Rush Limbaugh, a conservative talk show host, apologized to a Georgetown University law student on Saturday for referring to her as a “slut” and “prostitute” after fellow Republicans and Democrats criticized him. He also had several advertisers leave his program. Sandra Fluke, the law student, was banned by Republican lawmakers from testifying to a House committee about her school’s healthcare plan that does not include coverage for contraception. Democrats invited her back and she spoke with Democratic lawmakers at an unofficial session. Fluke testified to congressional Democrats in support of their national health care policy that would oblige Georgetown to offer health plans that cover contraception.
On Limbaugh’s show on Wednesday, he said, “What does it say about the college coed … who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex.” On Thursday he said, “If we’re going to have to pay for this, then we want something in return, Ms. Fluke. And that would be the videos of all this sex posted online so we can see what we’re getting for our money.” After unsuccessful attempts to reach Fluke by e-mail and telephone, on his website, Limbaugh said, “My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.”
