One Sorry Sorry

From The Week:

Mark Byron from Cincinnati complained on Facebook that his estranged wife was an “evil, vindictive woman”, and was ordered by a judge to post daily apologies for a month or go to jail.  He said the judge is violating his freedom of speech.  “If they can do this to me, they can do this to others,” he said.

That of course is a great idea.  Even if she was/is an “evil, vindictive woman”, an apology is in order.

The man who needs to be sentenced by an activist judge to repeatedly apologize to a woman in a public forum is Rush Limbaugh.  He has so far issued one written apology for calling the Georgetowne University student a “slut” and a “prostitute” while simultaneously invoking the “comedian” defense: 
 
"My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir," Limbaugh says in the statement. "I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."

Yes, nothing is more hilarious than a conservative political radio host with upwards of 20 million listeners calling a woman a slut and a prostitute based on her political view that contraception should be covered under the ACA and that the Blunt Amendment is absurdly broad.  Given that contraception coverage is already included in hundreds of health plans across America, including those cities and town where “real” Americans live and work, I guess he could joke that a large majority of his female listeners are sluts and prostitutes as well since they have the pill on their plans.  Guffaw!!!

Limbaugh’s apology couldn’t be confined to just a heartfelt mea culpa to the woman in question.  He couldn’t control himself.  "For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week.  In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation."

It is tough to argue with that.  His show does illustrate the absurd and it does glorify absurdity.  His financially motivated “apology” went on to include more Limbaugh laugh tracks:

“I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress.”

Rush is a regular Jerry Seinfeld.  He is resurrecting the original Show about Nothing with his own jolly twist.  What makes this so funny is how his portrayal of Ms. Fluke’s actual testimony differs from what she actually said at the hearing.  That’s called “illustrating the absurd with absurdity”, or as it is more commonly known, “making stuff up that wasn’t said”.

If you read her testimony (it’s short), she spoke about how contraceptive coverage is included in the Georgetowne faculty and staff plan already.  She talked about friends with ovarian cysts and endometriosis who need the birth control medication to manage their conditions.  She talked about the plight of her married friends who attend law school with her and pay annually $3,000 in out-of-pocket costs. 

In Rush’s comedic world, she is Snooki.  Stop it, you’re killin’ me!

To prove that his humorous, insult driven take on the issues of the day was no “fluke” (pun intended), days later he suggested that Ms. Fluke post videos of her sexual escapades on You Tube for all to see since Rush’s loyal Dittoheads were paying for her moral lapses with their tax dollars.  He really is the Don Rickles of political commentary, isn’t he?

While Rush distributes the pitchforks and torches to his listening audience, I have to ask – how are taxpayers being asked to pay for Ms. Fluke’s contraception?  She testified that her school, a private school where she pays the tuition, should be required to offer contraceptive coverage under the employer’s plan.  Where do the tax dollars factor into this equation?

Rush added as part of his “apology” that “In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone’s bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a presidential level.”  That means that discussion of Rick Santorum’s campaign raison d’etre is off the table for Rush.  Now that is funny.

Now, advertisers are pulling out, just as Rush suggested Fluke’s parade of anonymous lovers do while she waits for taxpayers to pay for her indiscretions and her moral weaknesses.  I cannot stop chuckling at his EIB comedy show!

By the way, I have a religious objection to war, torture and the death penalty.  Please, don’t force me to pay for such immorality with my tax dollars.  My religion forbids it and to force me to support such actions with my tax dollars violates my religious freedom as guaranteed in the Constitution.  Deal?

“Inappropriate” is wearing white before Memorial Day.  Limbaugh’s attacks (and they were attacks, not comic genius) are better described as disgusting and offensive and mean and hurtful.  Just Say No.

With Limbaugh, abstinence is the moral choice.