Bill Maher: Accept Rush Limbaugh's apology

Bill Maher, Rush Limbaugh

/ CBS/Getty

(CBS News) Bill Maher supporting Rush Limbaugh?

It doesn't sound very likely, but on Tuesday, the left-leaning "Real Time" host took to Twitter to call out liberals for their continuous criticism of Limbaugh, who recently apologized for calling Georgetown student Sandra Fluke a "slut" and "prostitute."

Pictures: Rush Limbaugh

Hate to defend #RushLimbaugh but he apologized, liberals looking bad not accepting. Also hate intimidation by sponsor pullout

-- Bill Maher (@billmaher) March 7, 2012

The comedian was referring to an incident late last year, when his tweet about Tim Tebow, led to calls for a boycott of HBO, which airs Maher's show.

Maher's latest  tweet comes as sponsors continue to pull ads from Limbaugh's show. More than 30 national and local advertisers have yanked spots from Limbaugh's syndicated radio show following the fallout over his remarks.

The controversy all started during Fluke's testimony at a February hearing about contraceptive mandates and U.S. health insurance. On Feb. 29, Limbaugh said, "She [Fluke] wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex."

The conservative broadcaster has since offered a mea culpa for his "insulting choice of words," but many, including Fluke, have yet to accept it. Fluke, who spoke out in favor of President Obama's birth control policy, has called Limbaugh's apology "insufficient."

Tell us: What do you think about Limbaugh's apology?

[BWB2020]

Funny how even those on this thread who seem to possess a modicum of education, nevertheless fail to discern the difference between Maher's insulta of Palin, with Rush's accusations of criminal activity.

It is also ironic that those decrying their perception of the imposition of "political correctness" also fail to recognize the right of the public not to do business with those who support public figures whose political views are abhorrent to them.

"Free speech" is a concept whose time has passed, in a former day people could advocate the most virulent racism with impunity, that day has passed, never to return.

Speech is free only if the speaker is willing to accept the consequences of their speech, inclusive public reaction.

This is as it should be, and should have been from the start. There is no government-imposed limit on free speech in cases such as this, there is only the public reaction.

Those decrying "PC" are simply too cowardly to accept the public reaction to their speech, knowing that the public finds such speech abhorrent, which is also their right.

[RichZubaty]

Bill Maher is a wishy washy conservative who started out with a show called Politically Incorrect to woo the right, but after becoming totally disgusted with George W Bush he carved himself out a pigeonhole in the right wing of the Democratic Party. Who cares what he says? Tell him to show up at an Occupy event and find something worthwhile to talk about. There are a million reasons that Rush Limbaugh should be shown the door and this is just one tiny one. Limbaugh's a racist, anti-union hate monger, who supports Wall Street greed over Living Wages. Oh yeah, and he says dumb things about women sometimes.

[cholico9]

In response to your comment;mr, friedpotatoes with all do respect sr!!!!2 things, #1 there's a big diference between a paid show on cable tv such as HBO where mr Maher was refering to mrs Sarah Palin as a public individual running a public office!!.#2 Mr, Limbaugh has a very long history of bullie on public figures such as then president Bill Clinton,and now president Obama by using the N word upon many other things,using public air waves on radio were everybody has acces to and get away with it;this time limbaugh went way to far by expressing him self that way ON PUBLIC AIR WAVES!!about somebody in the privet sector that he didn't even know,i personal think that limbaugh got to pay the consecuences,just like many others did in the past for being such arrogants thingking they can do what ever they want and nobody would say anything about it!ENOUGH!!get tha hell out of here with that crap!!!!!

[PamelaBA]

There WAS no apology from Limbaugh. His choice of words clearly were not an apology and they reflect what is in his heart. There is a big difference between HBO, a paid service, and public radio that Limbaugh is on. AND he has now gone after another woman. Is this what you people are listening to all the time from Rush? NO WONDER you want to set Women's Rights back decades! No comparison. No apology. No dice. HE NEEDS TO GO! The GOP needs to go! VOTE DEMOCRATIC IN NOVEMBER!

[blmathew1955]

I see a difference between Sandra Fluke and Sarah Palin. Mrs. Palin was a public servant. My definition of that..she was the governor of Alaska, receiving a salary from the taxpayers of Alaska for her services. When she accepted the GOP vice-president nomination in 2008, Mrs. Palin still remained a public servant. Public servants, for liable reasons, are held to much higher standard. Look up Sullivan v. New York Times. I, too, am a public servant. We have to develop a thick skin. Do we like it, no? Do we have to stand for it, yes and no. Ms. Fluke, until she was called to testify before Congress, is not a pubic servant. No one in the public even knew she existed. Mr. Limbaugh crossed the line by using his popular radio show to call her names, to comment on her "supposed" sex life, and for ratings. Mr. Limbaugh flatly lied about this woman. Mr. Limbaugh apology was no apology. His feet was held to the fire and he was made to do it. The American public can do two things regarding Mr. Limbaugh's radio: don't listen and don't support the corporate sponsors of his show. That is a peaceful, non-violent demonstration. If corporations are people, then cut off the flow of money to these people. Thank you.

[friedpotatoes]

realtime: perhaps you should read this? And, look at some of the comments after it of the men agree with Maher's use of the word. http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.tv/browse_thread/thread/2e827b8c47b450af/91352e24c9bd5553?lnk=raot

[bbarnes5557]

Well Maher knows that he has said the same thing about Sara Palin and so there is guilt there. Everybody knows this just check out old shows of Maher. Ed Shultz said the same and yet he still is on the air...There is a double standard and everybody knows it..

[amandamllr]

Although I absolutely hate what Rush Limbough said Bill Maher has a good point. Censorship is a problem, because if we stop one person from saying something that we dont like, its easier to keep censoring people until no on can say anything. I wouldn't accept Limbougs apology if the woman he was speaking of doesnt, but I dont agree with pulling him off the air either.

[friedpotatoes]

Maher is just afraid that the tables will turn on him. He called Sarah Palin a "C***" and no one said a word. No condemnation from the left or from the president. If the left keeps up with Limbaugh or gets him off the air then those listerners will turn the tables on Maher and start a campaign against him, if they already havent dont so in retribution. Maher is a hypocrite trying to cover his own behind.

[PKMcLively]

Some - like forbes - have doubts this effort will continue as long as it needs to in order to make a difference.
And it is - believe me, most of us get that it has to be done at the local level as much as the national level ... so any of you that are listening to a local station to track their advertising - contact us here
.http://stopthewaronwomen.wordpress.com/
We have a network we share list with, just login and leave a comment (comments are rarely posted) and share your list. We will be developing a local station data base - a list of all local stations playing his show and who advertises locally.

Iif you are willing and able to help with this compilation - please let us know. (dittoheads don't bother, those comments just get deleted because like most of us, we don't feed trolls.)
This way anyone, anywhere can know who to contact to encourage boycotts of local advertisers whose ads play on those stations. Clear Channel? We get it. Clearly though, Rush doesn't because he continues to insult and degrade women.

[friedpotatoes]

While you are at it you need to include Bill Maher in your people to boycott and get off the air. He called Sarah Palin a "c***" and no one said a word in protection of her. If you are not really concerned about all women, no matter what their political leanings are then you are being disingenious about you call to boycott. PKM, I am a Rush listenern and he is not talking about this woman anymore. He apologized TWICE. One on the website and once on air the very next Monday. His listeners dont like waht he said either but he did apologize. Bill Maher has never apologized to Palin and she never kicked up a fuss about his comment toward her. When will you start your campaign to get Maher off the air, and while youre at it Ed Schultz, who called Laura Ingraham a *****. Maher is just afraid that the tables will turn on him. He called Sarah Palin a "C***" and no one said a word. No condemnation from the left or from the president. If the left keeps up with Limbaugh or gets him off the air then those listerners will turn the tables on Maher and start a campaign against him, if they already havent dont so in retribution. Maher is a hypocrite trying to cover his own behind.

[mjb60432]

who are you? you sound really evil. I want to boycott you.

[baileyccc]

Why hasn't Clear Channel taken this PIG off the air?

[PKMcLively]

Good question - sign one of the many petitions

[mikethep]

I agree! Get Bill Maher off the air as soon as possible!