Politicians Fight Against Rush Limbaugh After Contraception Controversy

When ever-polarizing Rush Limbaugh called a Georgetown University law student a “slut” after she testified in favor of insurance coverage for contraception, the backlash came swiftly. Widespread outrage was directed at the controversial conservative radio host. Several sponsors of his nationally syndicated show soon pulled their funding.

The uproar is far from over. And it’s not just advertisers — politicians and policymakers have also taken action to protest Limbaugh’s controversial comments. The war on Rush will likely continue to rage on, but for now, here are some political groups who’ve stepped up.

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• Michigan Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, announced Wednesday that he wanted the Armed Forces Network to drop Limbaugh’s show from its service, which provides radio and television programming to U.S. service members around the globe. “I would hope the people that run it see just how offensive this is and drop it on their own volition,” he told CNN. Though he doesn’t think legislation to ban it would pass, he firmly expressed his hope that Limbaugh’s show be dropped. He also said he was “delighted” so many advertisers had pulled their commercials from the show.

• In Missouri, state Democrats are protesting plans to place a bust of Limbaugh in the Missouri Capitol. Proposed by Republican state House Speaker Steve Tilley, the bust would sit beside other prominent Missouri natives like former President Harry Truman and writer Mark Twain. Nearly 50 of the state’s Democratic leaders delivered a letter to Tilley, stating that honoring Limbaugh would be “inappropriate and offensive” and a “tacit endorsement of his misogynistic attitudes.” An additional 1,300 people have signed a petition to protest the Limbaugh bust, but it’s not yet clear if the opposition can block the plans.

• The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has also mobilized, launching an online petition urging Republican leaders to “publicly denounce Rush Limbaugh’s cruel tirade against women.” The petition has received more than 16,000 signatures thus far. The committee has also launched another online petition, specifically targeted at GOP Leader Eric Cantor and congressional Republicans. That one has received more than 10,000 signatures. House Democrats have also sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, urging him to “repudiate” Limbaugh for his comments toward the student, Sandra Fluke.

MORE: After Limbaugh, Maybe It’s Finally Time to Ignore the ‘Slut’ Slur