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."
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
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.
Also see:
Seattle Times supports Romney as 'default choice' ahead of caucuses
Paul flier hits the other candidates
From CNN Politics
- Trump puts Pence in charge of US coronavirus response February 27, 2020 02:45 am
- HHS Secretary Azar: 'I'm still chairman of the task force' on coronavirus after Trump says Pence is leading response February 27, 2020 02:42 am
- Trump claims coronavirus is only partially responsible for stock market plummet February 27, 2020 02:03 am
- 5 takeaways from CNN's town halls in South Carolina February 27, 2020 04:59 am
- Biden shares story of faith with pastor who lost wife in 2015 Charleston shooting February 27, 2020 03:25 am
- Klobuchar explains what she was thinking in heated debate moment captured in photo February 27, 2020 04:07 am
Why do people care what this guy says? He's just an overpaid conservative drug addict (remember that?) He does this to keep his name in the headlines.
Rush – who is paying for your Viagra?
Bush appointed a racist Judge in Montana and Rush is the Republican highest moral leader... Nothing more about this sad and ignorant party needs to be said....But if you need more Google
Rush Limbaugh is a pig. He's always been a pig. He is largely responsible for the change of the Republican party from being a party of conservative minded people to a party of haters and right-wing ideologues who think they don't need to study issues to understand them and believe they can prevail in any political discussion simply by calling their opponents liberals.
Rush Limbaugh is an idiot and a bigot. No one can be surprised that he thinks so little of women...he despises all Americans whether they be men, women, children, black, white, asian, etc. He is a horrible human being and it is about time the Republican party oust him as their leader. It is true that he represents MANY Republicans but NOT a MAJORITY of them. The Republican party has the reputation they do because they allow this type of behavior and call it mainstream. They need to disown people like Limbaugh, Beck, Palin and Santorium. Shameful!
Birth Control is not only used for the prevention of pregnancy. There are MANY other uses including: relief of heavy menstrual flow, endometriosis, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, acne control, and lowering the risk of endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. When will we stop thinking with what's in our pants (Rush) and start thinking with our brains?
Perhaps, insurance should not cover Mr. Limbaugh coverage for Viagra that he was caught carrying with him in his luggage at an airport. The prescription was under someone else's name. If Mr. Limbaugh insists on using insurance covered Viagra, perhaps, we should be allowed to watch him having intercourse with his wife!
The issue this woman is testifying about is not about tax payers paying anything. It is about private insurance plans, either purchsed individually or through an employer, having this MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION be a covered benefit. Birth control pills are not just about birth control. They are prescribed for most conditions that fall under "female' conditions; such as hormonal imbalances, poly cystic ovarian diseases, regulation of periods, etc. Many of these conditions are precursors to cancer and other life threating conditions; way more expensive than a simple prescription. I work for the 2nd largest insurance company in the US and last year the company brought in $100 BILLION. Is the health of half the population not worth a little extra effort and couple bucks? And who are these awful women sleeping around with, hmmm?
By the way Federal Conservative- who do you think pays for those "free clinics"? YOU and ME and other tax payers. NOTHING is free. Please don't speak if you can't do it with some intelligence.
He may have relapsed with his oxycontin addiction!
Conservatives are just the worst people on Earth....I had to grow up surrounded by those fools....thankfully I went to school.
I don't understand how that pill-popping junkie still gets any airtime. I'd rather pay insurance premiums to pay for birth control for men _and_ women than to pay for sending fat, big-mouthed dope fiends to go to rehab.
Rush is a troll and we should ignore him
This has nothing to do with democrats or republicans. This is pure ignorance.
Rush sounds more like the Taliban than the Taliban. We appreciate you pointing out the big differences in the GOP's beliefs and the American people's beliefs.
Take his ass to court. Sue him for slander. Take every penny his fat butt is sitting on. Sue him...sue him...sue him.
Rush Limbaugh is a terd stain on the fabric of America, and its time for him to go.
What do you expect from a fat mouth that has more money than common sence?.
Rush Limbaugh is adisgusting stain on the fabric of America, and its time for him to go.
Maybe she should just keep her legs closed until she is married !
Limbo is a convicted drug felon, who still keeps his radio show. OTOH Jeb Bush prevented felons who had served their time from voting in Florida for Gore and effectively threw the 2000 Presidential Election against the public wishes of the entire Nation. When it comes to the foulest creatures on Earth, look no futher than you friendly local republican politicians and talking heads. Satan would be proud.
I don't think on his comment, there is too much problem. He told a fact. Who ask this girl to run arround with unwanted doings. It is too much for my hard earned tax money to spend for such wrong medical expences... May be he used some tough word.. nothing more.. But he told the truth...in hard way.
Women feel the world owes them everything!
The women in question would not need birth control if she instead would just use that battery operated version instead.
I have just sent emails to about a dozen corporate sponsors of the Rush Limbaugh program notifying them that I will not buy any of their products or use any of their services for the foreseeable future 🙂
Good ol' Rush....the druggie whoo thought all illegal drug users should go to prison until he got caught, and then the big hero tried to blame his maid. There's your idol, Republicans...a fat,drugged bully. Congratulations.