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

[awdrey-gore.livejournal.com]

We've had this conversation before wherein you explained condescendingly why I am wrong not to approach things the way you think I should. So let's break it down.

Why does a lack of civility make you think I did not, in fact, dissect his repellent argument? Because I dropped an f-bomb? If you bothered to read the whole of the exchange I had here with Jeff, there was a lot more to it than "fucking asshole." Interesting that is the only thing you honed in on because, believe me, I said plenty more. Anger and foul language are only lazy if you fail to read the rest. Dismiss anger and foul language if you wish, but there are times when impassioned debate is necessary and when a man assumes a guise of being a devil's advocate so he can say there is a case to call women who use federal insurance and birth control are prostitutes, that is indeed a time when anger is warranted and conspicuous in its absence. Some think that anger means you lose the argument. I think eliminating appropriate anger strips discussions of the capacity to exhibit appropriate expression.

Please don't tell me again how you would handle things. I think even before this particular exchange I've made it clear that I am uninterested in debating according to the dictates of dd_story.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Well if you calm down for a second you'd notice that I'm not dictating anything to you. Since when is sharing my point of view on a situation = dictating you anything? And if we're to bring up prior conversations in other places we might go into uncharted territories, are you sure you want that? It wasn't my intention, to begin with.

Yes I saw the rest of what you said. Which is why I'm not accusing you of anything, least of all saying "fucking asshole". I was making a far more general point but you missed it, in your belief that I was talking about you, specifically, personally. It always has to be personal.

[awdrey-gore.livejournal.com]

Let's be clear. I am calm and telling someone to calm down is condescending attempt to gain the upper hand in a conversation by making the other person seem out of control and I think you know that. I am perfectly calm - caustic and calm can easily go hand in hand.

Bring up whatever uncharted territories you feel you need to bring up.

I was making a far more general point but you missed it, in your belief that I was talking about you, specifically, personally. It always has to be personal.
So, when someone replies to a comment I made, quotes words from what I said, and makes a statement that saying those words were a lazy was of dealing with the situation, I am both not to think the comment is directed at me AND that when you call using those words lazy it is not a condemnation of what I said?

Yeah, I was really missing the general point, wasn't I? Your nuances were lost on me. My bad.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

But why am I always seen as condescending? Please, I don't mean anything bad, what am I doing wrong? Bad choice of words? OK, perhaps. I'll give you that.

I really don't care about gaining an upper hand in anything, that's not what I'm here for! Come on.

No I won't bring up anything. I do respect you, contrary to what you might or might not imagine. Let's just shake hands and move on. Please? I don't have any grudges with you and I'd be happy if you don't, either...

Apologies for anything that may have caused you grievances of any sort.

[awdrey-gore.livejournal.com]

You know, I think when I read you at times, I read something vaguely maternal in your words and I react poorly to it. And the hell of it is, I have a hard time putting my finger on it, which means it's me, not you.

The calm down thing I can explain. I was a cross-examination debater in high school and college and at the time, there were not a whole lot of girls in the activity. It was actually taught that when a male team debated a female team, they should at some point tell the female to calm down, even if she was perfectly calm because the female would react to the condescension implicit in being told to calm down even when calm and would then become upset. Ahh, sweet baggage.

I like you and this was me being too prickly. You're my e-comrade and we should carp no more forever. You haven't caused me grievances. You are delightful 98% of the time and PFFT! on this whole thing. :)

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

I can be a real bitch sometimes. But at the end of the day,