Local Businesses Drop Ads from Rush Limbaugh Show

Update, 3/6: Two more local businesses, Sterling-based Cascade Dental and Bethesda-based Bethesda Sedation Dentistry, have announced on Twitter that they will no longer run ads during Limbaugh's broadcast on WMAL. 

Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has lost national sponsors since calling Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke a "slut" last week, but Limbaugh's show is also facing pressure in the Washington metro area. 

While Limbaugh apologized for his choice of words over the weekend, two local businesses — carpet cleaners and replacement window company Thompson Creek — pulled their advertisements from WMAL (105.9 FM and AM 630), which runs Limbaugh's show, during that program.

Hadeed Carpet and Rug president Joe Hadeed announced on Twitter that the company had dropped its ads.

"ALL our #rushlimbaugh commercial spots have been PULLED," Hadeed wrote. "We do not support his inexcusable words/beliefs." Both companies declined to comment to Patch. Cumulus Media, WMAL's Atlanta-based parent company, also declined to comment. 

WMAL's remaining advertisers in the Washington metropolitan area have been targeted by a Twitter account, @rushwmalads. The account is devoted to "naming and shaming" Limbaugh's local advertisers.

"This show is about you," Limbaugh told his listeners Monday after reiterating that he regretted the language he used to describe Fluke. "This is not about the advertisers."

Limbaugh has lost eight national sponsors since the controversy began, including Patch parent company AOL.