Outraged Networks Target Rush Limbaugh's 'Very Ugly' 'Evisceration' of Activist
The three network morning shows on Friday continued a left-wing attack on Rush Limbaugh, railing at the "ugly turn" the conservative radio host took when he "eviscerated" an activist college student who testified before Congress on birth control availability.
On NBC's Today, Matt Lauer lectured, "And an ugly turn in the battle over birth control. Rush Limbaugh has ruffled feathers with his choice words for a 23-year-old woman who supports insurance coverage for contraception."
Reporter Kelly O'Donnell huffed, "Limbaugh, who called [Sandra] Fluke by the wrong first name, then called her some very ugly things." [See MP3 audio here.]
Describing the host's commentaries on Wednesday and Thursday, O'Donnell fretted, "Limbaugh amped up the shock factor." On the previous evening's Nightly News , Anne Thompson adopted liberal talking points, noting that "some" see this as a "war on women."
On Friday's Good Morning America, the segment's graphic
used a similar line, describing the issue this way: "Limbaugh Firestorm:
Flashpoint Over Women's Rights."
Reporter Jake Tapper recounted, "For two days, Rush Limbaugh has eviscerated Sandra Fluke on the radio."
Framing the debate in a more fair way than NBC, he at least wondered,
"Is it a debate about religious liberty? Or is it a debate about a talk
radio giant insulting a third year law student?"
Host Robin Roberts could barely contain her contempt. After George
Stephanopoulos asserted that Limbaugh "seemed" to call student Fluke a
prostitute, Roberts jumped in, "Seemed to? He did!"
CBS This Morning offered the least amount of coverage. In an
interview with Carly Fiorini, Erica Hill noted that Limbaugh was being
controversial, but "he makes comments which are controversial a lot."
She then asked the Republican, "How does that language affect what
Republicans are trying to do and the votes that they are trying to win?"
For a recount of Thursday night's Nightly News coverage, go here. For more on Today's coverage, go here.
A partial transcript of the March 2 Today segment, which aired at 7:10am EST, follows:
MATT
LAUER: And an ugly turn in the battle over birth control. Rush Limbaugh
has ruffled feathers with his choice words for a 23-year-old woman who
supports insurance coverage for contraception, even at religious
institutions. This morning she will join us and respond in an exclusive
live interview.
