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Subscribe to RSSHouse Speaker John Boehner distanced himself on Friday from Rush Limbaugh, calling the conservative radio host's words toward a women's rights advocate "inappropriate."
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, talks about a lunch meeting with President Obama to deal with rising gasoline prices, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 29, 2012.
Amid a growing media firestorm over comments Wednesday by Limbaugh toward Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown Law student who testified before a Democratic panel on the use of contraception, Washington's top Republicans said through a spokesman that Limbaugh was wrong.
"The speaker obviously believes the use of those words was inappropriate, as is trying to raise money off the situation," Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in a statement.
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The comment refers to Democratic fundraising efforts related to Limbaugh's comments, in which he called Fluke a "slut." Fluke had been asked to testify about the policy of Georgetown University, a Catholic college, toward covering contraception for students. Her testimony came amid a controversy in Washington in recent weeks regarding the extent to which religious institutions should be required to cover contraceptive services as part of their insurance policies, despite moral objectives to contraception.
"What does it say about the college co-ed [Sandra] Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex," Limbaugh said on his show. "What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute."
His comments quickly became political fodder for House Democrats, whose leader, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, decried Limbaugh's comments as "outside the circle of civilized discussion and that unmask the strong disrespect for women held by some in this country." The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee additionally sought donations as a result of the outrage.
"I think my reaction was the reaction that a lot of women have had when, historically, they've been called these types of names and that really I think ... and that was initially, to be stunned by it, but then to quickly feel outraged and very upset by it," Fluke said about Limbaugh's remarks Friday on the TODAY show.
Sandra Fluke, the birth control activist called a "slut" and "prostitute" by conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, talks to TODAY's Matt Lauer about Limbaugh's comments and the failure of a GOP-sponsored amendment that would have allowed employers to opt out of providing contraception in health plans.
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On the rare occasion that he gets it right, Boehner flaps his fat mouth!
Guess what Boehner, your boy Scott Brown is running ads in Mass bragging about the Blunt bill. If you're offended by candidates raising money from this issue, why not start by telling him to stop running those ads on tv. When you do, I'll take you seriously, but I won't hold my breath.
No Mass Man: Let Brown continue to run those ads! Don't tell Bonehead about it. I'm sure the women of Mass. will appreciate Browns stand!!!!!!
You do know he is running against a woman this fall don't you?
Perhaps a nice way for female solidarity to express their extreme displeasure at this whole situation is to start a nationwide movement to deny all men sex for a week or 2.
Let's see how all those conservative man are feeling after the women of America starve them of their physical wants for a little while... Betcha they sing a whole different tune after that dry spell!
I find it amazing that Boehner had the balls to even utter this muted criticism of the GOP god. How long do you think it will be before he crawls on hands and knees to kiss Limblubber's ass and beg forgiveness?
Innocent, Boehner was already on his knees when he made the statement that what Rush said was 'inappropriate.' GOP secret message for - 'OMG that was too funny Rushbo, wish I could have said it, but I'm a politician you know and I have to seem like I'm unhappy with what you said!'
Why would Rush want to watch anyone have sex he's had four wifes to watch have sex with the battery operated toys they keep in their night stands.
Rush probably got the read on his latest ratings decline and had to do something to bring attention to himself again.
He's the cruise director on the Titanic"Nothing to worry about folks; go on back to your dining and dancing"
No, Speaker. You do not speak through someone else.
You hold a press conference, with your TParty caucus behind you, and that includes Cantor. And as a representative of America, a representative of how true blue Americans act in this country, you tell this country and the world, that Limbaugh is outrageous and you highly condemn his language.
Damn it Congress. See what happens when you accept money from all sources?! You have to appease the demons!
Shame on you Congress and especially you Speaker Boehner. This is horrible speech, and you need to publically address it. It makes us look crazy to the rest of the world, that our honorable men of leadership, are wimps and won't stand up to this immoral and evil behavior. No wonder our terrorists are beating us.
I wish this was Don Corleone's daughter Rush spoke about. Rush's studio, and mouth would have been smashed by this morning. And we all would have understood, it was justice. That is how you deal with people like this.
That's the way I feel also. If he called my daughter such on public radio, his life would not be worth spit. America's dads need to take this rude pig on.
James, I am right there with you, its time to rid of ourselves of this colossal @!$%#
.
"The speaker obviously believes the use of those words was inappropriate, as is trying to raise money off the situation,"
Yeah, those two things are the same.
I want to thank you, Rush Limbaugh, for solidifying the Democratics and liberal cause. You brought to the forefront just exactly what we are fighting for. Maybe you really are a secret Democrat because you sure helped us out with your crazy rant.
How about all republicans holding a viagra between their lips? That would be very nice. I'll pay for a few prescriptions myself.
ha!
One bag of pus rebukes another, so what? The pubs are so concerned about birth control and abortions, but don't give a dam about the unwanted kids that are out there. No money for them either, no hard-earned taxpayer dollars for the worthless gamins and waifs of this once-great and proud country, sweep them under the rug along with the rest of the poor, uneducated, non-working, lazy riffraff. Oh, and the pubs are all God-fearing Christians too. May Jesus have pity on their worthless souls.
"Wait... I know... misogynists like WCA who want to keep a boot on the neck of women."
Feisty, you are giving Ring around the collar waaay to much credit! The word misogynist implies that WCA is a man...In reality this guy is just another cowardly puss like the Viagra and Oxycontin stuffed drug adddicted hypocrite Rush.
Just goes to show you that being a "Famous Rich Powerful Radio Personality" doesnt make you a good human. RL is a pathetic POS, however in this country you get freedom of speech, even if its hate filled nonsense. What a loser.
Rush Limbaugh and many of the idiot Republicans out there spouting their hatred for women is the perfect example why birth control should have been free to all their mother's. I wonder how many of their mother's are wishing they had that option many years ago.
Very intellectual. Dan. Rush called this woman a name. Most of you drones are complaining about it. How do you complain about it? By calling Rush names. 80% of the diatribe on this site coming from the left is name calling. This is a clear sign of ignorance at many levels. Like little kids in a schoolyard argument. Pathetic.
Yet here you are Blamo, posting yourself. Double standard?
Ummmm Blamo, where in Dan's post did he call Rush a name? Genuflect much to the GOP 'Gods???'
Dan Rudy - contraception is the ultimate anti-birther movement.
What RL said was not right and should be not be tolerated. Boehner was right to condem the comment. Where was all the outrage from the left when Jerry Brown's wife and aids called Meg Whitman a whore? Not much attention and outrage. Only stuff that seems to offend the left gets attention.
F from California, though what transpired concerning calling Whitman a 'whore' was a conversation over a phone call with Whitman that was thought to have been hung up, and was between Brown and aides in a room, which by itself is still not right, but YOU know happens all the time no matter Left or Right within one's own group. Brown's wife was not in that conversation, nor was that conversation on a National Radio Show and done blatantly without fear of reprisal, because the GOP are afraid of Rush Limbaugh and his following.
I hope the conservatives also are against vasectomies (birth control). Those too should be excluded from insurance. After all, the bible surely doesn't support this does it? It's laughable.
Why would i want to pay for a child being born let alone for some one's birth control. Maybe you all should pay for my collection of antique cars that I can't seem to live without, how about it>?
Start a collection pinhead. Who knows, maybe your pointless existence will be admired.
You already pay for a child born and that child's shelter and medical if you work and pay taxes. How many out there who rely on gov't funds, food stamps, for many years to feed, provide shelter and medical care for their kids? If more are born, there will be more to pay for.
And isn't that the point all you tiny minded wing nuts aren't smart enough to comprehend. You rail against abortion and birth control but aren't bright enough to figure out that the latter helps prevent the former. Of course, after the kid is born you couldn't give a rat's ass ... then you'll deny him/her health care too. I hope all you're antique cars are insured, cause THAT risk is spread among ALL your carrier's insureds ... just like health care. That's what insurance companies do or is that too complicated for you?
The problem most GOP voters fail to understand is, EVERYONE pays a percentage for your insurance, not just YOU, that is why you are 'rated,' as in compared to others. smh
Good for Boehner. All republicans are not going to flock to the hate spewing, fear mongering, far right radicalism that Limbaugh represents. If he doesn't back off his criticism his approval rating might just go up to 6 or 7% (even though it would alienate the 5% that approved of him before).
People fail to see that Rush Limbaugh is no official of the Republican party. ROTFLMAO too as people comment here about Limbaugh's inappropriate comment. They can't formulate a response to what he said so they say things just as vile and nasty.
Limbaugh was wrong to say that but you're just as wrong today and every day that you come here and spew your lies, name calling and snarky remarks.
your point is that Limbaugh has no influence within the republican party? Oh Pleeeze, he says jump, they cry out "how high".
Sticks and stones.
There might be hope for the weak, orange guy yet!
All of the articles on this and other blogs that have open discussion forums really show us just how righteous the Christians are and how they really think. Their comments show how much their religion has taught them and the tolerance they show for their fellow man.
After reading them i truly am glad i do not afiliate with a church or such deeply religious people.I would not want to be associated with such animals
yeah they are such faithful followers of Jesus, their Lord and Savior, until its inconvenient, then they level their hate at anyone who doesn't believe the same way as they do, talk about the American Taliban.
In the continuing saga of pimps and ho's, Rush takes the moral high ground.......he believes he prostitutes himself for free.
The angrier we get, the richer Limpburger gets. Outrage makes his world go round.
Rush has the classic tiny winnie syndrome. He fells very insecure about the size of his penis, so he lashes out at the opposite sex, whom he blames for his own shortfalls. I bet he drives a hummer too.