks he's being a jackass. CNN's Patricia DiCarlo gave this Twitter preview of Santorum's interview with Wolf Blitzer which is airing later today: "Santorum: Limbaugh is being "absurd" in comments about Georgetown student."

Tagged

birth control

contraceptives

health care

rush limbaugh

sandra fluke

slut shaming

trolls

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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