“It’s in his best interest, that’s why he did it,” Paul said. “I don’t think he’s very apologetic. He’s doing it because some people were taking advertisements from his program. It was his bottom line he was concerned about.”

"For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.

I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit? In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone’s bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level.

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

So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex. We want something for it. We want you post the videos online so we can all watch.

The Huffington Post reported Thursday that Democrats raised at least $1.1 million this week as part of their “War on Women” campaign.

But Republicans have also used the controversy to solicit money.

“In a country founded on religious liberty, Democrats have now done the unthinkable,” wrote Guy Harrison, the executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a February fundraising e-mail. “Democrats have inserted themselves into your healthcare and now they want to insert their values into your religion."

Will was specifically not pleased with House Speaker John Boehner’s and presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s response to Limbaugh’s comments, telling the This Week panel that conservative leaders need to ‘police their own kind.’

“It was depressing because what it indicates is that Republicans leaders are afraid of Rush Limbaugh,” he said. “They want to bomb Iran, but they’re afraid of Rush Limbaugh.”

“I think he was right to apologize,” Gingrich told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in an interview on “This Week.”
....
“But let’s talk about apologies for a second,” Gingrich said. “I think the president was totally wrong as commander-in-chief to apologize to religious fanatics while our young men are being killed in Afghanistan, and I think it was a disaster of an apology. . . .You have the U.N. commissioner to Afghanistan in essence saying, since the president has admitted the United States is guilty, these people should be tried.”

Rush, Our Leader
Republicans who've dared to criticize Rush only to beg for his forgiveness:

RNC Chairman Michael Steele: Rush is not the head of the Republican Party. He's an "entertainer" whose show is "incendiary" and "ugly."
• I'm Sorry, Rush
"My intent was not to go after Rush - I have enormous respect for Rush Limbaugh..."

"I was maybe a little bit inarticulate... There was no attempt on my part to diminish his voice or his leadership."

"I went back at that tape and I realized words that I said weren't what I was thinking..."


Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA): "I mean, it's easy if you're Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don't have to try to do what's best for your people and your party. "
• I'm Sorry, Rush
"I clearly ended up putting my foot in my mouth on some of those comments and I just wanted to tell you, Rush, [...] that I regret those stupid comments."


Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC):"Anybody who wants [President Obama] to fail is an idiot, because it means we're all in trouble..."
• I'm Sorry, Rush
Sanford's Communications Director, said that "the governor was not referring to anyone" in particular.

Mr. Limbaugh was made an honorary member of the class as its members tonight finished a three-day orientation here sponsored by the Heritage Foundation and Empower America, two conservative Washington research organizations.

Barbara Cubin, an incoming freshman from Wyoming, told Mr. Limbaugh that because 74 percent of the nation's newspapers had endorsed Democrats, "talk radio, with you in the lead, is what turned the tide." On behalf of the women in the class, she gave him a plaque that said, "Rush Was Right." He also received a pin like the ones the freshmen wore, saying, "Majority Maker."

"Rush is as responsible for what happened here as much as anyone," said Vin Weber, a former Representative from Minnesota, now of Empower America. Citing a poll taken after the election by Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster, Mr. Weber said that people who listened to 10 hours or more a week of talk radio voted Republican by a 3-to-1 margin. "Those are the people who elected the new Congress," he said.

There have been a bunch of things going on in Congress, some of this legislation coming out of there that I have just cringed at, and it has been difficult coming in here, trying to make the case for it when the people who are supposedly in favor of it can’t even make the case themselves — and to have to come in here and try to do their jobs. I’m a radio guy! I understand what this program has become in America and I understand the leadership position it has. I was doing what I thought best, but at this point, people who don’t deserve to have their water carried, or have themselves explained as they would like to say things but somehow aren’t able to, I’m not under that kind of pressure.