Op-Ed: Limp responses to Limbaugh's 'slut' remark from Romney, Santorum

The two leading Republican candidates for their party's nomination for the presidency responded to Rush Limbaugh's name-calling of a law student with remarks that were stunningly limp and self-serving.

On Friday, March 2, 2012 Limbaugh called third-year Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke a "slut" and a "prostitute" for testimony before the U.S. Congress wherein she expressed her belief that insurance companies should cover birth control for women. The offensive and immature remarks come from a man who has shown himself in the past to lack intelligence, empathy, honesty and a host of other positive, life-affirming qualities. Coming from him they are objectionable, but hardly surprising. Romney and Santorum: leadership vacuum You might expect a firm response from leaders, and leadership hopefuls, however, but here's Mitt Romney on the remarks: "It's not the language I would have used. I'm focusing on the issues that I think are significant in the country today, and that's why I'm here talking about jobs in Ohio." Now here is that other leader in the Republican race, Rick Santorum, after he'd heard about a young woman being called a "slut" and a "prostitute" by Limbaugh: "He's being absurd. But that's, you know--an entertainer can be absurd." These are Christian men?' This kind of childish name-calling should in fact be denounced by anyone running for the office of the presidency - the presidency of anything, a community group, business, rugby team, a debating club, a nursery school. But neither Romney nor Santorum could muster anything other than those vague comments, comments that did more to suggest they agreed with Limbaugh than disagreed. Morality disappears in Republican Party It seems that these men are afraid of appearing soft to those rabid Tea Party supporters so full of hate and misanthropy they are unable to see how tragic and unnecessary, how blatantly misogynist and uninformed Limbaugh's name-calling is. Rather than being leaders, being men of character, they tried to duck the issue. That, however, is the best case scenario, that they know in their hearts, and minds, that the remarks should be roundly condemned. The worst case scenario is that they agree with Limbaugh. Where has morality gone? What kind of men call a woman a derogatory and a vile name, a 'slut' because of her political views - in a democracy!!! - views held by millions of others that, agree or disagree, are at heart about trying to help people stay healthy? What kind of a world would we have if we were lead by men like that? That Romney and Santorum chose to respond so limply, if done out of fear of alienating voters, is downright shameful. But if done because they secretly agree with Limbaugh - then that is downright scary.