Limbaugh apologizes to law student

WASHINGTON -- Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh apologized Saturday to a Georgetown University law student he had branded a "slut" and "prostitute" after fellow Republicans as well as Democrats criticized him and several advertisers left his program.

Sandra Fluke, 30, had testified to congressional Democrats in support of their national health care policy that would compel her college to offer health plans that cover her birth control.

"My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir," Limbaugh said on his website. "I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."

Attempts to reach Fluke by telephone and email were unsuccessful.

President Barack Obama, whose health care overhaul requires many institutions to provide birth control coverage, telephoned her Friday to express his support.

Limbaugh had said on Wednesday: "What does it say about the college coed . . . who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex." He dug in a day later demanding that Fluke have "videos of all this sex posted online so we can see what we're getting for our money."

By Saturday, six advertisers had pulled sponsorship of Limbaugh's show and Republicans distanced themselves from the comments.

Limbaugh decided to yield. "For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity," Limbaugh said in his statement. "In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke."

Limbaugh's critics were not swayed.

"This isn't an apology. It's a public relations statement," tweeted the account StopRush, the effort online to pressure advertisers to abandon the popular host.