Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh issued an apology Saturday after a media firestorm erupted when he called student Sandra Fluke a "slut" on his radio show, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Fluke, a law student at Georgetown University, has advocated in defense of health insurance plans that cover the cost of contraception. Fluke's position struck a nerve with Limbaugh, who called Fluke a "prostitute" on his show last week. He also said he was "surprised she can even walk" because "she has had so much sex" and accused her of having trouble paying for contraception because she is so sexually active.

Limbaugh's comments caught the attention of President Obama, who called them "reprehensible" and made a phone call to Fluke to thank her for fighting for women's rights and express his support.

After blasting the president on his show as well as Fluke this past Friday, Limbaugh backtracked and apologized on Saturday. Several advertisers had pulled their spots from his radio show.

"My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir," he wrote on his website. "I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."

Despite the apology, he didn't back down from his stance on the contraception issue.

"I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress," he wrote. "I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability?"

Apparently Limbaugh realized that his inflammatory comments can sometimes cost him dollars -- many dollars. And if his past experience of rarely backing down from a fight is any indicator, the talk show host was probably forced by his lawyers to issue the apology to lessen the severity of legal action Fluke could take if she wanted to.

Read more at the Los Angeles Times.

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