Political & Elections

hope · Guru

RE: President Obama calls Sandra Fluke to Offer His Support

CelticClan07 · Senior Member

I don't know where you found this piece Hope, but I give the author 2 thumbs up for thoughtful response to Fluke. And you for finding it too! I stand by assertation that Fluke denigrates women by her 'testimony'.

Cartera · Guru

Rush had to do something. His advertisers were running for the hills. It will be interesting to see how quickly they get back on board after the "apology."

Cartera · Guru

She's a women's rights activist, or more specifically, a reproductive rights activist. She didn't try to hide it and never held herself as a put upon poor law student. She identified herself as former president of Law Students for Reproductive Justice.and said that she was reporting the stories other women at school told her. She wanted to testify in the original hearing but Issa wouldn't allow it. Law students at Georgetown have been fighting for their health plans to cover reproductive services for decades.

hope · Guru

Did a little digging, and I think you are onto something, catahoula.

longprime · Guru

Candidates/Parties need to keep their name calling and insults confined to each other and not use surrogates. Surrogate spokesman, need to be careful else they lose credibility. Notice I only used "credibility" with the surrogates and not associate this with candidates/Parties who already have no self-respect or for others. evileye

longprime · Guru

never watch Mahler, either.

Jon Stewart, Daily Show. And the Colbert Report are the only two political shows that I watch, when I remember.

catahoula · Guru

... the examples she gave of the women who suffered by not having coverage. It was not about partying college girls.

I'd be suprised if the re-election effort hadn't searched far and wide to find Ms. Fluke, though she may have simply walked in on her own and said "I'm here to help". I mean, she was the witness who democrats pitched the hissy fit about when she wasn't allowed to testify, wasn't she?

SamuraiLandshark · Guru

The C word rhymes with punt.

hope · Guru

Wow I just found out what the **** stood for in dumb ****. Very, very nice.

Perhaps you should take the time to look up what "c-word" Maher called Palin, jon doe.

You might begin to appreciate the absurdity of Obama's calling Fluke to offer his support for being called a slut--a word I can actually type here without embarrassment.

john doe · Guru

I'm not sure of what the C word is but Bachmann is a bimbo and Palin is dumb. Actually bimbo and dumb can be used to describe both of them.

hope · Guru

Maher Refuses to Apologize for Calling Palin C-Word

Bill Maher is asked if he regrets calling Michele Bachmann a bimbo and Sarah Palin the "c-word" and "dumb ****." His response:

"Well, you know, I've been through this so many times. There's a lot of people in America who have, of course, nothing to do except look for something to get mad at. And I've been a frequent target and I'm happy to provide that service. So, you know, I always say, as I've said many times in these kind of situations, if I hurt somebody's feelings, I'm always sorry about that, I'm not trying to hurt somebody's feelings. But if you want me to say I'm sorry what I said was wrong, no, sorry, I can't go there."

hope · Guru

And for those of you would wouldn't be caught dead listening to the RL program, and care so much about "silencing women" I wonder: is Sarah Palin a woman?

RUSH: For those of you tuning into this program to find out what's going on, there is a central element of the whole Sandra Fluke story that you are not being told in the mainstream media. We've discussed it repeatedly here, but it's not part of the reporting in the mainstream version of it. But Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, just said that Obama finds the attacks on Fluke to be "reprehensible, disappointing, personal and crude." So I ask Jay
Carney: Will President Obama now give back the $1 million donation that Bill Maher just gave his super PAC? You want to get some tapes of some things that Bill Maher has called Sarah Palin?

The C-word over and over again.

Bill Maher and some of his comments make me look like Romper Room, a choir boy. So will Obama be giving back Bill Maher's money? Not just Bill Maher. Look at how they have characterized Sarah Palin all of these years. The media included! I know Jay Carney will not be asked. That's why I'm asking: "Will Obama give back Bill Maher's money?" (impression) "He can't, Mr. Limbaugh, because Bill Maher gave the money to the super PAC, and, as you know, Mr. Limbaugh," this the voice of the New Castrati, "the president has nothing to say whatsoever, Mr. Limbaugh, about the super PAC."

As women of the world, I am sure you know what the "c-word" is. In my book rather worse than that terrible "s-word."

Cartera · Guru

I don't think he heard her testimony because what he said makes no sense in light of the examples she gave of the women who suffered by not having coverage. It was not about partying college girls.

hope · Guru

Limbaugh's apology:

"For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.

I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit? In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone's bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level.

My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."

Well done. wink

Cartera · Guru

What makes Fluke a slut or a skank though? She is at least 30 years old and nothing was mentioned about her personal sex life. Honestly, you two cheering on calling someone a slut, prostitute and skank because you disagree with her is surprising.

-- Edited by Cartera on Saturday 3rd of March 2012 09:35:52 PM

Cartera · Guru

How surprisiing- a Georgetown student who just happens to be Communications Director for DC/VA Students with Newt. I'm surprised as a Georgetown Admissions Ambassador that she chooses to call other students "skanks."

Perhaps there will be a campaign to remove her as an Ambassador.

Good thing the President of the University is more civil. I wonder if he thinks Morabito referring to fellow students as "skanks" represents the school well as an Ambassador.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/georgetown-president-defends-student-blasts-limbaugh/2012/03/02/gIQAnE20mR_story.html

-- Edited by Cartera on Saturday 3rd of March 2012 09:30:41 PM

hope · Guru

You realize that was a non-apology apology, right? If these sponsors run for the hills, others are likely lining up. Every single one of these dustups re Rush just increase his numbers. The man hasn't been on air for twenty something years for nothing.

A "Reproductive Rights Activist?" "President of Laws Students for Reproductive Justice? "Fighting for Reproductive Services?"

You are in danger of becoming a parody of yourselves.

A different take from a Gtown student:

Sandra Fluke doesn’t speak for me. Or for Georgetown.
She doesn’t speak for those of us who worked hard to be able to choose to come to a great institution with a great tradition of faith and scholarship. She certainly can’t speak for the Jesuits who dedicated their lives to God and Education with a long established set of rules. There are only ten of them, and Ms. Fluke would do well to give them a quick read.
If she wants a more liberal sex life, she can go to Syracuse. (Syracuse, I must apologize – but we are in March and basketball matters – sorry you got caught up in this.)
Sandra doesn’t even speak for all skanks! She only speaks for the skanks who don’t want to take responsibility for their choices. That’s a tiny group of people. Hey Sandra! How about next Saturday night, you come hang out with me and my gay boyfriends! Your hair will look fabulous and you’ll get to see great musical theatre! Oh, and odds of you getting pregnant? Zero percent.
Even the oh-so-left HuffPo called Sandra out on her media sluttery: ”Fluke got the stage all to herself and was hailed as a hero by the crowd and Democratic lawmakers on the panel, all of whom rushed to appear on camera with her at the end. “Excuse me. I’d love to get a picture with our star,” Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said as she pushed her way through the packed room to Fluke.”
Star of what? Star of the bedroom sex tape? When did Georgetown Law start admitting Kardashians?
Sandra, we might be on the same campus, but we are not on the same planet.
Sandra told some sob stories about how contraception isn’t covered by the Jesuit institution we attend. (Maybe they don’t cover it because, you know, they’re a Jesuit institution. Religious freedom? Anyone? Bueller?)
A student group called Plan A H*yas for Choice staged a demonstration against the university health plan last year, duct taping their mouths and chaining themselves to the statue of Georgetown’s founder on the university’s front lawn. Then, a funny thing happened – nothing. We left them there. Now Sandra has chained herself to the sinking ship of Pelosi Liberalism. She will always be remembered as a Welfare Condom Queen.
Let’s talk priorities here. It costs over $23,000 for a year at Georgetown Law. Sandra, are you telling us that you can afford that but cannot afford your own contraception? Really? Math was never my strong suit, but something about Sandra’s accounting just doesn’t seem right.
No one forced Sandra to come to Georgetown. And now that she has, Sandra does not have to depend on the university health plan. She could walk down the street to CVS and get some contraception herself. Or, go to an off-campus, non-university doctor and pay for it out of pocket. (Or, you know…maybe not have so much sex that it puts her in financial peril?)
Funny how the same side that cries “Get your rosaries off my ovaries” is the same side saying, “on second thought…please pay for me to have all the sex I want!” The people who espouse “pro-choice” “values” are the same people who say religious institutions have no right to choose.

This young woman sounds more intelligent than Fluke.

-- Edited by hope on Saturday 3rd of March 2012 09:01:06 PM

hope · Guru

Nice try Cartera. He's right about this and the r's obviously felt the had to cave and condemn him because of the word slut. He's a conservative talk show host-comedian- entertainer. If people on your side think that makes him the voice of the r party because they fall for the propaganda you put out there, that's their problem for being so stupid and gullible.

Cartera · Guru

She didn't ask for anything for herself.

Women who are so quick to condemn her for asking that all women be treated equally denigrate the idea that all women should be treated equally. You do want women to be silenced and you can brag about your children supporting the silencing of women and the curtailing of women's rights, but they will be the worse for it.

CelticClan07 · Senior Member

Sandra Fluke is an embarrassment to all WOMEN. Women who have fought, tooth and nail for equality, independence, 'GO GIRLS, you don't need no one but yourselves' attitude! She goes before Congress and whines, yes, whines, about need needing someone to support her drug purchases? GMAB. Why is NOW not screaming from the mountains disowning her for groveling at the feet of Congress to support her? Cosmo girls everywhere must be shaking their heads in disbelief. What ever happened to people taking care of themselves? Who didn't support themselves through school, scrimping here and there? And she demands the burden of BCP's be removed so she can enoy a sex life without strings? Good heavens, what has this society become? Why now is BC being demanded to be paid for? If so, millions of women should ask for retroactive payments for the tousands spent when they took responsibilty for themselves.

I'd be mortified to have a daughter with the 'woe is me attitude, take care of meeeeee.'

Cartera · Guru

So you have made my point that Rush Limbaugh is the Republican party.

hope · Guru

Maybe so, but that has nothing to do with Sandra's testimony. I personally don't care to identify with a party that stands for free contraception as a fundamental right.

I may not agree with the extent to which some R's are trying to block access to abortion; on the other hand, I prefer to stand with a party that values the sanctity of human life.

Rush Limbaugh had the temerity to speak the word "virtue." I will stand with that before I will stand with a party to whom the very word is an insult.

I don't have a problem with him calling Sandra a "slut" either. Maybe she'll stop and think about her priorities. Calling her that is not an attempt to silence her --- it's an attempt to educate her. His point that her parents should be mortified is spot on too.

Cartera · Guru

"War on Women" campaign?

That's exactly what it is. It is going on both at the state and federal level. Governor McDonnell got caught up in it in Virginia. Oklahoma and other states have successfully restricted access to abortions and many are going after birth control too with personhood amendments. Many bills aimed at deterring choice have been passed at the state level since 2008. Bills are currently pending in other states. All of this is being pushed by the Republicans and directed at women.

longprime · Guru

RL, is he helping the moderate R positions or is he further alienating the moderate Rs. evileye

hope · Guru

I'm sorry they fell into the Democrat trap of holding all Republicans responsible for what Limbaugh says. Sigh. Onfortunately, Democrats outmaneuver R's on this type of garbage every time. I suppose Axelrod and friends (inc. Obama) are laughing their heads off.

I think Limbaugh made a valid point. If Ms. Fluke can't take the heat she shouldn't have gone before Congree and made herself a laughingstock.

romanigypsyeyes · Guru

Rush Limbaugh apologized.

-- Edited by romanigypsyeyes on Saturday 3rd of March 2012 03:16:31 PM

john doe · Guru

as did bohner and steel

hope · Guru

75 House Democrats sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) urging him to condemn the language. Friday Boehner responded in an email saying the remarks were inappropriate, but he stopped short of condemning them.

“The speaker obviously believes the use of those words was inappropriate, as is trying to raise money off the situation,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in an e-mail Friday morning.

Since launching its 'War on Women' campaign last week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has raised $1.1 million.

"War on Women" campaign?

-- Edited by hope on Saturday 3rd of March 2012 08:23:26 AM

hope · Guru

Two-thirds of what Limbaugh says in inappropriate. He's an entertainer.

This is news?

Wouldn't it be lovely if Bill Maher was held to the same standards as Limbaugh. That will never happen. Can't imagine why.

-- Edited by hope on Saturday 3rd of March 2012 06:32:31 AM

Cartera · Guru

soccerguy, you're making the argument that should be made - a perfectly reasonable argument. The President would not have any reason to reach out to this woman had anyone just debated the points she was making. Instead, she was called a slut and a prostitute and asked to make sex tapes so all could enjoy her freebie lovemaking. At least Santorum said it was innappriate.

hope · Guru

Romani...calm down and think about this seriously before you react. If it weren't so funny it would be tragic. FYI... This is not a generational thing. My 21yr old son got the hilarity of ms. Fluke's anguish immediately.

soccerguy315 · Guru

IMO... if you can't afford contraception and you don't want to deal with the results of having sex, then you shouldn't have sex. (please note I am only speaking to most cases, not situations like rape)

Also, in her testimony, she said that she shouldn't have to choose between a good school and one that provides contraception in their health plans. And my question is, why not? There are plenty of non-religious schools that you could attend. There are pros and cons to every school (and job). There is no reason this isn't part of that equation.

MadHatter · Veteran Member

No, I respectfully differ. You are wrong.

Unless you want to say Bill Ayers is the Democratic Party. Or Bill Maher. Or Keith Olbermann. Or Van Jones, or whatever other extreme Democrat talking head you want to name.

Cartera · Guru

I doubt he thinks he needs an excuse to be politically savvy. He would need an excuse not to be. Of course, if he has to spend time on every crass, knuckle dragging, misogynistic, racist thing the Republicans say these days, he'll never get any sleep. Rush is no longer the spokesman for the Republican party. He is the Republican party.

hope · Guru

My personal opinion is that the president should be above reacting to what rush limbaugh says, and if his excuse is it is politically expedient--well that makes it even more crass.

Cartera · Guru

The President would have been crazy not to capitalize on this political gift handed to him on a platter. We who support him expect him to take advantage of these moments. If the Republicans support calling a young woman a slut, a prostitute and suggestin that she make sex tapes for them to see, then he needs to make as big a deal of it as he possible can.

hope · Guru

Limbaugh is not the spokesman for the R's, but Democrats sure do like to pretend he is.

On this particular issue, however, I agree with him.

longprime · Guru

I am glad that Rush Limbaugh, is the Spokesman for the R's.

One of the reasons why this party gotta die and reincarnate into two parties.

hope · Guru

Why, john doe?

I haven't been tuned into news/politics all day. Just got home and this is the first story I came across.

And the last...back to browsing house listings and then catching up on Season 2 of Downton Abbey. ;)

Saw Sandra's testimony last night and can't say it wasn't amusing though.

In fact, maybe I'll watch it again later tonight to end my day with a guffaw.

john doe · Guru

You're right, probably should let John Bohner know how you feel.

hope · Guru

ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

Now I've seen everything. A woman whining before Congress that the government is supposedly preventing her from having as much sex as she wants if they don't force insurance companies to pay for the particular birth control method she wants?

And the President of the United States calls her to offer his support, because she can't handle being called a slut by a radio talk show host-comedian?

These are the kinds of women we have produced post-sixties feminism.

This is the kind of president our degraded culture has produced.

What an absolute embarrassment to the females of the species, and embarrassment to the Office of the President.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57389692-503544/obama-calls-sandra-fluke-to-offer-support-over-limbaugh-comments/

-- Edited by hope on Friday 2nd of March 2012 05:44:06 PM