Rush Limbaugh continues to learn a lesson about free speech. When Limbaugh expressed his free speech rights calling Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke a “slut” on the air in early 2012 for calling for health care coverage for contraception, many Americans said “enough is enough” and demanded that Limbaugh’s radio advertisers exit Limbaugh’s show. Many advertisers have done just that, and today, reports emerged that Limbaugh’s deal with Cumulus Media, whose 40-station network carries Limbaugh’s radio show and has lost as much as $ 5.5 million from the Limbaugh advertiser boycott, may be headed for the rocks.
Effective Adversaries
In taking on Sandra Fluke, Rush Limbaugh may have bitten off more than he could chew. Fluke turned out to be an extremely articulate and passionate advocate for women’s health issues. In February 2012, the Republicans who run the U.S. House Oversight Committee committed a public relations fiasco when they held a hearing about contraception, but barred any women, including Fluke, from appearing. Fluke took to YouTube and gave an impassioned response. Then Fluke spoke at the 2012 Democratic Convention in Charlotte, NC, where she wowed the convention audience and many others who were watching her on television.
Many Twitter users picked up Sandra Fluke’s cause, starting the hashtag #StopRush. To this day, these Twitter users publicly contact companies that advertise on Limbaugh’s radio show and write, for example:
Don’t eat at @burgerking They support Limbaugh’s vile verbal assault on minorities. And the homeless. And women. And… #StopRush
Moreover, even Republicans like wordmeister Frank Luntz have criticized Limbaugh as “problematic” for “killing” the political chances of mainstream Republicans like U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.
Limbaugh Keeps Digging his own Hole
Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh shows no signs of backing off his trademark antagonistic speech, which Twitter users and others call “hate speech.” For example, Limbaugh recently suggested:
You know how to stop abortion? Require that each one occur with a gun.
Ironically, however, Limbaugh’s own bully pulpit, which has long struck fear into many Republicans, may make the case for Limbaugh’s own commercial downfall.
