Although the statement was made several days ago by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, the firestorm of controversy continues. It is this “outrage” against Limbaugh and the inherent knee-jerk reactions, like advertisers quickly pulling their advertisement dollars from his syndicated talk show that really captures my attention.
First, in principle, I agree with Rush Limbaugh that our insurance premiums should not be used to pay for contraception for promiscuous college students. If I heard the sound bite of the testimony before a Congressional panel, a Georgetown University student would spend $3000 on contraception during the course of her three-year master’s degree program. Uh—that’s $83.33 per month for contraception, folks! Is anyone running the numbers on this shameful scam? What kind of contraception would cost $83 per month?
Second, I believe that Rush Limbaugh was rude, coarse and insulting to this young woman. Earlier today, he apologized. Detractors have a hard time accepting the apology from him, as if they can climb into Limbaugh’s mind and heart to determine his true motives for the apology. Was he motivated to apologize because he was losing advertising dollars? I don’t know—and neither does anyone else. It’s merely speculation that this may have been his motive. Accept the apology and move on, people!
If consideration of motives is what Limbaugh detractors want, let’s put all the cards on the table. Only a few months ago, there was a big brouhaha when Lowes tried to quietly put its advertising dollars somewhere besides the time slot of a television show about a Muslim family. The “left” was incensed, raving about how unfair of Lowes to do that, and judging their motives for pulling the adverts.
Now the “left” is up in arms because of a Limbaugh statement insulting a young woman from Georgetown University. Let’s see—we don’t want to insult promiscuous young women who are all but demanding that someone else take responsibility for their decisions; we don’t want to insult those who embrace Islam; but … apparently it’s okay for the “left” to insult and mock whomever they choose, without impunity, as long as it is political conservatives or American Christians.
Apparently it’s okay for millions of Christian Americans to be insulted and mocked by the likes of ABC television’s new sitcom, GCB, or by Bill Maher, whom I, as a conservative America Christian, surely find as disgusting as any of my liberal counter-parts might find Rush Limbaugh.
Make no mistake—I think Rush was wrong in saying what he said about the promiscuous Georgetown University student, and how he said it. He took ownership of the problem and apologized. Now, will someone please hand a list of offenses to Bill Maher, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, etc. so that, in the spirit of fairness, they can begin apologizing for the hundreds of thousands of insults they have thrown at women and Christians over the years?!
BTW, do you pray? If so, by the tens of thousands, American believer-citizens should be dropping to our knees in brokenness before Almighty God, pleading with Him by name in humility, confessing our own sins and evil ways, that He might hear our prayers, forgive our sin, and heal this land. When I am bothered most by my own sin, I am least likely to point out the sins of others—the old “let him that is without sin cast the first stone!”
Dale Peterson 