I found it interesting that Sandra Fluke should choose to make an appearance on Ed Schultz’s show on MSNBC. Fluke is the Georgetown Law Student who testified in front of a Democratic congressional committee concerning the HHS mandate of contraceptives. Her testimony prompted Rush Limbaugh to call her, amongst other things, “a slut.”

While one might disagree with Ms. Fluke’s support for taxpayer subsidized contraceptives, Rush isn’t doing himself any favors here. First, he demeans himself by using such unsavory language. Second, he has an elevated an obscure law student into a national celebrity who will now probably command a six-figure income at either a prestigious law firm or at a liberal advocacy group. Third, he has stooped to Ed Schultz’s level.

Which brings me back to Mr. Schultz who praised Fluke for being “very brave” and lamented that it was “unfortunate a college student has to put up with this.” But in May 2011, it was the same Mr. Schultz who referred to conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham as “a right-wing slut” and “a talk slut.” MSNBC did suspend Schultz for a week of unpaid leave as a result and he did later apologize to Ingraham.

It is worth noting that Ms. Fluke told Schultz that Limbaugh’s remarks were “outside the bounds of civil discourse” and I would agree with her. Yet it begs thee questions. Does Ms. Fluke believe that Schultz’s remarks about Ingraham were also outside the bounds of civil discourse? Or do these standards not apply to conservative talk show hosts?