Rush Limbaugh, Democratic Fundraisers Battle Over Context Of 'No Means Yes' Comments

Limbaugh

The DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE's e-mail and petition campaign to demand sponsors pull their ads from RUSH LIMBAUGH's show after comments regarding rape on campus has drawn a response from the PREMIERE NETWORKS host saying that the DCCC edited his comment and removed context to imply that he said the opposite of what he meant.

In a segment on MONDAY's show dealing with ESPN commentator KATE FAGAN's remarks that the RAY RICE incident shows that society will have to be "really reprogramming how we raise men" and OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY's consent policy regarding sexual relationships, LIMBAUGH read from a website's description of how the parties are required to come to agreement on the activity.  After reading "Consent must be freely given, can be withdrawn at any time, and the absence of 'no' does not mean 'yes.'", LIMBAUGH added,  "How many of you guys, in your own experience with women, have learned that 'no' means 'yes' if you know how to spot it? 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. 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?"

LIMBAUGH spokesman BRIAN GLICKLICH told POLITICO that the DCCC, in its appeal to followers over the name of Chairman STEVE ISRAEL, edited out the part that indicates the "'no' means 'yes' if you know how to spot it" was his characterization of what boys were told in the past rather than an assertion of his opinion.  "The DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE e-mails about RUSH LIMBAUGH are an intentional lie, using 10 words carefully selected from his full comments to imply the opposite of what he actually said," GLICKLICH told POLITICO's DYLAN BYERS.

BYERS also quoted an unnamed Democratic strategist saying, "Using rape to build lists is just wrong, and they'd slam any Republican doing it.  LIMBAUGH's comments are disgusting, and should be called out, but this is the wrong way of doing it."

But the DCCC, through Communications Dir. EMILY BITTNER, responded, "The world according to RUSH LIMBAUGH: women who use the birth control pill are ‘sluts,’ ‘no means yes if you know how to spot it,’ and anyone who dares question him is ‘reprehensible.’ There’s no context where no means yes, and that’s why thousands of Americans are responding to our petition demanding that his sponsors to pull their advertising."

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