After giving Limbaugh a bye, Romney blasts Maher

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

(CBS News) The battle over potty-mouthed talk show hosts is getting partisan indeed.

After taking a pass on criticizing conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh for calling a Georgetown University student a prostitute, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney condemned in strong terms Thursday remarks by liberal talk show host/comedian Bill Maher, who used vulgar language to describe Sarah Palin.

In an appearance on the Sean Hannity radio show, Romney said, "Frankly, what Bill Maher said, and I finally read the transcripts, I was offended outraged that a person would say that on TV and would not have been called on the carpet before now and not apologized for it. To have the Obama campaign retain a million dollars from Bill Maher, it is simply outrageous. I don't condone that kind of language and particularly in a public setting, a TV setting. ... It's just gone way beyond the pale."

Romney did not stipulate which transcript he had reviewed, but Maher has used inappropriate language to attack conservative women, including Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee. Much of what he said is not publishable, but he did call Palin "a bully who sells patriotism like a pimp, and the leader of a strange family of inbred weirdos."

President Obama personally telephoned Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke earlier this month to offer his support after Limbaugh's comments. But Obama did not similarly intervene in the Maher controversy. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, "We are not and cannot be the arbitrator of every statement that everybody makes in the policy and political arena." Conservative groups called on a super PAC supporting Obama's reelection to return a $1 million contribution from Maher.

Likewise, Democrats demanded Limbaugh be condemned for his remarks but Romney said only, "It's not the language I would have used."

Romney and Obama have one thing in common, though. Both are calling for more civil discourse in politics. Romney told Hannity, "Republicans and Democrats disagree on issues and we have differing viewpoints, but this level of outrageous and incendiary language has got to stop. We're going to have to come together and deal with these deficits and take action to make America more competitive. This has just got to stop."

On another topic, Romney was asked whether Planned Parenthood should get government funding and responded, "The answer is absolutely not. As you know, if you put money into Planned Parenthood, you're helping to support their providing of abortions, and look, that's not just what's right for the American people."

[irreverentasever]

Mittens has always been a two faced hypocrite.

[stephand]

Where was this article when Obama made his "treat women with respect speech"?

[CommonSense5201]

same place as the left & it's major media outlets (including CBS) when women - AND their children - of differing political persuasion are attacked in terms, substance, and intent significantly more vile AND physically threatening ... IN HIDING

[ProgressNow]

Mitt was against belittling women before he was for it. ;^)

[jay1jay1]

fake ass loser

[commentary42]

So this is response to Rush Limbaugh's three days of public insults on public radio? (three weeks late - never mentions Rush but talks about something Maher said four years ago NOT on public radio.) Oh, yeah Mitt, you really took a stand there didn't ya?

[Raptorsmasher]

Mitt is a bloody coward!

[CommonSense5201]

Not ever having listned to Rush, I had to await the media presentation to become aware. I believe that we can all agree that it was pathetic and has no place in civil discourse. What i also find interesting is that you not only object to the pointing out of something far worse than a mere double standard, but that you have no issue whatsoever with worse comments and attacks, including those that are physically threatening, made against women not of the Left. While I am no particular fan of Palin, I do find it more than a little troubling when she - or anyone else - is attacked with threats specifically mentioning machetes in sexual inuendo. I find it troubling that an individual that refers to a special needs child as a f***ing ret**d and is awarded with headlining a major media show. I find it troubling that the Left cannot unequivocally and forcefully condemn this and act upon it as well. Not surprising by any stretch of the imagination but indeed troubling.

[jimatmadison]

This is just part of the GOP plan to alienate every woman, Latino, college grad, black, non-evangelical, and poor person in America.

Once they have the party scrubbed of all of the riff-raff, they can mobilize the base.

[esq777]

There is a huge difference between attacking a college student seeking to testify before Congress on public policy and attacking a public political figure like Palin. Willard "mitt" Romney, the ultimate political phony, is just once again just trying to make everyone believe he's a "severe conservative" and not the Northeast elitist that he really is. Everything about Willard is a fraud.

[whosaid1]

Look, I don't support what Limbaugh said and I certainly don't support Mahars comments. Limbaugh did apologize...and as far as I have heard, Mahar has not. But lets not suggest that Fluke is a innocent "rosy cheeked 19 year old" college student who mean ole Limbaugh picked on. The fact is, she is a 30 year old activist who very likely was looking for something like this,... so she could get MORE attention (I'm sure in secret she thanks Limbaugh). But, no, that doesn't make it right...poor choice of words...as Limbaugh said in his apology. Mahar apparently stands by his comments...of course, truth be known...I've seem much much worse comments about Palin on this blog.

[sandiegopete]

Example of civil discourse by perish-1:

"Democrats truly are disgusting slime!"

You stay classy Republicans.

[CommonSense5201]

As an independent, I agree that the comment you highlight is certainly less than civil. I wonder what about it is that you dislike? Is it because it is not full of graphical, crude references to female anatomy directed at women not on the political left? Hmm ... yes, perhaps that is it.

[Filmguy870]

MIttens is such a tool.

[Rollotamasi13]

I love CBS

[ProgressNow]

O do too!!!!!! OBAMA 2012!!!!!!