Obama calls Sandra Fluke, Limbaugh kisses it off
(CNN) – President Barack Obama called Sandra Fluke Friday to offer his support to the law student who has come under attack following her testimony to a House panel in support of access to contraceptives.
"The president was expressing his support for her and his disappointment in the kind of attacks that have been leveled at her and to her and his appreciation for her willingness to stand tall and express her opinion," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said at the White House press briefing.
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He said the president feels the personal attacks are "inappropriate."
"The fact that our political discourse has become debased in many ways is bad enough," Carney said. "It is worse when it is directed at a private citizen who was simply expressing her views on a matter of public policy."
Fluke was targeted by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh on Wednesday, when he called her a "slut" and "prostitute" and again on Friday.
The conservative firebrand also responded to Obama's call with a kissing sound.
"Obama just called Sandra Fluke to make sure that she was alright, aw," Limbaugh said Friday. "That is so compassionate. What a great guy. The president called her to make sure she's OK."
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have weighed in on the issue. House Democrats rallied Thursday in response to Limbaugh's comments by sending a letter to House Speaker John Boehner urging him to condemn the statements, which to date has 80 signatures. Boehner on Friday called Limbaugh's remarks "inappropriate."
Several companies - including LegalZoom, Sleep Number, and Sleep Train Mattress - said in online postings that they were withdrawing advertisements from Limbaugh's program.
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Alright, I havn't seen it posted yet so here goes "What a Fluke !"
@Taran.
Brilliant solution. Must have took you a long time to think of it.
He is a lower life form. Just ignore him. That's what hurts him the most.
>the government has no right to dictate that a private business provide free services to anyone
Free, who said anything about free? it's part of your health care, unless you mean you want to get rid of ALL health care?
I don't know about you, but I PAY through the nose for my health care... it would be nice to get something free, even if its just for some water balloon fun on a Friday – TFIF.
The young woman has grounds to sue Limbaugh for slander. And she should demand a public apology and not take a settlement.
Hate to agree with Rush – but he has a point here. If you're spending $3000 on contraception you're doing something wrong (or the health care system is more messed up than I thought) .
President Obama should have stayed out of this – by commenting on it he has given Rush a ton of credibility he did not have before.
That fat boy won't think it's so funny when she sues him for ten million and wins
I am hoping that this young lady sues Limbaugh for defamation and I hope that she gets millions from that nasty, fat blowhard.
I truly believe that Limbaugh is a VERY DANGEROUS individual very much like that fellow with the funny mustache in Germany back in the 1930's. We all know what happened then. This sick individual has a following of "sheep" who only see and hear what he tells them. Radio stations have fired DJ's over such inflammatory remarks. If SIRIUS radio has any morals, they will DO THE RIGHT THING and immediately get rid of this spewer of bigotry and partisan hatred.
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 🙂
I thought Rush's comment was very funny who's knows maybe she is??