Rush Limbaugh is threatening to sue the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for using the conservative talk radio host’s own words in a fundraising email, the Washington Post reported.
Earlier this year, when discussing Ohio State University’s new policy that requires verbal consent before engaging in sexual activity, Limbaugh said, “How many of you guys … have learned that ‘no’ means ‘yes’ if you know how to spot it?”
The DCCC used that statement in an email implying that Limbaugh was condoning sexual assault on his radio show and used his remarks on a web page calling for a boycott of Limbaugh’s advertisers.
“Comments of this offensive nature are inexcusable,” wrote DCCC Chairman Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) in one of the emails. “Rush Limbaugh is advocating for the tolerance of sexual assault. He should be taken off the air immediately.” Israel also asked for signatures on a petition asking advertisers to stop sponsoring Limbaugh’s show.
In a letter to the DCCC, Limbaugh’s attorneys wrote that the organization had:
“intentionally disseminated demonstrably false statements concerning Rush Limbaugh in a concerted effort to harm Mr. Limbaugh, and with reckless disregard for the resulting impact to small businesses across America that choose to advertise on his radio program.”
The letter implied that if “an immediate retraction and public apology” wasn’t issued, a defamation suit would be filed against the DCCC.
Limbaugh’s spokesman Brian Glicklich said in an interview that the DCCC had “crossed a very bright line. They lied about his words. They quoted something specific and out of context, and it is a lie.”
If Limbaugh is so concerned about his words coming back to haunt him, maybe he should do the world a favor and simply shut his mouth and disappear from the airwaves.
