Not everyone accepts Rush Limbaugh's apology

The intensity of the conflict reflects not only the usual skittishness of advertisers, who hate controversy even when they deliberately choose a controversial show, but also the volatile political climate during a Republican primary that, to Democrats' delight, has veered into sensitive social issues.

Republicans including House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich all said Limbaugh owed the woman an apology. Conservative pundit David Frum called Limbaugh's conduct "a new kind of low."

"This was not a case of a bad 'word choice.' It was a brutally sexualized accusation, against a specific person, prolonged over three days," he wrote Monday on CNN.com

But some conservatives, including former presidential contender Michele Bachmann, denounced what they saw as a double standard that punishes conservative commentators more harshly than liberal talk-show hosts. And Republican groups, including a pro-Gingrich super PAC, said they would continue to advertise on the show.

Limbaugh devoted at least half an hour of his three-hour show Monday to reiterating his apology to Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown University law student — while restating his opposition to her call for contraception to be covered by health insurance. Limbaugh had been thoroughly criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike since his comment Wednesday that Fluke was a "prostitute" because, he said, she wanted to be paid to have sex.

"Against my own instincts, against my own knowledge, against everything I know to be right and wrong, I descended to their level (the political left) when I used those two words to describe Sandra Fluke," Limbaugh said. "And I feel very badly about that. I've always tried to maintain a very high degree of integrity and independence on this program."

By Lou Rocco, ABC, via AP

Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke, left, discusses Rush Limbaugh’s “slut” comment with 'The View' hosts Sherri Shepherd, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Barbara Walters.

Limbaugh had issued a written apology Saturday but reiterated it on his program. "I again sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for using those two words to describe her. I do not think she is either of those two words. I did not think last week that she was either of those two words."