海角大神

It鈥檚 been only seven days since Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a 鈥渟lut鈥� and a 鈥減rostitute,鈥� but it seems like the ensuing controversy has been raging for much longer than that. Attitudes about the talk show host鈥檚 treatment of the Georgetown University Law student have begun to calcify into a partisan divide. Is it time for liberals to just get over it, move on, and accept the apology Limbaugh has offered?

Bill Maher thinks so. At first glance that鈥檚 surprising 鈥� comedian Maher announced the other day that he鈥檒l give $1 million to a super PAC that backs President Obama. But he鈥檚 got his reasons as to why he thinks it鈥檚 time to let go of the Fluke controversy.

鈥淗ate to defend #RushLimbaugh but he apologized, liberals looking bad not accepting. Also hate intimidation by sponsor pullout,鈥� on his Twitter feed Wednesday.

Of course, Maher鈥檚 been accused of saying some pretty crass gynecological things about Sarah Palin and other conservative women, so he might have a vested interest in damping down the fire here.

Former Obama administration economist (and frequent talk show guest) Austan Goolsbee noted this Wednesday, tweeting that 鈥減alin is right to point out that bill maher has said some pretty disgusing things about women, comedian or not. They are rush like.鈥�

And as to sponsor pullouts, those could hit Maher and other controversial entertainment figures where it hurts 鈥� their wallets.

Talkers.com, which bills itself as the Bible of the talk show industry, noted Wednesday that one outcome of the Limbaugh uproar has been sponsor nervousness about the possibility of controversial statements from any edgy host.

鈥淢ajor advertisers are issuing yet another round of 鈥榥o controversial programming鈥� dictates,鈥� in its industry news column. 鈥淭his is not a new problem for talk radio, and the recent Limbaugh case is likely only to add fuel to a fire that鈥檚 been simmering for the past 20 years.鈥�

Plus, isn鈥檛 it up to Ms. Fluke to decide whether Limbaugh鈥檚 apology should be accepted? She鈥檚 the one Limbaugh insulted, and she鈥檚 the person at whom he directed his words when he said he was wrong to use the harsh language he did.

And she鈥檚 not buying it.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that a statement like [Limbaugh] issued, saying that his choice of words was not the best, changes anything, and especially when that statement is issued when he鈥檚 under significant pressure from his sponsors who have begun to pull their support,鈥� Fluke said earlier this week in an appearance on ABC鈥檚 "The View."

Many of Fluke鈥檚 defenders have pointed out that Limbaugh apologized for calling her a 鈥渟lut,鈥� but not for saying that women who want contraceptives from their health insurance are trying to get 鈥淎merican taxpayers鈥� to fund their 鈥減ersonal sexual recreational activities,鈥� and so forth. Given that, many liberals say they鈥檒l continue with their outrage and attempts to get more sponsors to pull ads from Limbaugh鈥檚 show, thank you very much.

Still, at this point, is there a diminishing return to the personally-directed anger?

鈥淪ure, it鈥檚 funny to dissect all the ways in which [Limbaugh鈥檚] apology falls short, but it鈥檚 also a waste of breath,鈥� writes Slate鈥檚 Katy Waldman on the web site鈥檚 XX Factor blog.

The initial anger contributed to advertiser desertions, but now it may just help Limbaugh make news, according to Waldman.

鈥淚sn鈥檛 our shock a little disingenuous?鈥� . 鈥淐an鈥檛 we just allow his predictably crass and unrepentant star to flicker out? Expecting Rush Limbaugh to change his mind, especially in response to censure from the mainstream, makes no sense.鈥�