Limbaugh Advertisers: We Still Won't Sponsor Rush Anymore (UPDATED)

As the controversy grew over Rush Limbaugh's latest incendiary comments -- he called law student and birth control advocate Sandra Fluke a "slut" on Wednesday -- his show's advertisers began to flee in droves. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that seven companies have backed away from the show.

Mortgage lender Quicken Loans, mattress retailers Sleep Train and Sleep Number, online data backup service provider Carbonite, software maker Citrix Systems Inc., online legal document services company LegalZoom and flower company ProFlowers all pulled ads in reaction to Limbaugh's comments.

On Saturday, Limbaugh apologized for his words directed toward Fluke. But for at least one CEO, that wasn't good enough.

David Friend, who runs Carbonite, issued a statement on his company's website that evening, saying that Carbonite would no longer advertise with Limbaugh despite the host's rare admission of regret. From the website:

“No one with daughters the age of Sandra Fluke, and I have two, could possibly abide the insult and abuse heaped upon this courageous and well-intentioned young lady. Mr. Limbaugh, with his highly personal attacks on Miss Fluke, overstepped any reasonable bounds of decency. Even though Mr. Limbaugh has now issued an apology, we have nonetheless decided to withdraw our advertising from his show. We hope that our action, along with the other advertisers who have already withdrawn their ads, will ultimately contribute to a more civilized public discourse.”

ProFlowers also explained why it was pulling ads. Via its Facebook page on Sunday, the company criticized Limbaugh's comments as "beyond political discourse to a personal attack" and stressed that they "do not reflect our values as a company."

Disclaimer: AOL, the parent company of The Huffington Post, has an advertising deal with Rush Limbaugh.

UPDATE (3/5/12):

AOL announced on Monday that it is pulling its money from Limbaugh's radio program. "At AOL one of our core values is that we act with integrity," said Maureen Sullivan, an AOL spokeswoman. "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."

Related on HuffPost:

Some of Limbaugh's most controversial statements.

• Rush Limbaugh on Sandra Fluke

• Rush Limbaugh mocks Hu Jintao

  Limbaugh mocked China's president Hu Jintao in nonsense, ersatz Chinese.

• Rush Limbaugh's Michael J. Fox allegations

  Limbaugh claimed that Michael J. Fox was "exaggerating" the symptoms of Parkinson's disease in a political ad where he advocated stem cell research. Limbaugh said:

  He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. ... This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting.

• Rush Limbaugh "phony soldiers" statement

  In 2007, Limbaugh was criticized for referring to veterans who support the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq as "phony soldiers." He later claimed that he had been referring to people who claimed to be veterans but never actually served in the military.

• Rush Limbaugh: "I hope Obama fails"

  On the eve of Obama's inauguration, Limbaugh said, "I hope he fails." He later doubled down on those comments at CPAC 2009, and on his radio show a few months later, and in 2011.

• Rush Limbaugh: "Barack The Magic Negro"

  In 2007 and 2008, Limbaugh played a song by "Barack the Magic Negro" that was written and recorded for his show. In the song, political satirist Paul Shanklin impersonates Al Sharpton singing that white people will vote for Barack Obama "'cause he's not from the hood."

• Limbaugh laughs about Japanese earthquake victims

  In the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami in March 2011, Limbaugh said:

  The Japanese have done so much to save the planet. He's right. They've given us the Prius. Even now, refugees are still recycling their garbage, and yet Gaia levels them [laughs], just wipes them out. Wipes out their nuclear plants, all kinds of radiation. What kind of payback is this? That is an excellent question.

• Rush Limbaugh dubs new Triple-Double Oreo the 'Obameo'

  In October 2011, Limbaugh described Kraft's new Triple Double Oreo as a "bi-racial cookie" and an "Or-Ba-Meo." This was not the first time Limbaugh has compared President Obama to an Oreo cookie. In a 2009 segment about food safety advocates, he said, "After that, they're gonna want the Oreos -- might have to put off until Obama's out of office."

• Limbaugh: Media Can't Decide If Moochelle Obama Was Booed At NASCAR Race

  In November 2011, Limbaugh accused Michelle Obama -- whom he frequently refers to as Moochelle -- of "uppityism" after she and Jill Biden were booed by NASCAR fans.

• Limbaugh: Democrats Behind Loughner

  Limbaugh said, "What Mr. Loughner knows is that he has the full support of a major political party in this country. He's sitting there in jail. He knows what's going on, he knows that... the Democrat party is attempting to find anybody but him to blame. He knows if he plays his cards right, he's just a victim."

• Limbaugh: "Driving Miss Nancy" is Rep. Jim Clyburn's new position

  In November 2010, Limbaugh suggested that Rep. Jim Clyburn could chauffeur Nancy Pelosi if he failed to win the race for House minority whip. "He gets to keep the car. He gets to go everywhere she goes, parties and everything else," Limbaugh said. "He's not in the back of the bus. He's in the driver's seat, and she's in the back of the car being chauffeured. Solved problem."

• Limbaugh attacks Michelle Obama over her weight

  Rush Limbaugh attacked Michelle Obama for her weight, calling her out for eating ribs on a trip with her daughters. "The problem is, and I dare say this, it doesn't look like Michelle Obama follows her own nutritionary, dietary advice," Limbaugh said. "And then we hear that she's out eating ribs at 1,500 calories a serving and 141 grams of fat per serving." He continued, "I'm trying to say our first lady does not project the image of women that you might see on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue or of a woman Alex Rodriguez might date every six months, or what have you."

• Rush Limbaugh: "You Had Better Look Like An Ethiopian"

  Rush Limbaugh was back with another hit out on Michelle Obama's weight, days after criticizing her eating ribs while on vacation. This time, his comment was even more incendiary. "The point is, if you'ree going to do this, if you are going to tell everyone to eat twigs and berries and gravel and all this other stuff, you had better look like an Ethiopian."

• Rush Limbaugh: Herman Cain Could Be Our First Authentically Black President

  After Herman Cain won the Florida straw poll, Limbaugh said that if elected president, "Herman Cain could be our first authentically black president." After explaining the comment to a caller, Limbaugh turned to his call screen "Bo Snerdley" (real name James Golden) for an Ebonics skit. RNC chair Michael Steele later called the skit "stupid."

• Rush Limbaugh On Democrats Having Abortions

  In February 2012, Limbaugh reacted to the national debate about contraception with on a long rant about contraception, abortions and women. He alleged that Planned Parenthood is "a money-laundering operation for the Democrat party," and said, "The vast majority of people having abortions are Democrat voters."

Comments

[Bev Ashley]

12:56 PM on 05/02/2012

Oh Rush you are such a little man in a whale's body. Trying to make the listeners with brains believe that two advertisers are begging to come back because they forgot to take your name off their ad. Isn't that the way you and Beck make your money, about a nickel at a time??

[Clark Magnuson]

11:48 AM on 04/24/2012

Has Carbonite [CARB] dropped off the face of the earth since they quit advertising on Rush?

[jeastevens]

09:49 AM on 03/31/2012

We can assume someone is intelligent until they speak and then we know the absolute truth surrounding the reality of their ignorance.
Once words are said there are no apologies sincere enough to erase the hurt such words have caused. Would he have apologized if it did not mean losing sponsorship?
Eventually he will implode all by the momentum he has projected from within himself...and it seems it will not be long before that happens...if it has not happened all ready. It is all about karma.

[chr1st1an]

06:51 PM on 03/15/2012

",,,actually,! I didn't call Rush those names! I agreed with someone else..."

What's the difference between calling Newt "a smarmy, self serving, narcissist­ic, disingenuo­us, little man!" and agreeing with someone else that Newt is a "a smarmy, self serving, narcissist­ic, disingenuo­us, little man!"?

And how do you feel about me calling you a "a smarmy, self serving, narcissist­ic, disingenuo­us, little [wo]man!"?

How would you feel if Rush called Fluke a "a smarmy, self serving, narcissist­ic, disingenuo­us, little" slut, rather than just a slut?

[chr1st1an]

06:08 PM on 03/15/2012

This Bloomberg poll is not at all credible, doesn't describe anybody I know, and is much less valid than the following poll:

begin quote
An unscientific poll today revealed that nearly 9 in 10 respondents say it’s time now to move on impeachment proceedings for Barack Obama.

The WND poll revealed that of nearly 10,000 votes by this evening, only handsful picked negative responses to the question, “Is it a smart idea to pursue impeachment of Obama now?”

The biggest individual number, 28 percent, would link the action now to the dispute over his eligibility, and questions whether he is qualified to hold the office of president. That segment, numbering nearly 2,600 votes, said, “Yes, if not for his military use, then for his other high crimes, such as not being eligible, his phony birth certificate, and fake Social Security number.”

Other categories with “yes” answers totaled another 60-some percent. Included were “Yes” at nearly 15 percent, “Yes, it’s’ way past time,” at 13 percent, “Yes, or else America is done for” at 11 percent, “Yes, but only if concrete, beyond-a-reasonable-doubt evidence is assured” at 9 percent, “Yes, it will at least publicize to Americans his crimes before the election” at nearly 7 percent, “Yes, it’s a good idea to at least lay the groundwork for whatever his next offense is” at nearly 4 percent.

Several other yes votes got a fraction of a percent.

end quote

[spud3]

08:49 AM on 03/09/2012

While Rush was wrong.....i don't like being manipulated by people who are hypocrits ie Schultz calling Ingraham a select name.
Tell David Friend i am cancelling his service immediately.

[tiggs06]

10:50 AM on 03/12/2012

Go you tube Ed's apology and compare it to Rush's. Ed was also calling out Ingram, a fellow radio and t.v host with means to voice a defense.

[spud3]

01:14 PM on 03/12/2012

So now we are talking about apologies sincereity rather than the actual statement.
So if Rush was more sincere in your estimation it would have been ok....like Ed's?

[WinslowWong]

09:18 PM on 03/08/2012

The irony that the haters of Rush have glommed on to his recent abuse of the lady in question to such a degree that his sponsors can't get their track shoes on fast enough in spite of his apology, yet failed to even bat an eye when he lambasted Obama for "sending troops to Africa to kill Christians" (yes, Rush defended the tyrant de jour, Kony-google it yourself lazy), and mildly brushed it off, amuses me.

The fact that his Ditto Heads continue to sacrifice the currency any of their positions may hold by standing by their man? Well that just leaves me baffled and confused.

[James Shelton]

12:23 PM on 03/08/2012

What Rush said about the girl is both despicable and pathetic.So what if the girl wanted an abortion.He should try to put himself in her shoes instead of being so quick to criticize and judge her.He was never someone that I ever really liked or looked up to.I was like that is Rush,he insults another person because I saw insult others prior to her which shows no righteous.Insulting people does not make you great Rush,it makes you pathetic.Try to show respect nd try to be ethical and moral.I know others who do better than he does at discussing people and topics and Larry King was one of them for he never was arrogant and critical.

[chr1st1an]

06:49 PM on 03/10/2012

James, how can you stand to see your hypocritical face in the mirror when you wake up in the morning?

What YOU said about Rush is WORSE than what he said about her.

[EH14SCUSA]

09:48 AM on 03/13/2012

.....So......?

[jackon201]

09:52 AM on 03/08/2012

It's an old joke, but here it is: The smartest man in the world has no friends and can't carry on a conversation. He decides to have some brain cells removed to make him more normal. The surgeon starts probing and testing. He takes out some brain and says, "say something." The patient responds with a complex mathematical formula. He takes out some more."Say something," and the patient analyses James Joyce's Ulysses. The surgeon gets frustrated and sucks out the entire brain and repeats, "Say something." The patient responds,"Dittos, Rush. Long time listener-first time caller."

[spud3]

08:51 AM on 03/09/2012

Attention K-mart shoppers.....blue light in jackon201.

[EliotNessWashDC]

06:55 AM on 03/08/2012

Carbonite is now -- and always has been -- losing money hand-over-fist at the rate of $20+ million per year.

Look at its 2011 Annual Report: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1340127/000119312512101462/d277280d10k.htm

The company has an "accumulated deficit" (accountant-speak for "cumulative loss") of $100 million.

Carbonite was rescued from insolvency by an IPO last summer.

Losing its Rush-relationship will leave it ever more vulnerable to the growing competition.

Beam me up, Mr. Speaker! ... Carbonite's kamikaze CEO has effectively cut his own throat to protest Limbaugh's jokes about Sandra Fluke's crusade to compel other people to pay for her and other Georgetown Law students' birth control!

[Oliver Wright]

06:16 AM on 03/08/2012

Yo, Huff Post, why did you delete my comment that Rush and Maher have less to do with politics than class ... "gross guys using gross words" that shouldn't be used to describe girls, ever.
You guys mint all trash unfit for print yet censor me for that? More Post less Paint Huffers, your brain is dying.

[rebeccadh]

12:23 PM on 03/10/2012

because you made a good point and they didn't want to hear it, lol

[catgirl666]

01:21 AM on 03/13/2012

^Maher isn't getting tax payers dollars *sigh

[catgirl666]

01:21 AM on 03/13/2012

Maher is getting tax payer dollars to spout hate rhetoric on Armed Forces radio, Rush is.

Not the same, start telling the truth for a change.

[rebeccadh]

12:13 PM on 03/13/2012

wow, I should start telling the truth, ha!, thats sounds like the pot calling the kettle black
lol. cute hat but your comment needs a little backbone.

[russ in ga]

09:04 PM on 03/07/2012

Carbonite and pro flowers lost my business. As soon as a new advertiser shows up to take there place I will use them!!

[surfinnonreality]

07:58 PM on 03/07/2012

I won't buy carbonites product or products from any of the other companies that left. Rush's comments were not as bad as what the hosts on the left say. It wasn't right for him to say it and he did apologize. The nasty words from the left are never apologized for. I will support the advertisers on his show. The ones that stayed and the new ones. Some of those companies that left will be back. Rush's influence will keep him in business. It will continue to grow. The weak voices of HP will not have any direct effect This is a tempest in a teapot. The news you may not want to hear is that when ever Rush has a little news tiff like this, more people tune in to listen and find out what he is all about. These things grow his audience.

[juna]

12:30 AM on 03/08/2012

Rush's "nastiness" cannot be compared to anyone else's. For nine hours he persecuted an innocent and upstanding young private citizen with accusations that were completely untrue.

[chr1st1an]

07:01 PM on 03/10/2012

Do you have any idea what word or phrase the Holy Bible uses for such an "innocent and upstanding young private citizen" as one who:

1) Makes a big public display about her extramarital sex?

2) Demands the use of contraceptives which have been a sin in every religion for millennia.

3) Demands that WE pay for HER contraceptives?

4) Demands that we just go along with her sinful ways?

5) Insults her elders?

[Reality Broker]

10:41 AM on 03/16/2012

She was not a "private Citizen".

As Sandra Fluke sat down in the seat in front of the Congressional hearing on Birth Control measures, the Nation was watching. Even if her initial testimony was recorded but not televised, she was in fact testifying before publically elected officials who do not have the right, in my opinion, to have secret hearings that do not affect National Security. Sandra Fluke ceased being a private citizen and became a public figure, representing not only herself but by her own admission, also representing other students and disadvantaged working women.

Whether you agree or disagree with Ms. Fluke or Mr. Limbau’s remarks, the First Amendment exists to protect them both. As a matter of common courtesy one shouldn’t use derogatory terms describing a person simply because one disagrees with their position, no matter the venue. That very same First Amendment protection also should never be ignored by those reacting to others comments.

[Marcia cee]

05:38 PM on 03/07/2012

Obama has a double standard, how shocking! During his 2nd press conference he had the nerve to drag his daughters into a discussion regarding Limbaugh using the words slut & prostitute. When asked about Bill Mahr and his contributions, both monetary and as a sexual deviant, he pretended he had suddenly gone deaf! Limbaugh was wrong for the words he used but so is every other pundit left, right or otherwise who does the same thing...and anyone who comes to the aid of these people are enablers! No Obama in 2012, I want a true uniter and so far I don't see one!

[juna]

12:29 AM on 03/08/2012

Marcia I think you're wrong. Did you actually listen to Limbaugh? If you had I think you'd understand the difference. His was a concerted attack upon an innocent private citizen that revealed his own misogyny in no uncertain terms. There were nine hours of his rant. Did you really hear any of it?

[rebeccadh]

02:15 PM on 03/08/2012

Actually she is right, I did listen to the the ramblings of Limbaugh, I have also listened to the ramblings of people like bill mehar. mahers apology was followed by a luugh and upheld what he was faking an apology over. He is trash as well.
Please be informed that Ms. Fluke put herself in the public forum when she went before congress with a make them give me attitude, she was also either on purpose or by lake of knowledge wrong about the cost of the birth control she is lobbing for, Now if she was smart enough to get into law school, then she should have been smart enough to know whether the institution she choose offered her every thing that she needs. I'm sure she could have gootn into other colleges.

[rebeccadh]

04:52 PM on 03/08/2012

I agree 100%
Thanks for a good common sence post

[juna]

05:29 PM on 03/08/2012

sense. probably a typo but you gotta wonder

[AnimuX]

03:58 PM on 03/07/2012

The real problem here is that U.S. tax dollars are funding "churches" to discriminate against American women on religious grounds.

Religious institutions, like universities and hospitals, take in tens of millions of dollars in Federal research grants, Federally backed student loans, and tax breaks.

It's time to end the tax privilege for the religion businesses. If they want to act like churches instead of businesses then the U.S. government should not provide any funding for it according to the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Otherwise, this behavior from right-wing pundits and politicians will continue until women put a stop to it.

In order to defend their own basic human reproductive rights, and to end the blatant disrespect to women by conservatives, women will have to protest with their voices, and with their votes.

It's time to end the old-white-right-male rule of our nation's government and de-fund theocratic discrimination.

[ColumbiaPatricia]

04:22 PM on 03/07/2012

It is surprising how many people don't know that religious groups take federal money. You are right, it is quite simple. Do not accept federal funds and then you can make any rules you like.

[Mr Wiseguy]

05:26 PM on 03/07/2012

What happened to the whole church state seperation? The more churches push their immoral agendas into public life, the more they should lose their tax-free status and government handouts.

[russ in ga]

09:07 PM on 03/07/2012

Be careful...I dont think you would be happy if all the "religious church's and schools" went away and closed their doors. You need to give credit where credit is due. These institutions help millions of people in need. Its a same to twist this into something like it has become.