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]

After this I am avoiding you but let's be clear: I am not avoiding you because you somehow won any sort of point. I am avoiding you because arguing in bad faith is tiresome. After this I will never interact with you in any manner again because of the myriad reasons that have come up when I have tried to engage you in open debate.

But here is the entirety of what you said:
I highly doubt she wants to get into a court case about her sexual activity and policy desires, because that's what the next step would be. And if it turns out that she, in fact, does want taxpayer help on contraceptives, then the argument can be made that it is effectively prostitution, which then ends up making Rush Limbaugh look like he wasn't being a jackass.

There was no misunderstanding. There way no lying on my part. There was nothing but reading what you said, reacting and watching as you tried to avoid the shit sandwich that you should eat when you say such things. That statement says clear and emphatically that you think an argument can be made in a court of law in a slander case that the exchange of tax dollars for birth control is prostitution.

So yeah, I will avoid you. I've tried to interact with you on every level - bloodless debate on points and sources, sarcasm, mockery, earnest and heartfelt exchange - and it always comes back down to this.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

After this I am avoiding you but let's be clear: I am not avoiding you because you somehow won any sort of point. I am avoiding you because arguing in bad faith is tiresome. After this I will never interact with you in any manner again because of the myriad reasons that have come up when I have tried to engage you in open debate.

Says the person who's spent two days outright lying to me lecturing me on bad faith.

There was no misunderstanding. There way no lying on my part. There was nothing but reading what you said, reacting and watching as you tried to avoid the shit sandwich that you should eat when you say such things. That statement says clear and emphatically that you think an argument can be made in a court of law in a slander case that the exchange of tax dollars for birth control is prostitution.

Thank you for finally - finally being honest. Seeing as you previously chose to misquote me (http://talk-politics.livejournal.com/1368208.html?thread=108852880#t108852880) and then lying about my position (http://talk-politics.livejournal.com/1368208.html?thread=108856976#t108856976) ("equating tax subsidy of birth control with prostitution is one of the worst things you have ever said"), I'm glad you're going with honesty now. Maybe this can be your new leaf for interactions with other people.

So yeah, I will avoid you. I've tried to interact with you on every level - bloodless debate on points and sources, sarcasm, mockery, earnest and heartfelt exchange - and it always comes back down to this.

You made your bed, so sleep in it. We only have problems when you lie about me. Ignore me and pretend I don't exist, and you won't have any further temptation to lie about me, which means we won't have any other problems. Hopefully you can refrain from such activity with others as well.