Three stalwarts of the feminist movement — Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda and Robin Morgan — have added their voices to the calls to take radio giant Rush Limbaugh off the air.
The co-founders of The Women’s Media Center put pen to paper over the weekend to request that the public complain and urge the Federal Communications Commission to revoke the licenses of stations that carry “The Rush Limbaugh Show.”
“The FCC takes such complaints into consideration when stations file for license renewal,” the trio wrote in an editorial for CNN. “For local listeners near a station that carries Limbaugh’s show, there is plenty of evidence to bring to the FCC that their station isn’t carrying out its public interest obligation.”
Steinem, Fonda and Morgan wrote that Limbaugh has been violating public decency long before his Sandra Fluke faux pas — in which Limbaugh called the 30-year-old Georgetown Law student a “slut” and “prostitute” following her testimony before Democrats in support of contraception mandates.
“At least this most recent incident has turned a spotlight back on the vile, damaging statements Limbaugh has been promulgating for years,” they wrote.
Especially offensive, they wrote, has been the fact that his go-to term for feminists, “femi-nazis,” is no longer enough to “raise eyebrows anymore.”
Limbaugh’s carrier, Clear Channel Communications, has defended him and continues to carry the popular midday host despite the loss of several advertisers.
According to the three, their frustration with Limbaugh is not due to his political ideology, but rather his rhetoric. (SEE ALSO: ‘Sluts Unite’ against Rush Limbaugh)
“This isn’t political. While we disagree with Limbaugh’s politics, what’s at stake is the fallout of a society tolerating toxic, hate-inciting speech,” they wrote. “For 20 years, Limbaugh has hidden behind the First Amendment, or else claimed he’s really ‘doing humor’ or ‘entertainment.’ He is indeed constitutionally entitled to his opinions, but he is not constitutionally entitled to the people’s airways. It’s time for the public to take back our broadcast resources.”
Limbaugh has apologized for his comments about Fluke.