The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is calling on Rush Limbaugh’s sponsors to pull their advertising from his program, after the conservative radio host suggested Monday during a segment on rape that “no” sometimes does mean “yes.”
The effort comes after Mr. Limbaugh protested an Ohio State policy that tells students they must have verbal consent before having sex and that the absence of “no” does not mean “yes.”
“How many of you guys, in your own experience with women, have learned that ’no’ means ’yes’ if you know how to spot it?” Mr. Limbaugh argued, according to his transcript. “Let me tell you something. In this modern world, that is simply not tolerated. People aren’t even gonna try to understand that one. I mean, it used to be said it was a cliche. It used to be part of the advice young boys were given.
“See, that’s what we gotta change,” he continued. “We have got to reprogram the way we raise men. Why do you think permission every step of the way, clearly spelling out ’why’ — are all of these not lawsuits just waiting to happen if even one of these steps is not taken?”
In an email blast Tuesday, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel called the “offensive nature” of Mr. Limbaugh’s comments “inexcusable,” Politico reported.
“Rush Limbaugh is advocating for the tolerance of sexual assault. He should be taken off the air immediately,” he wrote. The email then directs recipients to a petition where they are asked to provide their email address, name and zip code.
One Democratic campaign strategist called the DCCC’s tactic distasteful.
“Using rape to build lists is just wrong, and they’d slam any Republican doing it,” the strategist told Politico. “Limbaugh’s comments are disgusting, and should be called out, but this is the wrong way of doing it.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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