Newt Gingrich was the latest Republican presidential candidate to distance himself from the controversial radio commentator Rush Limbaugh following his tirade against a law student that he deemed a 'slut'.
Appearing on a Sunday morning news program, Mr Gingrich said that it was 'silly' to suggest that Mr Limbaugh speaks on behalf of the entire Republican party, and that he glad that Mr Limbaugh issued an apology to Sandra Fluke, the woman at the heart of the debate.
Following her appearance at a hearing in support of President Obama's quest to have all employers pay for birth control through health insurance policies, Mr Limbaugh called the 31-year-old Ms Fluke a 'prostitute' and suggested that she could make enough money to pay for her birth control by posting videos of herself having sex online.
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Rant: Rush Limbaugh, 61, left called Sandra Fluke, right, a student at Catholic college Georgetown University, a 'slut' for saying religious institutions should cover birth control under health insurance
Mr Gingrich's fellow candidates already responded, with each varying in their severity.
Rick Santorum said that the comments were 'absurd' and Ron Paul said that they were 'crude'.
Mitt Romney tried to tactfully avoid the issue at several campaign events before finally saying Mr Limbaugh's remarks were 'not the language I would have used'.
After refusing to retract his name calling from Wednesday, Mr Limbaugh decided to double down on Thursday and dig himself deeper into the issue.
Only after a number of advertisers announced that they would be withdrawing their ads from his show did the radio host apologize, saying that he 'did not mean a personal attack on Ms Fluke' but was simply trying to make a point.
'For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity,' he said in his statement that he released on Saturday.
Condemnations: GOP Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich said that he was glad Mr Limbaugh apologized, and distanced himself from the controversial host by saying it was 'silly' to think that Mr Limbaugh speaks for the party
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