'RUSH' TO JUDGEMENT............

In the midst of the throes of the ongoing debate over religious liberty and freedom of speech, crescendoed in the American Presidential nominating process by the controversy over Contraception coverage at Catholic and other religious institutions and mandates in the new National Health Insurance laws, reached another plateau of polarization in the past few days, with the insensitive, over the top, crude, comments of national radio communicator and conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh.  Limbaugh's unbridled broadcast attack on Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke, and her testimony regarding her access and insurance coverage for Contraception before Democratic women U.S. Senators stirred controversy and fallout with political and monetary ramifications.  Within hours of Rush Limbaugh's characterization of Sandra Fluke and what she is advocating in terms that ignited upfront opposition from the White House and Democrats in Congress; couched uncomfortability and distancing by Republican Presidential candidates; and stirred withdrawal of sponsorship by a number of his advertisers; sparked such controversy, that Limbaugh was moved to issue an apology today for what he said on his radio show on Thursday.  The intersecting of personal judgments, politics, and pulling of commercial sponsorship, in a volatile mix that was becoming a mounting lightning rod of negativity against Limbaugh, propelled his quick apology, which were threatening to substantially tarnish his credibility and effectiveness as an icon to his millions of listeners.  To be frankly honest Limbaugh's influence and role is primarily that of an entertainer, even by his own admission in the apology he issued today.  And applying his own analysis of what Sandra Fluke's statements about contraception coverage means about her sexual activity and morality, how does Rush Limbaugh square his own voracious views as a defender of such conservative values as traditional marriage and families, and law abiding adherence to use of narcotics, with his own multiple marriages and past addiction to perscription drugs ?  Limbaugh's so called, excellence in broadcasting as a communicaster is in entertainment vis a vis the opinion sharing and influence shaping, he imparts;  and not perfect and precise expertise, or adherence, to living the values he advocates and proclaims............Fr.  Troy