Fluke on Limbaugh comment: 'I'm not going to be silenced'
(CNN) – The Georgetown law student targeted by Rush Limbaugh for her position on contraceptives said Friday she was "upset and outraged" when she first heard the radio talk show host had called her a "slut."
"I felt probably the way many women do when they are called those types of names," Sandra Fluke told CNN. "Initially hurt and then very quickly upset and outraged because somebody is trying to silence you."
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Fluke, who advocated last week in a Democratic hearing for the Obama policy requiring employers provide free contraception coverage, said she was sitting at a computer Wednesday when she read online that Limbaugh had personally attacked her during his radio show.
Calling her a "slut" and "prostitute," Limbaugh has said if taxpayers are going to pay for women to have sex, then they should post videos of their activities so everyone can watch.
His comments have sparked a firestorm in the last two days, with Democrats seizing on it as an opportunity to keep the political story alive.
President Barack Obama called Fluke on Friday to offer his support.
"That wasn't on my schedule for the day," Fluke joked, referring to Obama's call. "But I was happy to add that to the schedule."
The law student told CNN she thinks Limbaugh was "confused" about her testimony.
"For starters, I didn't say that I should be paid for anything. What we were talking about is private insurance covering a medical need. It has nothing to do with the government paying for anything or taxpayers or anything like that," she said.
While Fluke attends a Jesuit university that does not cover contraception as part of its health insurance plans, the school's president defended Fluke on Friday.
Religiously-affiliated institutions, like Georgetown, oppose providing contraception.
While some Republicans argue abstinence as the best form of birth control, Fluke said legislation needs to be realistic.
"We're talking about national legislation. Legislation has to reflect reality, not ideology and I don't think that we can actually expect that American women are going to stop engaging in healthy sexual behaviors," Fluke said.
But the law student said women are not going to be "silenced" about the issue.
"They're going to speak up for health care needs and what this means to them and I'm certainly not going to be silenced," she said.
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Rather have a billion rush limbaughs than one Obama.......
Limbaugh is a vile and vulgar human. Amoung the worst of the species. Followers might want to consider what he's really in it for. My family, along with thousands of others, will aggressively boycott any product sponsors to him or his broadcast.
@CobiaHunter - Prove it. Point to a specific link, and not a right-wing teabagger site link. One that actually has credibility.
While I agree that I shouldn't have to pay for some random woman's contraceptive pills, Rush Limbaugh should not have been so irresponsible and reckless about the issue. There are other ways to talk about the subject without having to completely belittle someone Limbaugh. After all, we are all still human beings. If you can't say it like you have any intelligence, then don't speak.
I woud be so embarrassed to be a republican right now.
He has a really bad case of diarrhea-of-the-mouth. Soooo, please tell me again why I should buy goods and services from the companies that continue to support his hate-filled rants?
Who cares what that fat slob lindbag says. It just shows that the teapublicans have no values and don't belong in goverment. Dem landslide in Nov.
Maybe O_b_a_m_a would cast every soul into hades to achieve his objectives if that we the most efficient means to the desired end state. That is sociopathic.
Why would anyone hire her as a lawyer if she can't figure out to use Planned Parenthood or the Health dept to get free contraception? What bothers me is this is being used to validate the mandate but it is such faulty thinking. Why should birth control be free but not other life saving drugs? Birth control there are options to obtain but there isn't for other things – and why should the 1% be provided birth control free – this mandate give it to them too!
What is this? The spanish inquisition? With limbaugh as the grand inquisitor? Am I the only man who tries to understand womens health issues? So the strategy is to attack fluke? And theres some kind of grand conspiracy as well? This would be laughable if it wasnt so serious. I can see why limbaugh is antiwomens health.....look at him! When was the last time he went on a date with someone decent who found him genuinely charming? Exactly. Hes only saying what he says because her mileage is higher than his! For that matter most ppl get more lovin than limbaugh as a general rule of evolution. Time to bring back the 60's and send these psychos packin!
Honestly I can't believe the mean spirited comments about a young woman who was brave enough to express her first amendment right of free speech. Shame on Limbaugh, Boehner, Santorum, Issa and all others who seek to repress WOMEN's HEALTH ISSUES... hopefully you will all be unemployed soon and see how you like that!
Rick – you say your comment was just a little over the top???? Don't think you can take it back...you're OUT! despite your education you don't have manners or respect for the sacrifices of previous generations to EDUCATE all those who wish for learning... Go back to PA and think about how you can be less arrogant.
Contraception is a crime against nature. Babies are not a disease. No woman should ever be able to copulate without fear of the consequences. It's the curse of Eve.
Contraceptive medicine is used for much more than preventing pregnancy; the Blunt Amendment would have given employers the right to pick and choose what they thought should or should not be covered by an employee. Do you really want your boss to know, much less decide what medicine you should be able to have covered by insurance??
This is not a health issue it is a choice issue and I made good ones in my time when we did not have all these drugs!!! I don't believe this woman actually said these things in public and expected not to be laughed at. Than Peloisi and the democrats get on theband wagon of extreme liberal thought??? Wow what a bunch!
Women will remeber this on Election day, and you can bet some just may run for local, and Federal elections, and WIN! Mr. Limbaugh's lack of insight, and his ignorance just might sink this bunch of yahoos who continue to mess with our rights, and our bodies! I know who's own my side, and it's sure not the GOP, or Tea Party bunch!
Rush is not the face or the voice of the GOP.
This woman is free to get her contraception free at planned parenthood. Not for $3,000. During her time at law school her cell phone bill will be many times higher. So why should her contraceptive use be subsidized by everyone else? She definitely has acess to her contraception. No one is preventing her from making a decision how to spend her money. She is simply a free loader and a hypocrite
Bad way to express opposition.
I oppose contraceptive coverage.
If you want coverage in order to have *** then pay for it yourself.
Rush is just being Rush. He has been an offensive wingnut idiot for a long time. The REAL issue is the silence and tepid response coming from the mainstream republican party and the prez candidates. It is an OUTRAGE. The republican party is basically condoning these insane statements and telling the American people your health care decisions will not be made by you and your doctor, but by your Boss, priests, Jesus freaks and politicians.
Rush used the wrong words to convey the right idea. I am not against birthcontrol. I am however against buying it for other people. Insurance companies never give anything away for free. The mandate forces people to violate thier 1st Amendment right to religious freedom particulalrly with the day after Plan B abortion pill being included in the mix.
1. Contraception is hell lot cheaper for insurance than to pay for pregnancy and child birth.
2. If it was free for a long time then earth would have been a better place with out idiots like Rush.
3. Just look at countries where contraception is free for people who can't afford and see the results.
What an Ass Hole this guy is! Have you seen the "Rush" this fat pig gets when he is saying these things?
I am 45, a wife, a mother of 2 boys and totally disgusted by Limbaugh's remarks. When I was 17 I was placed on birth control by my doctor to help control severe anemia. I took it for over a decade and after I had my children. I had grown up in the great age of feminism and women's rights so I knew that women had rights. I have been concerned by what I see as a denigration of women and women's rights for years now. Rush proves me correct, not that I have ever listened to his hogwash! WOMEN STAND UP AND MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD ....or better yet VOTE!!