Follow the Money: Why Romney's Reaction to Limbaugh's "Slut" Harangue was So Tepid.

Rush Limbaugh, channeling Sigmund Freud.


 

"Not the language I would have used."   That was Governor Romney's vanilla response when asked what he thought of Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a "slut" and "prostitute." 

Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners (which acquired and took Rayovac public) acquired Clear Channel, the channel that airs Rush, in 2008.  The majority of Clear Channel's directors are Bain partners.  There's an interesting article on the Clear Channel connection by Wayne Barrett in yesterday's Daily Beast.

Key quotes:

Clear Channel director Steven D. Barnes and his wife, Deborah, have given $346,200 to Romney, also starting in 1994. John Connaughton, also a Bain partner on the Clear Channel board, and wife Stephanie have contributed $296,300 since 2002, when Romney was elected governor in Massachusetts. 

 . . . .

The timing and size of these donations demonstrate Romney’s continuing close ties to those at the helm of this media giant, which has so far taken a hands-off policy about Limbaugh. “We respect the rights of Mr. Limbaugh, as we respect the rights of those who disagree with him,” Clear Channel’s Premiere Networks said in a statement. While media companies, including Clear Channel, have terminated or suspended hosts for over-the-top comments, the company appears as unwilling to take on Limbaugh as Romney has. Clear Channel awarded Limbaugh an eight-year, $400 million contract when the Bain/Lee acquisition closed.

On a conference call with members of the media today Obama Campaign advisor, David Axelrod, asked:

 "If Romney can’t stand up to Rush Limbaugh, how can he stand up to Ahmadinejad?”