Rush Limbaugh Invokes Rape Analogy to Criticize Filibuster Reform

Rape, democracy, what’s the difference?
Wingnuts • Views: 27,300

Media Matters

Rush Limbaugh invoked a rape analogy on Friday to criticize President Obama’s move to support filibuster reform.

On Thursday, Obama expressed his support for Senate Democrats voting to require just 51 votes — as opposed to 60 — approve judicial and executive nominees. Limbaugh compared them to a group of people where the majority decides it is okay to rape women.

“Let’s forget the Senate for a minute,” Limbaugh began. He told his listeners to imagine a group of 10 people with six men and four women. “The group has a rule that the men cannot rape the women,” he said. “The group also has a rule that says any rule that will be changed must require six votes, of the 10, to change the rule.”

The radio host continued,

“Every now and then, some lunatic in the group proposes to change the rule to allow women to be raped. But they never were able to get six votes for it. There were always the four women voting against it and they always found two guys.Well, the guy that kept proposing that women be raped finally got tired of it, and he was in the majority and he was one that [said], ‘You know what? We’re going to change the rule. Now all we need is five.” And well, ‘you can’t do that.’ ‘Yes we are. We’re the majority. We’re changing the rule.’ And then they vote. Can the women be raped? Well, all it would take then is half of the room. You can change the rule to say three. You can change the rule to say three people want it, it’s going to happen.”

“When the majority can change the rules there aren’t any,” Limbaugh concluded. He added that Obama was only changing the rule because he can’t get “what he wants democratically.”

As has been pointed out, Limbaugh believed the exact opposite back in 2004 when his side was the one being blocked.

More: Rush Limbaugh Invokes Rape Analogy to Criticize Filibuster Reform (AUDIO)

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46 comments
1 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:35:23am

My wish is that his next ex wife’s lawyer finds a way to break the pre-nup and clean him out.

I think that would hit him where it hurts.

2 Charles Johnson  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:35:42am
3 The War TARDIS  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:36:09am

15 minutes!

See you all in 2 hours!

4 Eclectic Cyborg  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:36:42am
Limbaugh compared them to a group of people where the majority decides it is okay to rape women.

So he compared Democrats to Republicans?

5 Tim TeaBro  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:36:57am

Let’s imagine there’s this extremely vile human being who spouts idiocy and hate on the radio 3 hours a day for 20+ years, who ran out of interesting things to say in week two of that 20+ year run.

6 GeneJockey  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:39:21am

The similarity between Limbaugh’s “Excellence in Broadcasting” ‘EIB’ logo, and Bugatti’s ‘EB’ logo keeps me from buying a Veyron.
.
.
.
.
.
Yeah. That’s the only thing stopping me from buying a million dollar car….

7 Eclectic Cyborg  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:39:57am

On a serious note though, I find it highly disturbing that rape has become something of a generally accepted thing that is not harshly punished or taken seriously many, many times it should be.

What does it say about us that the Rapist often times fares better than the victim after an assault? That’s messed up and it’s even MORE messed up that it can happen in a country such as this.

Rape IS not and should NEVER be taken lightly. Period.

I just don’t understand this cultural “slut shaming” thing that so often occurs following a rape. I mean, I understand the reaction itself, I don’t understand why it’s so common.

8 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:41:03am

Wonder why he thinks every man is like him and can’t get laid unless he pays for it or takes it by force?

9 thedopefishlives  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:41:36am

re: #8 Eventual Carrion

Wonder why he thinks every man is like him and can’t get laid unless he pays for it or takes it by force?

Because he thinks he is the epitome of white male America.

10 William Barnett-Lewis  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:41:39am

Hey! I’ve seen that truck in Madison! Hoot!

11 Higgs Boson's Mate  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:44:32am

This just goes to show that there’s no such thing as hyperbole fatigue.

12 Charles Johnson  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:45:27am
13 A Mom Anon  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:49:24am

There’s really no bottom to the depth of my loathing for this asshole. He’s evil. There really isn’t much more I can say about my fond wishes for his future without becoming evil myself.

Keep in mind, he has paid all of his Social Security taxes in his first paycheck of every year. That he doesn’t have health insurance (and has admitted on air he doesn’t understand health insurance) and pays cash for all his health care needs. That he lives in a self contained mansion in South Florida that is decorated a lot like the palace in Versailles. This is a guy who people can relate to? Really? Hell, I’d be happy with the INTEREST off of the money he makes every year, I could take care of my entire family for life with that and still have a nice sum left over.

Why can’t he just go away?

14 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:52:16am

re: #13 A Mom Anon

The reason he doesn’t go away is because there’s

1) big money

2) lots of power

in being an asshole. Especially an asshole with a microphone.

15 Lidane  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:52:17am

re: #7 Eclectic Cyborg

I just don’t understand this cultural “slut shaming” thing that so often occurs following a rape. I mean, I understand the reaction itself, I don’t understand why it’s so common.

Thousands of years of patriarchy and social conditioning where women are either virginal and pure or sluts that deserve to die will do that.

16 Decatur Deb  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:53:59am

Every time someone mentions Rush Limbaugh a nickel drops into his jockstrap.

17 dr. klys  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:54:04am

So on top of everything else, he proves he can’t do math: five is not a majority of ten.

18 darthstar  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:54:26am

Getting shit done today…started with going out and buying dinner. Locals math…I asked for three…there are four in there(he threw in an extra because it was missing a small leg).

Image: 1451414_10152046092443024_470827973_n.jpg

19 Gus  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 11:58:54am

re: #18 darthstar

Getting shit done today…started with going out and buying dinner. Locals math…I asked for three…there are four in there(he threw in an extra because it was missing a small leg).

Image: 1451414_10152046092443024_470827973_n.jpg

You got the crabs? //

20 dr. klys  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:07:29pm

Thinking about possible things to do for Thanksgiving. Last year we rode Amtrak from CO to CA. Had some wonderful views and I didn’t have to cook dinner. The year before we were on the shinkansen heading back to Tokyo, eating convenience store food (which is much better in Japan than it sounds).

Cooking a full meal for the two of us just seems like so much work, as much as I enjoy it. I dunno. I did find a tasty sounding recipe for turkey cutlets with cranberries and apples.

Sorry for the OT, I’m just being somewhat moody about it, I guess.

21 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:09:22pm

It’s not a game, you twit.

Ricin Suspect Who Tried to Frame Husband Cuts a Deal

abcnews.go.com

22 GeneJockey  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:11:49pm

re: #7 Eclectic Cyborg

On a serious note though, I find it highly disturbing that rape has become something of a generally accepted thing that is not harshly punished or taken seriously many, many times it should be.

What does it say about us that the Rapist often times fares better than the victim after an assault? That’s messed up and it’s even MORE messed up that it can happen in a country such as this.

Rape IS not and should NEVER be taken lightly. Period.

I just don’t understand this cultural “slut shaming” thing that so often occurs following a rape. I mean, I understand the reaction itself, I don’t understand why it’s so common.

Because our culture is completely fucked up in its understanding of women and sex.

Despite progress, a substantial portion of the population views a woman who has casual sex very differently from how they view a man who does the same. The idea that women must be bribed, tricked, cajoled, drunk, or forced to have sex runs deep in the culture.

How many times, growing up, did we see the cartoon of a caveman with a club over one shoulder, dragging an unconscious cavewoman back to his cave? And this was supposed to be funny.

This leaves the understanding - conscious or un - that sex involves some kind of coercion, which leads people to seeing forcible rape as simply the far end of the spectrum, and various other kinds of rape, like ‘getting her drunk’ as pretty much acceptable behavior.

If that’s the case, then it’s only a hop, a skip, and a jump to seeing any woman who accuses a man of rape as someone who ‘wanted it’ and now regrets giving in.

Similarly, because so many see rape as on the ‘sex’ spectrum and not the ‘violence’ spectrum, they see a woman dressed in form fitting or revealing clothing as ‘asking for it’, and conversely that men are all just a halter top and hot pants away from being rapists.

It demeans both genders, but mostly women.

And these messages have long been conveyed to girls as they grow up, too. A young woman I knew in college told me about when her mother discovered a stash of condoms in her dresser. Her mother said what bothered her is not that she was having sex, but that it was PLANNED! So, it’s okay to be swept up in the moment and have unprotected sex, but it’s NOT okay to have sex deliberately , and to take precautions in advance.

What the hell kind of lesson is THAT? It actually suggests that letting someone get you so drunk you’ll have sex with him is BETTER THAN having happy, fun, sober consensual sex.

23 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:12:52pm

re: #20 dr. klys

Thinking about possible things to do for Thanksgiving. Last year we rode Amtrak from CO to CA. Had some wonderful views and I didn’t have to cook dinner. The year before we were on the shinkansen heading back to Tokyo, eating convenience store food (which is much better in Japan than it sounds).

Cooking a full meal for the two of us just seems like so much work, as much as I enjoy it. I dunno. I did find a tasty sounding recipe for turkey cutlets with cranberries and apples.

Sorry for the OT, I’m just being somewhat moody about it, I guess.

I convinced Mr. w that turkey pot pies from scratch are a good idea. We may pull off the all-pie Thanksgiving!

24 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:13:46pm

Yikes!

AP: Powerful storm system blasts US West; 5 killed

elpasotimes.com

Expected to hit the east in the middle of next week.

25 dr. klys  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:14:25pm

re: #23 wrenchwench

I convinced Mr. w that turkey pot pies from scratch are a good idea. We may pull off the all-pie Thanksgiving!

Mine kind of wants to continue the tradition of Thanksgiving on a train, which at this point means something like Caltrain.

Now, if we’d had our act together and were doing the Canadian Rockies, that would be something else altogether and I would be fine with that, but we didn’t have our act together.

26 dr. klys  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:15:05pm

re: #24 Justanotherhuman

Yikes!

AP: Powerful storm system blasts US West; 5 killed

elpasotimes.com

Expected to hit the east in the middle of next week.

Reason #2239124012 I am glad I am not trying to go back east for Thanksgiving. That is going to make an ABSOLUTE MESS of travel.

27 Stanley Sea  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:17:10pm

Hola!

28 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:17:54pm
29 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:20:49pm


Sabino Creek.

30 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:22:10pm

re: #29 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]


Sabino Creek.

That’s hundreds of people with little to no body fat, dressed for major exertion, standing around in the cold after working up a sweat.

31 A Mom Anon  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:22:13pm

re: #26 dr. klys

Yep, it’s gonna get ugly a lot of places. Makes me happy we’re too poor to travel,lol. If the Teenager wasn’t home, I’d be holed up til around the 1st and not do much more than walk the dog. As it is, I think the most we’re gonna do is take him to go see some local bands one night and hang out and bake cookies and stuff. I think we’re going to do a bonfire one evening when this crazy ass wind dies down some too.

32 dr. klys  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:23:26pm

re: #30 wrenchwench

That’s hundreds of people with little to no body fat, dressed for major exertion, standing around in the cold after working up a sweat.

I hope there are some folks on hand to deal with any medical issues that might arise, because that is definitely a recipe for bad.

33 dr. klys  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:25:50pm

re: #31 A Mom Anon

Yep, it’s gonna get ugly a lot of places. Makes me happy we’re too poor to travel,lol. If the Teenager wasn’t home, I’d be holed up til around the 1st and not do much more than walk the dog. As it is, I think the most we’re gonna do is take him to go see some local bands one night and hang out and bake cookies and stuff. I think we’re going to do a bonfire one evening when this crazy ass wind dies down some too.

I draw the line at traveling twice for holidays in a month because airfare is so expensive, and so when we do go out we have to do both sides (because the incremental increase is much less than two separate trips) and Thanksgiving is so short that forget it.

But next year we don’t go home for Christmas at all and I am really looking forward to that, I’ll admit.

34 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:25:54pm

re: #32 dr. klys

I hope there are some folks on hand to deal with any medical issues that might arise, because that is definitely a recipe for bad.

Probably National Guard trucks with heaters and blankets standing by. 9,000 people were signed up to ride. I don’t know how many actually started.

35 A Mom Anon  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:26:39pm

re: #30 wrenchwench
Yipes. Not good at all.

36 GeneJockey  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:26:58pm

re: #30 wrenchwench

That’s hundreds of people with little to no body fat, dressed for major exertion, standing around in the cold after working up a sweat.

Yeah. It’s one thing to be drenched, at 50 degrees, while putting out a lot of effort. It’s quite another to be drenched at 50 degrees, standing around waiting for a route to open. Recipe for hypothermia in large numbers.

37 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:28:14pm

re: #22 GeneJockey

“So, it’s okay to be swept up in the moment and have unprotected sex, but it’s NOT okay to have sex deliberately , and to take precautions in advance.”

That’s exactly what the thinking was in the 1950s. It was part and parcel of my Catholic upbringing. It was like, you shouldn’t plan to “sin” but if it happens because you’re weak, you can be forgiven if you tell us about it.

38 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:30:48pm

re: #28 wrenchwench

39 GeneJockey  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:31:19pm

re: #37 Justanotherhuman

“So, it’s okay to be swept up in the moment and have unprotected sex, but it’s NOT okay to have sex deliberately , and to take precautions in advance.”

That’s exactly what the thinking was in the 1950s. It was part and parcel of my Catholic upbringing. It was like, you shouldn’t plan to “sin” but if it happens because you’re weak, you can be forgiven if you tell us about it.

My parents never taught me any of this, nor did it get discussed in my church or Sunday school, but I absorbed the same lessons from the culture.

40 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:31:52pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Yeah, Barrett Brown doesn’t take criticism well. He tended to move directly into calling the critic a ‘fascist’.

41 A Mom Anon  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:35:09pm

re: #37 Justanotherhuman

Yeah, this is influenced A LOT be religion and what people think God wants. It’s a matter of being “saved” in some households, but even so, that “saved” thing didn’t spare you insane amounts of guilt tripping and shame.

I have some hope that my son’s generation is a little better on this subject, but sometimes I’m not sure when I see some of the crap they say to each other on social media. Maybe it’ll be a bit better when they’ve grown up some more.

42 Gus  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:37:00pm

Today’s pain is tomorrow’s pain.
— Deeprock Chokeya

43 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 12:45:00pm

re: #16 Decatur Deb

Every time someone mentions Rush Limbaugh a nickel drops into his jockstrap.

Fact: if if weren’t for those nickles, his jockstrap would be completely empty…

44 darthstar  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 1:21:12pm

re: #19 Gus

You got the crabs? //

And I’ll get them again…and again…

45 Egregious Philbin  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 1:35:41pm

Rush has some serious sexual hangups, ya gotta wonder how conflicted he is. I wouldn’t doubt if we hear about some very nasty incident with him in the future.

Or with “Jeff Christie”

46 fizzlogic  Sat, Nov 23, 2013 1:45:00pm
As has been pointed out, Limbaugh believed the exact opposite back in 2004 when his side was the one being blocked.

Yeah, back when I used to be a conservative Republican and an avid Rush listener, I remember Rush’s and the Right’s take on going nuclear. It proves these shameless assholes are only in it for the money or the power. They bank on the idea that most of their followers or listeners haven’t been paying attention for the last 20 years. And sadly, they’re probably right.


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