Judge for yourself.
Schultz: “It doesn’t matter what the circumstances were. It doesn’t matter that I was on radio and I was ad-libbing. None of that matters. What matters is what I said was terribly vile and not of the standards that I or any other person should adhere to. ... I want all of you to know tonight that I did call Laura Ingraham today and did not make contact with her, and I will apologize to her as I did in the message that I left for her today.”
Limbaugh: “For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke. ... My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.”
Till researching it to reply to you, this was the only Limbaugh apology I was aware of. It was posted on his website Saturday. I just discovered he issued a more heartfelt apology over the air on Monday.
“I acted too much like the leftists who despise me. I descended to their level, using names and exaggerations to describe Sandra Fluke. It’s what we have come to know and expect from them, but it’s way beneath me. And it’s way beneath you. It was wrong, and that’s why I’ve apologized, ‘cause I succumbed. ... Don’t be mad at them or mad at her. Everybody here was being true to their nature except me. I’m the one who had the failing on this, and for that I genuinely apologized for using those words to describe Ms. Fluke.”
Schultz’s apology and Limbaugh’s second apology are roughly equivalent and I will give both the benefit of the doubt as to sincerity.
Limbaugh’s first apology, IMO, was a classic example of the non-apology apology. (”I am sorry anyone was offended.” “I apologize for my choice of words.”)
I apologize (sincerely) for not being more up to date on the situation before criticizing Rush.
The first written apology from Rush was curt, but having listened to him for many years, I expected he would expand on it when he opened his Radio Show the following Monday.
My ultimate issue is simply this, Laura Ingraham accepted Special Ed's apology and the issue faded away. When Laura went on the View and it was discussed, the Liberals laughed the whole thing off, with Baba saying that Joy calls her a Slut all the time, hardy-har-har-cackle...
The other thing is that Laura didn't sit in front of a Congressional panel wailing and lying about something to deflect the fact that the Constitution itself is under attack and she is actively pursuing elimination of parts of the First Amendment. That is exactly what Ms. Fluke has and is attempting to accomplish with the help of Pelosi and the Obama cabal.
When Rush made his comments the Left set out to ruin him, personally attacking his motives (misogynist), and financially impacting him, his Family and Employees with the ultimate goal of ending his Radio Broadcast Career to silence Conservative views and opinion. The Liberal Wet Dream if you will.
Do I wish Rush had just laughed off the whole thing and not mentioned Ms. Fluke by name?, you betcha. Then again, Rush is very astute and he saw the obvious implications of what was happening.
That's why he is the successful guy on the radio and I'm the guy trying to figure out how my Wife and I will get by after she gets laid off from her job later this month.