Rush Limbaugh's recent comments about Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown University law student, in relation to the current debate about insurance companies covering contraception created quite a stir over the past few weeks. Check out this video to be filled in on what happened.
Limbaugh is famous for being untamed, outspoken, and blunt on his conservative radio show, but many critics think his comments, calling Sandra Fluke a "slut" because she believes insurance should cover contraception, went too far this time. Not only does he demean Fluke, he goes on to say that if insurance is paying for her contraception, then he should be able to see videos of her having sex, so he gets to see what he's paying for. While this is despicable, this post will focus on how Limbaugh dealt with his entrance into the discussion surrounding a public controversy.
It is clear that Limbaugh did not uphold his "ethical obligation to treat with civility and respect those who accept the invitation to debate" (e.g. Sandra Fluke) (Rhetoric and Civic Life 339). He uses rude language, and calls those with opinions opposing him demeaning names. What Limbaugh does do, however, is discuss the value of the issue at hand: insurance coverage of contraception. Limbaugh's entire radio show, in fact, deals with the discussion of the value of a variety of political topics (including many public controversies).
Limbaugh discusses what he views as the inappropriateness of insurance coverage of birth control, denouncing it on legal, moral, and ethical grounds. He first states that it is not the responsibility of the state to provide birth control, and then goes on to emphasize the immorality of doing so. In discussing the value of contraception coverage, Limbaugh also overlaps into discussing policy. It is clear from his inflection and tone that he wishes both to inform people of his opinion and hopefully change their mind. He relays information from the opposition in a manner dripping with sarcasm, to discredit their ethos and establish his position as superior.
Overall, Limbaugh discusses two of the main facets of public controversies: value and policy. In doing so, however, he uses disrespectful language and in my opinion, this cost him quite a bit in the way of ethos and credibility.
Limbaugh is a blowhard. The problem with men of his calibur and position is that they can say what they please, but their audience is usually a fixed and loyal demographic. What I mean is that no matter how hard he shoves his foot in his mouth, he will still stay on the air and draw attention to himself and his views because he is eternally forgiven by his consumers.
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