Rush Limbaugh’s recent remarks about University of Georgetown student Sandra Fluke, calling her a “slut” and a “prostitute”, have continued to come back to haunt him. He blogged a Saturday apology, then explained to his listeners on Monday that he had apologized because he realized that his statements made him sound like a liberal. The debate rages on about whether this comment and the fallout from it might be the end for Limbaugh. His opponents have organized an advertiser boycott that claims to have taken out dozens of ad-buyers. Limbaugh says those local ad buys are inconsequential to him and will not affect his business. Our analysis of that statement says it is not true. Local ad buys affect the local stations, which cannot sustain the kind of advertiser exodus that is happening. At WABC radio recently, the flagship station for Limbaugh’s program, over half of Limbaugh’s commercial spots were replaced with free public service announcements, a sure sign in the radio world that advertisers were leaving and staying away.
Some businesses are coming forward to say that they will gladly advertise with Limbaugh, but he is denying those since they are for such websites as AshleyMadison, which promisses to help people find a way to cheat on their spouses.
Into this fracas steps Saturday Night Live, famous for its impersonations of other political figures, including President Obama and Sarah Palin. The cold open piece pokes fun at the advertiser troubles Limbaugh has. SNL cast member Taran Killiam plays Limbaugh in the piece.