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Max J. Rosenthal
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Female Veterans Call For Military Radio Channel To Drop Rush Limbaugh After 'Slut' Remark

Posted: 03/05/12 02:54 PM ET

WASHINGTON -- Already facing the loss of numerous advertisers over his derogatory remarks about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, Rush Limbaugh may soon see his show dropped from the radio stations of the U.S. military.

A group of female military veterans issued a statement on Monday calling for Limbaugh's show to be pulled from the airwaves of the American Forces Network. AFN is a government-run media service that provides television and radio programming to American service members overseas.

"When many of our female troops use birth control, for Limbaugh to say they are 'sluts' and 'prostitutes' is beyond the pale," the women wrote. "It isn't just disrespectful to our women serving our country, but it's language that goes against everything that makes our military work."

The statement was issued through VoteVets, a progressive veterans organization. Miranda Norman, a veteran of the Oklahoma National Guard who now advises VoteVets, told The Huffington Post that the comments were "offensive" to women in the military and "downplays the role that we serve." She argued that birth control can be vital to women in uniform, saying "women in the military use [contraception] when they're deployed to make smart decisions for their family, to make smart decisions about being a soldier."

Norman, along with three other women, stressed that while she respected Limbaugh's right to free speech, she found his comments inappropriate for the government-run channel. "We swore to uphold our Constitution, including the freedom of speech, and would not take that away from anyone - even Limbaugh," the group wrote in the statement. "But that does not mean AFN should broadcast him. In fact, it shouldn't.

AFN did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but Pentagon spokesman George Little told the Associated Press that the station would continue to air Limbaugh's show and was unaware of any plans to review that decision.

Last week, Limbaugh referred to Sandra Fluke, a third-year law student at Georgetown, as a "slut" and "prostitute" after she was denied the right to testify in favor of birth control access at a congressional hearing. The remarks sparked outrage from many corners, including some prominent Republicans and President Barack Obama, who called Fluke on Friday to offer words of support.

On Saturday, Limbaugh issued an apology to Fluke, saying that he "chose the wrong words" and "did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke." On his Monday show, while admitting that the remarks were "uncalled for," he said that his attacks were liberal tactics and regretted that he "descended to their level."

But on "The View" Monday morning, Fluke questioned the sincerity of Limbaugh's apology.

"I don't think that a statement like this, issued saying that his choice of words was not the best, changes anything," she said on the show. "Especially when that statement is issued when he's under significant pressure from his sponsors, who have begun to pull support from his show."

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WASHINGTON -- Already facing the loss of numerous advertisers over his derogatory remarks about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, Rush Limbaugh may soon see his show dropped from the radio stations...
WASHINGTON -- Already facing the loss of numerous advertisers over his derogatory remarks about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, Rush Limbaugh may soon see his show dropped from the radio stations...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
The Realhawkman
02:23 PM on 04/26/2012
Do away with AFN. It is like all the rest of the government run platforms. A money loser and serves no useful purpose. One can get their news, movies, and other assorted idiot tv programs through the commercial airways.
03:27 PM on 04/20/2012
https://www.facebook.com/OurHomeTransitional
Transitional Home for Homeless Female Vets (Phase 1) and those with children (Phase 2)
Description
The plan is to purchase & renovate a large abandoned or foreclosed house and renovate, possibly like the photo of the mansion pictured, for our first transitional home to be known as, OUR HOME. It will be a place where our Female vets come to when they are facing challenges & are in need of a place to call Home.

While here, they will be provided various types of assistance in efforts to transition to civilian life and self sufficiency. As home one is up and running successfully, we will be acquiring several others on the block/area to provide a haven for our family.

Training and assistance programs to be provided by the County and Federal Government will include: Job training/placement, MSW, educational training, and home placement assistance, to name a few.

We also view this as an opportunity to revitalize & beautify the local Flint, MI area, as the ultimate goal is to have several large houses within Genesee County, some urban and others located in a rural setting. We will all work together and partner with other neighborhood organizations to keep the areas clean, beautiful and safe.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
NOCELL
Hang Up and DRIVE!!
12:29 PM on 03/13/2012
The signatures needed on the Whitehouse sites petition to remove him from AFN are already over 25,000, I watched it go from 24000 to 25000 in a mattter of minutes it seems.....there was also a petition to "keep" him on AFN, well that ones not doing so hot.....724 signatures received and it only needs 24000 something more....Crash and burn Mav.....Crash and burn......Limbaughs jet is "steadily" developing some malfunctions here, matter of time before it goes down....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Uniongrl
Working for a livin'!
06:36 AM on 03/08/2012
So, my tax dollars are allowing this broadcast of a trash talker to our armed forces? They are tasked with defending America and our policies abroad while at the same time our own government feeds them Rush's trashing of the President. Boy, that will really inspire the troops! Do they also feed them NPR or something that doesn't make a vein pop?
maruski
Liberal Lutheran; lean left, save America!
08:01 PM on 03/07/2012
Rush is not using "free speech" in his comments.

Free speech relates to people speaking truth to the government. Sandra FLuke is not "government" in relation to Rush--she is a fellow American and he has no constitutional right to publicly speak trash about her.

But because Fluke is speaking out about the impact of government policy and how it might impact her to congress SHE is exercising her right to free speech--without fear of reprisal because of our constitution.

Rush is trying to shut her up--trying to stop her right to free speech!!

Journalists need to start getting this right. i am sick of reading about Rush's "free speech" right where that DOES NOT APPLY!!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
NOCELL
Hang Up and DRIVE!!
12:31 PM on 03/13/2012
Yeah, his comments, coming from someone who was "popped" .....pun intended..... with Viagra????......But he has the nerve to call HER a slut.....What was he going to do with the viagra? crush it up and sprinkle it on a painting for some texture or something????.....not
12:50 PM on 03/07/2012
The sad part is our tax dollars are paying for the show to be on Rush and our tax dollars will be paying for the punitive damages of the women who are harrassed by the military. Rush's show and the Armed Forces support of calling women vile names may be used in the sexual harassment cases against the Armed Forces. Maybe all the big shots who still want to be on Rush's show can use the money in their own pocket to pay for it rather than our tax dollars.
11:23 AM on 03/07/2012
Posted for my father: I stand with my Marine sisters. Rush Limbaugh has no place on Armed Forces Radio. Semper Fi! - hon. discharged USMC
09:35 AM on 03/07/2012
Rape, hate crime, and everyday debilitating harassment are rampant in the military. As a result suicides are at an all time high among active duty soldiers. Please look into the case of Danny Chen and consider what conditions we are allowing, expecting our soldiers to serve under:
>http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/9/death_of_private_danny_chen_military
08:24 AM on 03/07/2012
Military Proud.
Thank you Ladies.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Penocea
What you are, the world is ...
07:34 AM on 03/07/2012
Bill Maher just tweeted this - @billmaher Hate to defend #RushLimbaugh but he apologized, liberals looking bad not accepting. Also hate intimidation by sponsor pullout.

I do not watch Maher, but if I wanted, I could demand HBO drop his show. He has said some very offensive things in the past. But, why would I want to do that? - He has fans and viewers and for me to selfhishly demand a program drop a show I do not agree or watch is completely selfish and amounts to bullying others.
03:43 PM on 03/07/2012
Bill Maher isnt the voicebox for all issues ya know. Limbaugh issued a false apology and frankly I (and Im sure many others) dont care if Maher believes it's an apology or not. Speaking with our advertising and consumer dollars is the American way.
maruski
Liberal Lutheran; lean left, save America!
08:03 PM on 03/07/2012
free market and all that...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Penocea
What you are, the world is ...
06:20 AM on 03/08/2012
Do you listen to Limbaugh's radio show?
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
04:25 AM on 03/08/2012
Maher was forced off national tv.
HBO isnt public.
04:19 AM on 03/07/2012
I wrote AFN and will write my congressional reps. He needs to be removed. Not only for this incident but for the things he has said about people of color (very sutle but it is there) and his comments about the commander in chief, which undermines the very structure of the chain of command. And for the record there ARE many bases where the only channel that can be watched during duty hours at military schools (in their break areas or chow halls) is Fox News as ordered by the commanders. I know as I was at the Senior NCO Academy and during breaks we can only look at Fox News as ordered by the Academy Commandant. Rush must go.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ToniaB
02:02 PM on 03/07/2012
I am a veteran as well and was in Kuwait and Iraq... I concur with your statements about FOX dominating the networks on Military Installations. If you wanted to watch the other networks you had to stay up all night and literally miss sleep. AFN had been called on it but they keep making up excuses. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out...
maruski
Liberal Lutheran; lean left, save America!
08:09 PM on 03/07/2012
that is inexcusable. Fox news plays fast and loose with the facts and they should NOT be spoon fed to the populace especially the military. No one should have to fact check their news hour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rqdtZlec0s
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
03:44 AM on 03/07/2012
Hopefully the upper eschelon will listen and pull his show, but seeing that they haven't done so already, it looks highly doubtful. Another failure for the military.
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Counterglow
Werner Heisenberg may have been right.
07:50 PM on 03/06/2012
I understand the upper echelons of the US Armed Services haven't been particularly energetic about pursuing rape allegations, either. Perhaps it's time for an even more comprehensive review.
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K August
Research Alec Exposed
07:47 PM on 03/06/2012
Here's the whitehouse.gov petition link.

Sec. Panetta, Get Rush Limbaugh Off Armed Forces Radio NOW! No tax money for abusive, divisive, insulting language.

Shortened because the long one post completely.
http://tinyurl.com/7xhjgpe
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
BMcCue7
I'm Buddy McCue (and you're not.)
05:25 PM on 03/07/2012
I signed it this morning.

There are 17,098 signatures now.
06:55 PM on 03/06/2012
Why aren't our female veterans considering this to be a hate crime because he is targeting a specific subgroup of women to be derided by the public who agree with his views. And these are women who help protect our country.

WHY is this so much less than any rant against culture, sexual preference and religion. Why.

We've all heard the reports of rape within the military. For this radio station to keep Limbaugh is to solidly support the rapist's notion that no really means yes. And, we all know that a rapist acts on no other reason than anger and hatred.

This is another example when Free Speach met a limit.