President Obama calls Sandra Fluke

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Earlier this afternoon, Sandra Fluke received a personal phone call from President Obama, two days after she was called a "slut" on Rush Limbaugh's radio show. Ms Fluke attends the prestigious Georgetown University (a Jesuit school) and its president released earlier today a letter of support for Ms. Fluke, strongly critical of Mr. Limbaugh's comments, calling them "vile and misogynistic." Ms. Fluke broke the news about her call from the President during an interview on Andrea Mitchell's show. Fluke was the woman who was to testify before the Republican House Committee hearing but was denied by Darryl Issa, who instead had an all male panel testify on the subject of birth control and freedom of religion. A week later, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi held a non-binding hearing and asked Ms. Fluke to appear. Rush Limbaugh went on the offensive on his radio show and "...demanded that Fluke release tapes of her having sex in exchange for the contraception that she argued should be covered by employers." Fluke said the President's phone call was completely unexpected and added "What was really personal for me was that he said to tell my parents that they should be proud. And that meant a lot because Rush Limbaugh questioned whether or not my family would be proud of me. So I just appreciated that very much."

Joe Scarborough, a former conservative Republican member of the United States House of Representatives stated in an interview, he's had several conversations with what he described as "fire breathing conservatives" going into panic mode over the recent news cycles painting Republicans as opposed to women's rights and birth control when instead they are allowing President Obama off the hook, and thinks the election will be lost because of the focus on issues that don't matter, and were settled years ago.

It seems that the some in the Republican party are so intent on pushing it more to the right, at the expense of moderate and women voters, the chances of winning the Senate back (Olympia Snowe's retirement all but guarantees that her seat will go to a Democrat), or winning the White House are going to be severely crippled (this has happened already in a key state, Virginia, which has seen a significant movement by independent and women voters from Romney to President Obama because of the forced ultrasound amendment for abortions). While Rush Limbaugh doesn't speak for all conservatives obviously, he is the face for one of the largest audiences in talk radio, and the massive condemnation, he's now receiving should wake him up, or at least give him pause for making such reckless statements

Comments

[chron-job.livejournal.com]

> Which is absolutely appropriate.

Just come out and say that government has no role to play in providing health insurance.

Using religion as a handy acid in an attempt to chip away at Government health care was a mistake.

> a) that was the mandate put in place

As it should have been, to maintain consistency

> b) because they're significant religious and moral opposition to it.

Which has little to do with the role of government, and everything to do with religiously connected opinions on sexual behavior. This is why its blowing up in the GOP's face. You tried to cut down a tree with an axe that is bladed at both ends.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Just come out and say that government has no role to play in providing health insurance.

It absolutely doesn't. If it's going to anyway, however, religious exemptions are absolutely appropriate.

This is why its blowing up in the GOP's face. You tried to cut down a tree with an axe that is bladed at both ends.

I'm not seeing it blowing up in anyone's face.

[chron-job.livejournal.com]

> I'm not seeing it blowing up in anyone's face.

See how you feel in November.