Nine advertisers have pulled out of Limbaugh's show

Rush Limbaugh / Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) -The sponsor exodus continues for Rush Limbaugh -- nine companies have pulled the plug since the conservative talk show host's derogatory comments about a Georgetown law student.

Tax Resolution Services Co. and AOL Inc. both said Monday that they will suspend advertising on Limbaugh's show. "At AOL one of our core values is that we act with integrity," according to a statement on the company's Facebook page. "We have monitored the unfolding events and have determined that Mr. Limbaugh's comments are not in line with our values. As a result we have made the decision to suspend advertising on The Rush Limbaugh Radio show."

A day earlier, a flower company became the seventh advertiser to pull its ads. ProFlowers on Sunday also used Facebook to announce that it had suspended advertising on Limbaugh's program because his comments about Georgetown University student Sandra Fluke "went beyond political discourse to a personal attack and do not reflect our values as a company."

The six other advertisers that say they have pulled ads from his show are mortgage lender Quicken Loans, mattress retailers Sleep Train and Sleep Number, software maker Citrix Systems Inc., online data backup service provider Carbonite and online legal document services company LegalZoom.

On CBS This Morning: Will Limbaugh's apology quell controversy?
Rush Limbaugh: Apology to Sandra Fluke was "sincere"

ProFlowers had said on Twitter that posts it received about Limbaugh's remarks affected its advertising strategy. ProFlowers is an online flower delivery service.

Limbaugh called the 30-year-old Fluke a "slut" and "prostitute" last week after she testified to congressional Democrats in support of national health care policies that would compel employers and other organizations, including her university, to offer group health insurance that covers birth control for women.

He apologized to Fluke on Saturday after being criticized by Republican and Democratic politicians and after several advertisers left the show.

Clear Channel's Premiere Radio Networks Inc. hosts Limbaugh's program, one of the country's most popular talk radio shows. The company is supporting Limbaugh, whose on-air contract with Premiere runs through 2016. Clear Channel's parent company was taken private in 2008 by Bain Capital, Mitt Romney's former employer, along with private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners.

"The contraception debate is one that sparks strong emotion and opinions on both sides of the issue," Premiere Networks said in a statement emailed Sunday by spokeswoman Rachel Nelson. "We respect the right of Mr. Limbaugh, as well as the rights of those who disagree with him, to express those opinions."

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment operates more than 850 radio stations in the U.S., and Premiere says it's the largest radio content provider in the country, syndicating programs to more than 5,000 affiliate stations.

When asked which companies or organizations were the largest advertisers on Limbaugh's show, Nelson said that that information was "proprietary." Nelson declined to say how much revenue the company will lose with the advertiser defections or how much revenue Limbaugh's show brings in.

[baileyccc]

It is now 10 sponsors have drop the "Obesity in Broadcasting" idiot. I find it amusing that he has been married 4 times with no children. Also he has bought Viagra for himself with health insurance and he opposes healthcare insurance for birth control for young working women. Talk about a double standard. He is a "classic republican" that is dragging down the failed party before a major election.

It is no wonder that republicans are distancing themselves from this deaf, drug addicted PIG.

[BUDDYofPA]

Geico Insurance has yet to pull their advertisements from this gutter mouth's show ...I am shopping and will be pulling my insurance from Geico shortly.

[w_roos]

I can just hear/see Rush saying the following: "Liberal advertisers! Trying to manipulate the free market to achieve their dastardly political goals..."

[cntrygirl3]

Calling a woman a **** for using birth control apparently offended the "personal values" of these companies, however calling women who demand freedom and respect "femi-nazis" is perfectly fine with their "personal values". Kind of makes you wonder about these folks.

[leelee91914]

You comment is dishonest. While Rush should not have said that, the issue was that she wants to the US government to force a Catholic institution to give up their freedom of religion and force others to PAY for her birth control. No one cares if she USES birth control. Pretending to be too helpless to buy your own birth control has nothing to do with demanding freedom and respect.

By the way, since you "have to wonder about these folks" - I trust you are equally nonplussed by these folks:http://nation.foxnews.com/liberal-media/2012/03/04/kirsten-powers-limbaugh-isn-t-only-media-misogynist. Or are you like President Obama and only concerned with misogyny when it's directed at a liberal woman by a conservative?

[atomant59]

If you really want to share your comments about Rush Limbaugh, contact the people that give him airtime. Clear Channel Communications in San Antonio, Texas. Here is there contact info:

200 East Basse Road
San Antonio, TX 78209
Communications / Media Relations:
Public Relations
[phone]
[e-mail]

[FrdmLvr]

..and be sure to show your SUPPORT for Rush's RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH to Clear Channel Communications as well!

I've never hear any of these liberals have any remorse, much less apologize for their abhorrent comments about much more prominent people than Ms. Fluke.

This is VERY sad to see in the United States of America--Freedom of Speech ONLY if you're a liberal.

[fiberglass3]

Limbaugh says he is "sincere". So are his advertiser's defections.

But then again, what's the point in being a derogatory repugnant conservative radio talk show host if you can't act like one?

[lonestar9000]

The saddest part is that Americans still refuse to do research and think for themselves. Thus we have the Rush Limbaughs and Anne Coulters, etc. etc. So long as these people can make money spewing garbage, then they are going to do it. If people would stop tuning in to their shows and cut off the money supply, they would all be gone.

[werntrouble]

This guy is the crummiest piece of crap I've ever seen or heard. I never listen to his shows anymore, they are complete nonsense --- everything democrats/liberals do is a conspiracy. Well, it'll be good for AM radio to get rid of him. For once, maybe I won't have to hear some of my moron neighbors talk about his trashy lies and distortions. Good riddance to a slimeball and, most of all, great to hear that advertisers finally figured out that is guy is all smoke and mirrors, no admirers.

[Choons]

How do we know Rush has such a large radio audience? He's got less than 40k Twitter followers. Doesn't add up to me. I mean really, AM radio is like the stone ages. Are the audience metrics even still apt, or is it all hype?

[madjek]

T.V. and radio ratings are a farce. Its like a laugh track, if they think its funny I better laugh. There is NO possible way to know how many people are tuned into a program. Im over 60 and in all those years NO ONE has bucked the system and gone public about ratings surveys??? Its a tool to control the mindless and steer the where they can be easily PROGRAMed.

[MegaProcrastination]

You know, I've been reading off and on about this since it happened and I've seen a lot of extreme unhappiness over what Rush Limbaugh said. Shoot, even I think it was not something fit for a radio show. Now I'm seeing comments calling for him to get booted off the air waves? Whatever happened to "freedom of speech"? Rush Limbaugh was just exercising his, no matter how repugnant what he said is he had every right to say it.

[BWB2020]

You are confusing freedom with impunity.

Sure he can say whatever he want, just we we have the right to boycott those who back him.

It is not a government censoring speech, but the public reacting to it that all of you complainers about PC speech are so up in arms about.

Ya takes yer choice, and ya pays the price, nothing in the free world is free.

[signseeker1717]

It's freedom of speech to express yourself, but not a right to be PAID to express yourself.

Advertisers have every right to WITHDRAW their funding, and no one has a 1st Amendment "right" to be a SPONSORED speaker on the radio, TV or any other medium.