Why won't Rush apologize?

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Rush Limbaugh recently spread information over his show that turned out to be false - something that was originally posted as satire, but that was shared by someone else who didn't notice that it was tagged as such. The inimitable Rush found the second article, accepted it as Gospel (most likely because it fed into his and his listeners belief systems), and shared it as fact on his show. The poster of the second article has since apologized for posting it as fact saying that he hadn't noticed the tags identifying it as satire. Thumbs up to that gentleman for acknowledging his mistake. Rush, however, chose to refuse to apologize saying that the article may have been satire but that it was how Obama really was, so no apology was needed. HUH????? No need to apologize for broadcasting admittedly false information as fact simply because the broadcaster believes it to be true anyway? http://news.aol.com/article/limbaugh-falls-for-obama-thesis-hoax/735565 I may not like Rush, but if he had said, "I should have vetted the article before reporting it; I was wrong to report it as fact, even if I believe it to be substantially true", I could respect that action from him. It would still keep his belief up front, while acknowledging that he knew he hadn't done good research on the information. But, Rush refuses to apologize for making such an announcement, even when it was found to have been a piece of satire rather than actual news. In my mind, it all comes back to "the ends justifies the means". People listened to the original broadcast and believed it. These people statistically only listen to news broadcasts that lean to the right, so they were unlikely to hear that Rush had used an article of satire in error. There was also a good chance that those who listened to the morning show wouldn't hear his statement about it being satire, one that he immediately followed with a disclaimer that "we know he (Obama) thinks it." The damage had already been done. So again, why can't he apologize for erroneously using a piece of satire as valid news? It's not that difficult. It's not going to change how one believes - and it might even bring respect from others where there is none now. His behavior reminds me of my father's who after learning that he had beaten me up (his drinking made him black out afterwards and not remember) said, well - you must have done something to deserve it. I see it as symptomatic of an abusive personality who refuses to accept any responsibility for their actions. I know those devoted to the right side of the political spectrum won't agree with my assessment, but can you see why this bothers me? Do any of you agree that it IS possible for someone to apologize for making a mistake without losing their standing within their following? Or without denying their beliefs?