newjerseynewsroom.com

BY ADELE SAMMARCO

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

More fallout continues over remarks made by ultra-right wing conservative Rush Limbaugh as advertisers, one-by-one, pull their sponsorship from his controversial radio talk show and distance themselves from his divisive comments.

Unprovoked, Limbaugh attacked a Georgetown Law student after she testified to Congressional Democrats last week in favor of a health care policy that would require all employers and other organizations, including Catholic universities, to cover the cost of contraceptives for women.

Limbaugh called the young woman, Sandra Fluke, a “slut" and a “prostitute" and sarcastically taunted her to post sex videos online, "so we can all watch."

After a ground swell of protest against the inflammatory remarks, even from the President of the United States who personally called Fluke on Friday to extend his thanks for her support of women’s rights, Limbaugh apologized, but it apparently wasn’t enough for his radio advertisers.

On Sunday, online flower supplier, ProFlowers announced it would suspend its advertising on Limbaugh's program, joining the half dozen other companies who have dropped Limbaugh for bashing the 30-year-old for supporting a policy that would require insurance companies to cover birth control.

In a post on Facebook, ProFlowers stated, "Mr. Limbaugh's recent comments went beyond political discourse to a personal attack and do not reflect our values as a company."

Quicken Loans Inc. has also suspended its advertising on the Limbaugh’s show. The Detroit-based company, at first defended Limbaugh saying he had a right to express himself, however the online mortgage lender's spokesperson, Paul Silver, told the Detroit Free Press, “In no instance does Quicken Loans ever have any control of the content or comments of the shows.”

Another nasty comment from Limbaugh regarding Fluke on his show, “She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception,” he continued, “She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex.”

Georgetown President John J. DeGioia issued a statement on civility and public discourse calling Limbaugh's comments "misogynistic, vitriolic" and then praised Fluke for "providing a model of civil discourse."

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Mattress giants Sleep Train and Sleep Number, software maker Citrix Systems, and online service companies Carbonite and LegalZoom have all also each pulled their ads from his show as well as media mogul, AOL.

“At AOL, one of our core values is that we act with integrity. We have monitored the unfolding events and have determined that Mr. Limbaugh’s comments are not in line with our values,” AOL posted on its Facebook page Monday, “As a result we have made the decision to suspend advertising on The Rush Limbaugh Radio show.”

The post attracted more than 300 “likes” in the first 40 minutes.

In an interview with the Daily Beast, Fluke said she wasn't ruling out suing Limbaugh.

"I've certainly been told I might have a case," the third-year law student said, "But it's not something I've made any decisions about at this point."

Clear Channel's Premiere Radio Networks Inc., which hosts Limbaugh's program, says it is standing behind their controversial, ratings-booster host.