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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Does the First Amendment permit Mitt Rmoney to INTRUDE into my womb?
Ooops! Only a small government can fit into our bedrooms.
Limbaugh is an entertainer who never did anything meaningful in his life. Fox news is an entertainment vehicle. It is owned by the same folks who give us Fox tv, and we know how pure and clean that is, right? Honestly, wingnuts, face it. This guy is a blowhard and you listen to him to let yourselves feel the jolt of anger that proves to you that you're alive. There are better, more constructive ways.
Cobia, I'm afraid you are the one who was fooled. Only activists testify before Congress. It would not enter the mind of innocent and naive people to do so.
There is a lot of low things I've seen Rush do, but this is definitely one of the lowest. Message to Rush there is a difference between free speech and libel and slander.
I you don't like the POLITICS of Georgetown Law, don't attend
Good news all . In the wake of the Rush foul mouth comment to Sandra Fluke, there are now four companies that have pulled their ads from Rush's show. Still a few more companies to contact.
Where is Obamas morality and ethics when the mayor of Los Ageles cheats on his wife,, Where is Obamas morality and ethics when a black person calls another the" N" word! Where is Obamas morality and ethics when unions make it hard to fire employees /teachers for molesting children or not doing there jobs right and paying them outrages salaries that we cant afford. where is Obamas morality and ethics when he lies to us about he cant do anything about gas prices when he can put an export tax on our gas and increase out put in the gulf build the pipeline and more refineries and create jobs .he doesnt think that the speculators wont speculate that the gas prices will come down?Biggest cheat president of all time!
I applaud the courage and integrity of this young Woman, going to bat for a friend. Rush, with three failed marriages, is the last person on Earth who should ever throw a stone at another human being. He should be grateful he and I are not neighbors tonight, because I'd be on his doorstep, asking him what the hell he was thinking when he attacked that girl just before I smashed his face in.
she has every right to her opinion, as does rush, bill maher, cnn, fox,you ,me....so what?....next.
An outrage!!!! Like the Don Imus fiasco a few years ago. Limbaugh should have already been fired that is unlikely to happen!
With any sense she'd sue the pig into the ground
We all stand beside her. See us. In the end we are a sisterhood. We protect our daughters, our sisters, our mothers, ourselves. We thought that kind of hatred against women was behind us. Apparently it's not. The masks are off. Stand up for all the women, particularly the young, who need our help now. Rush, you have opened now a positive form of Pandora's box.
its so funny how the brain dead limb followers make up facts and then run their lives by them. The downfall of this country is around the corner with so much inability to think. How about working as a rock crusher so you can avoid collage... it will suit your kind just fine.
Seriously, you must not watch Maher, Maddow, Schultz, Olberman...........
Rush was making a point. Tacky as it was. Women want so badly to be responsible for their bodies, but, are unwilling to pay for it themselves. Pathetic. When I was 20 I was able to go to college, work part time and still got super cheap contraception at PP. She is a loser
He opened his fat cheeks and took one, right on his sponsors' laps. And I get the feeling he knew the repercussions, in fact he even said himself that he would lose sponsors. Could the almighty El Rusho be imploding?
batperson, how does Bill Maher characterize Palins behavior?
I wish Rush's mommy practiced birth control.
Cobia, and Feral Conservative
Just keep talking Cobia and Feral Conservative Rush is losing his sponsors. You will lose the GOP
Rush went too far. Limbaugh should have elevated his discourse and not sunk himself to the level of Rachel Maddow, Bill Maher, the guy from the DailyKos, The Ed Show, nearly half the Senate and anyone who writes for Huffington Post. He should apologize for his remarks and move on.
Why do the Republicans feel they must take every single opportunity to look like they a bunch of bigoted, intolerant, and ignorant buffoons?
As a Republican... I am ashamed of how Limbaugh frequently rants and raves... this is yet another example.
Seriously???
Bill Maher is the face of the Democrats, mean, hateful, bigoted, and totally disgusting...Sound familiar. I won't denegrate myself to complete the Seriously??? rant. The liberals have to look at themselves in the mirror as well. Limbaugh went overboard, so did the Huffington Post and Bill Maher with their rants against Catholics and religion in general. Let's be serious if someone said the same against other religions, the reaction would be different.
How can the republican movement get themselves out of this deep hole they find themselves in?
Stop digging.................
Yak all you want fluke, just buy your own birth control or abstain, it's your choice. Here's my prediction: Fluke is a patsy a liberal plant who will end up with a job in return for her "testimony".
Absolutely outrageous, regardless of beliefs on contraception, abortion, or other issues. This sort of ad hominem attack is never acceptable, and should be loudly condemned by all sides. In particular, all 4 Republican presidential candidates had better stomp on this fast, or people are going to remember.