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Breaking: Rush’s Non-Apology Apology (UPDATE III)

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After three days (nine hours in show time), and under increasing fire from advertisers, Rush Limbaugh issued a non-apology Saturday afternoon.

[SEE UPDATE BELOW: Carbonite.com’s CEO issued a blistering statement on the company’s Facebook page saying that despite the apology it is cancelling its advertising on Limbaugh’s show.]

It is ludicrous. He “did not mean a personal attack”? He called Sandra Fluke by name! (Well, he called her Susan …)

He was trying to be funny? You have got to be kidding. He thinks Telling a law student to video herself having sex and post it online for the world to see is funny?

More when I’m back at a computer. Til then, you can check my Twitter stream.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

UPDATE III:
At least one reader has taken issue with my calling his statement a non-apology. The posting was technically, definitionally an apology. But the contents of the post did not show contrition, regret or remorse. That was one reason I called this a non-apology.

Limbaugh seems to practice apologies like Catholics practice confession, as though the public recognition of a sin is sufficient for forgiveness, even though the behavior hasn’t changed.

I prefer to call the most obnoxious feminists what they really are: feminazis. The term describes any female who is intolerant of any point of view that challenges militant feminism. I often use it to describe women who are obsessed with perpetuating a modern-day holocaust: abortion. – Limbaugh on women

  1. 1970s: Limbaugh “told a black caller, who was having trouble hearing him or understanding him, to call him back when he got the bone out of his nose.”
  2. 1988: Limbaugh called Amy Carter, the daughter of former President Jimmy Carter, “the most unattractive presidential daughter in the history of the country”
  3. 1992: On his TV show, Limbaugh described Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton, the “White House dog”
  4. 1992: David Brock writes: “Above his workstation, [Limbaugh] had posted the following admonition: “Sexual Harassment at This Work-Station Will Not Be Reported, However, It Will Be Graded.” Limbaugh was making me famous for calling Anita Hill a slut.”
  5. 1992: In his book The Way Things Ought To Be, he writes: “I love the women’s movement. especially when I am walking behind it.”
  6. 1994: In his book See, I Told You So, Limbaugh called Sherrol Miller a “transsexual lesbian” – he settled the resulting libel suit out of court
  7. 1994: In his book See, I Told You So, Limbaugh listed his “35 Undeniable Truths of Life.” Number 24: “Feminism was established as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.”
  8. 2004: Limbaugh called Feminist Majority Foundation president Eleanor Smeal a feminazi
  9. 2007: Limbaugh describes soldiers as being “phony” if they question “President Bush’s handling of the war.”
  10. 2007: Limbaugh on an unflattering photo of Hillary Clinton: “Will this country want to actually watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?”
  11. 2008: Rush Limbaugh: Women Love Hillary Because They’ve “Had Two Or Three Abortions”
  12. 2011: Limbaugh mocked Chinese President Hu Jintao
  13. 2012: Sandra Fluke

My final note: a reminder that the man is a serial teller of [pick one: lies, falsehoods, tall tales]. The severity of the noun chosen probably depends on the politics of the listener/reader but he repeatedly and consciously fails to tell the truth. Why should anyone believe this statement is any more grounded in the reality that is his emotional state?

This is from 1994 — success (monetary and otherwise) has both enabled the behavior and rewarded it:

Limbaugh’s chronic inaccuracy, and his lack of accountability, wouldn’t be such a problem if Limbaugh were just a cranky entertainer, like Howard Stern. But Limbaugh is taken seriously by “serious” media–in addition to Nightline, he’s been an “expert” on such chat shows as Charlie Rose and Meet the Press. The New York Times (10/15/92) and Newsweek (1/24/94) have published his writings. A U.S. News & World Report piece (8/16/93) by Steven Roberts declared, “The information Mr. Limbaugh provides is generally accurate.”

He’s also taken seriously as a political figure. A National Review cover story (9/6/93) declared him the “Leader of the Opposition.” Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who recently officiated at Limbaugh’s wedding, says he tapes Limbaugh’s radio show and listens to it as he works out (USA Today, 5/13/94).

FAIR is publishing a compilation of some of Limbaugh’s more obvious whoppers in order to convince journalists and political leaders alike that when Limbaugh says, “I’m not making this up, folks,” it’s time to duck and cover. (emphasis added)

Yes, Mr. Limbaugh: words mean things. They do, indeed.

UPDATE II: A Forbes writer stole my headline!

UPDATE I: David Friend, CEO of Carbonite, issued a statement on the company’s Facebook page saying that despite Limbaugh’s apology it is cancelling advertising on Limbaugh’s show. Most notable: it’s clear that he reject’s Limbaugh’s contention that he had not made it personal or wasn’t meant to be insulting:

“No one with daughters the age of Sandra Fluke, and I have two, could possibly abide the insult and abuse heaped upon this courageous and well-intentioned young lady. Mr. Limbaugh, with his highly personal attacks on Miss Fluke, overstepped any reasonable bounds of decency. Even though Mr. Limbaugh has now issued an apology, we have nonetheless decided to withdraw our advertising from his show. We hope that our action, along with the other advertisers who have already withdrawn their ads, will ultimately contribute to a more civilized public discourse.”

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