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Subscribe to RSSHouse Speaker John Boehner distanced himself on Friday from Rush Limbaugh, calling the conservative radio host's words toward a women's rights advocate "inappropriate."
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, talks about a lunch meeting with President Obama to deal with rising gasoline prices, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 29, 2012.
Amid a growing media firestorm over comments Wednesday by Limbaugh toward Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown Law student who testified before a Democratic panel on the use of contraception, Washington's top Republicans said through a spokesman that Limbaugh was wrong.
"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 a statement.
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The comment refers to Democratic fundraising efforts related to Limbaugh's comments, in which he called Fluke a "slut." Fluke had been asked to testify about the policy of Georgetown University, a Catholic college, toward covering contraception for students. Her testimony came amid a controversy in Washington in recent weeks regarding the extent to which religious institutions should be required to cover contraceptive services as part of their insurance policies, despite moral objectives to contraception.
"What does it say about the college co-ed [Sandra] Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex," Limbaugh said on his show. "What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute."
His comments quickly became political fodder for House Democrats, whose leader, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, decried Limbaugh's comments as "outside the circle of civilized discussion and that unmask the strong disrespect for women held by some in this country." The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee additionally sought donations as a result of the outrage.
"I think my reaction was the reaction that a lot of women have had when, historically, they've been called these types of names and that really I think ... and that was initially, to be stunned by it, but then to quickly feel outraged and very upset by it," Fluke said about Limbaugh's remarks Friday on the TODAY show.
Sandra Fluke, the birth control activist called a "slut" and "prostitute" by conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, talks to TODAY's Matt Lauer about Limbaugh's comments and the failure of a GOP-sponsored amendment that would have allowed employers to opt out of providing contraception in health plans.
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Mr Boehner
I would refrain from playing the role of useful idiot in the future and start calling the issues for what they are.
What did she say? If she said she must be paid to have sex Rush's comment was on base. Anyone who has sex for money is a prostitute. Fact is fact. If that is not what she said then maybe it is another case. Religious institutions should not be required to offer contriceptives. Period. Most of them take the stance that the best way to not get pregnant is to not have sex. A minority of society will not bend that.
What do you think religious institutions should have to offer employees?
There is nothing that says they have to even offer insurance and perhaps they should not do so. maybe they should simply allow their employees the better opportunity of purchasing their insurance from the future exchanges?
You are trying to destroy individual rights by superseding the right of religious freedom over individual rights. The constitution protects individual rights not the rights of organizations to overlord individual rights.
Jmaes, please tell me where in the Constitution it says the government has the right to make anybody or organization buy anything? And, where does it say that health care and free birth control is a right?
Anthony..the faith based employer is not going to have to pay for the insurance coverage. Perhaps yu missed that amended mandate. This Blunt bill, however violates HIPPA laws as well as gives ANY employer the right to deny insurance coverage for ANY treatment, testing, or other health care provisions that they deem against THEIR moral or religious beliefs.
Here's the letter that I just emailed to the FCC:
fccinfo@fcc.gov
To FCC Leaders:
Rush Limbaugh has been getting by with hate speech, distortion of truth, lies, and denigration of anyone who does not meet his views for many years. While Imus was removed from the broadcast industry for much less violation of the FCC rules of broadcasting, it is my humble opinion that Rush Limbaugh has outrageously crossed the line and seemingly getting by with it. His denigration of Sandra Fluke on air, and the language that he used to do so, is obvious gender discrimination at best. As a woman I am appalled and insulted! As a consumer of public broadcasting, I feel compelled to generate a mass civil suit upon the Clear Channel Network and Rush on behalf of women in this country if he is not removed from his position and fines levied against him by the FCC.
Please be advised that thousands of men and women are communicating with Clear Channel, it's affiliate stations, and it's sponsors, demanding retribution for Rush's vile broadcast. I feel that in light of these actions, the integrity of the FCC is at stake if you do not move to reprimand and denounce this man's actions.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
Respectfully,
Kathy Lips
Right on Ms Lips! very articulate! well said!
and when are you going to report MSN for its attacks on Sarah Palin . What Rush said pales in comparison to what has been said about Palin. I'm no Palin fan but it goes both ways.
and further, Lips, you need to amend your letter and include all the liberals on this site who you can't write one sentence without it being full of hate-filled, vile things.
Palin has NEVER been called a slut and prostitute nor invited to post sex videos!! Get a grip, dude, and stop stretching the truth to satisfy your interests! And, BTW, for FYI to all of you: Clear channel network, the one who is the distributor of the Rush shows, is owned by Bain Capital! Go figure!
Now you pubhairs say you don't want to pay for someones birth control. Would you rather pay hundreds of thousands more just to give unwanted babies government support for the rest of their lives? What a dumb ass position
Inappropriate? The very existence of Limbaugh is inappropriate. Likewise, Boehner the puppet and his friends in Washington must have a significant diet problem - the year is 2012, not 1952.
I firmly believe that if you need to call someone names to make your point you do not have a point.
Not "names"; just nouns descriptive of her activities.
Mike - What activities? She testified about her friend that had ovarian cysts that couldn't afford the birth control to control the cysts. Because she had to give up using birth control hormone pills due to the expense, she lost her ovary. What activties do you see in that testimony that would illicit a response calling her a slut and a prostitute. Oh and BTW are you calling any woman that dares to desire sex a slut and prostitute? If so get your head out of the 18th Century.
Like people on this site, Ricky?
Laurie, she said she needs $3000 to pay for her birth control while attending law school. Is nobody curious why a woman who chooses to pay $65000 to attend law school is too "poor" to buy her own birth control? And why isn't she smart enough to go to liberal sacred shrine, Planned Parenthood, where they already give it away for free.
Depends on how far away Planned Parenthood is.....BC should be available free to women so that the state and federal government don't have the responsibility of paying for children that women aren't financially ready to take care of. Now if you are saying that women shouldn't have sex or be able to enjoy sex at the same rate that men do then perhaps men need to consider having sex with each other and leave women alone.
Condoms are free for men in the public health clinics and many other reproductive health clinics, including private clinics. I am sure Mike knows this very well. :~) So, in lieu of women obtaining birth control herself, let her do one of the following: 1) Abstain from sex while unmarried 2) Require partner to wear a condom, whether it's a spouse or unmarried partner 3) Use no protection, get pregnant, and strap the partner with child support.
As a HIV specialty nurse, I would suggest using protection whether on birth control pills or not, anyway, if unmarried! Ya know, if you want love, wear a glove!
Looks like the income from prostitution would not cover the cost of the brat's contraceptives. Why does she go to this school and complain about not getting free sex aids? Only school to accept her? Looking for a name? Or just stupid?
I would gladly pay for the birth control (or castration) of all of the idiots and leaches that abuse the system... considering the other option is to pay for their 15 welfare children. I'm independent but if you think about it most democrats and republicans probably feel the same way.
I think the first commenter had a point. Rush says stuff like this to get people outraged so they will listen to his program. It is a formula that has worked for him very well. Having said that, I am conservative. In fact I would say that I am very conservative. I do not believe that the government should mandate what health insurances should cover or not cover that should be up to the employer.
Now, having said all of that...
If Republicans are going to go all out against birth control, then they had better damned well fix the foster care system. Good people who want to adopt can not, and children are being fed to people who just want to get a paycheck for having a bunch of kids in the house. Children go unloved through this system, and good foster parents get out of the system that is so cumbersome.
Greg, you act like women have NEVER had access to birth control. Go to Planned Parenthood where it's free already!
I actually spoke to Rush on air back in 1991...I was 23 years old and couldn't believe the things I was hearing! But it dawned on me that it was clear that everything he was saying was for shock effect...so I called him and told him what I thought. He didn't deny it. Mark my word, Rush doesn't even believe the things he says and he's no dummy either. He knows that his tactics work with the masses who love a good old rabble rousing and he preys on those who can't think for themselves. He's laughing all the way to the bank and the people who listen to him don't even get that they're being made fools.
So Dirt, let me get this straight... you're advocating that she go to Planned Parenthood - which is taxpayer subsidized - instead of having her insurance cover it - that she pays for. How does that make any sense?
Say bye bye to your sponsors Rush!
Ididn'tknow said: "Anyone who watched the testimony knows the picture of Fluke has been photoshopped by msnbc...she looked as if she would have no need for contraceptives" -- I'm sorry, how does photoshopping or someone's looks even enter into a discussion of Mr Limbaugh's misogynistic comments, or Boehner's spineless inability to defend his constituents, his girl children, his mother, his wife, his sister? Inappropriate, indeed!!
rush is a misogynist and his followers are largely ignorant shut-in AM radio listeners, but he's still free to say what he wants to, companies are free to sponsor or drop him, and i guess people are free to waste their entire lives getting all apoplectic about everything.
but the real issue is that a company or private organization should be free to cover or not cover whatever it wants to in its employee health plan, or not even have a plan...and employees who don't like it are free to find employment elsewhere. regardless of the fact that this anti-contraception battle is being led by weird out-of-touch anti-sex male papists, they do have a point when it comes to freedom of contract.
How ironic that Rush Limbaugh is berating Sandra Flukefor her morality when HE was busted for abusing prescription drugs. Rush just goes to show how hypocritical religious conservatives can be. Rush is nothing but a Fat, Pill-Popping, Bible- thumper whose comments are better kept to him self
Yes, you read it right. Kudos to Rush Limbaugh. The man calls it has
he sees it. More importantly, he calls it as the Republican Party
sees it. He called the young woman testifying before congress a slut
and said that if we're going to pay for contraception for these women
to have sex then they should post the sex videos on line. He called
this private citizen a prostitute and defamed her in front of his 2
million+ listeners.
Kudos, to rush for making it abundantly clear what the right wing
thinks about women and how they should be treated. Kudos to Rush
Limbaugh for outing the republican party as the misogynistic, racist,
out of touch, anachronistic, Neanderthals that they really are.
Kudos to Rush Limbaugh for making the reelection of POTUS that much
easier by alienating 50% of the population.
And finally, kudos to the rest of the republican party, tea party and
entire right wing movement for standing silent in the midst of the
controversy thereby exhibiting tacit approval, nay, encouragement, of
this despicable behavior.
"Men" don't attack women ---- Limbaugh isn't a "Man"
? How does a student asking for taxpayers to pay for her sex "necessities" get into politics? Is this the hate brain of a typical socialist, or do you have a hangover?
Mike - Why should taxpayers pay for viagra or vaccinations, blood transfusions, smoking cessation medication, etc. all activities that I don't approve of and therefore shouldn't have to pay for???? You're just a woman hater plain and simple.
Wow, call it like it is and you lib's come unglued.
First, Boner will be apologizing to Rush by days end. Second, if Rep. can raise money over Brewer putting her finger in the president's face. Then this to is fair game. Besides, they would be doing the same thing if the shoe was on the other foot.
Pathetic comments from the peanut gallery of Liberals Socialist that seem to not care they have ZERO INTEGRITY or PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY over their own lives.
You folks are NOT AMERICANS in my book. Not in the slightest
Liberal.....don't tell me what to do!
Liberal.....i can't afford what I want, give me your money!
Liberal.....i have a 'right' to your wallet!
Liberal.....don't tell me I can't have what I want, without paying for it, you owe me!
Liberal....."I" don't pay taxes (99%) but "You" (1%) should pay even more!
You people....are the enemy....to a free society based on individual freedom and personal responsibility.
If 99% are not paying taxes you idiot where is the money coming from? Not that 1% for sure they only pay 15% or less in taxes....you right wing losers always make up your own facts....
T man, your numbers are wrong. One thing for sure tho 50% of the people are paying for everything for the 50% that don't pay. nothing is free. the insurance are just going to jack their prices and those responsible enugh to have insurance will pay for it.
And when did it become that the president can make law? There was nothing in ACA that said birth control would be free and the insurance companies have to pay for it. Does that not scare the hell out of you people that the president has now become a dictator?
Boehner-you are irrelevant
Just resign, you are worthless anyway.
...but it's o.k. when the libs. call conservative women vile names. if women want to have s-x then she should pay for its expenses. it's the libs. pandering to women and everyone else pay for the cost--as usual. limbaugh's name-calling is extreme but the definition is not right. the taxpayers and other premium payers dont get anything from the act. so she's not a sl-t, at least the sl-t give something in return. she and the beneficiaries of this bill are just typical liberal free loaders which is worst thatn the sl-t.
I think you just proved what is worst then sh*t......
Take a close look at this old balding drug addicted phony. The Republican's are held hostage by hate spewing women haters like this pathetic thing.
Well Rush you are really going to help the party out this fall by alienating women who still have the right to vote. So far anyway.
Rush types never build anything they just tear tear down.
The problem is not just Limbaugh. It is the mindset of the Republican men and women, and other "Right to Lifers".
It is perfectly okay for Viagra to be a "free" drug. That is for procreation! God wants all men to have an erection! But it is not okay for women to have the birth control pill. Ladies what that really means to you is NO SEX before marriage and NO SEX during marriage unless you INTEND to get pregnant. Otherwise sex is a sin! Protected sex is a sin. GET IT? Hence Limburger's (i.e. smelly cheese) comments about Slut.
Most of these folks really don't even think a condom is okay, or an IUD or any other device or pill that prevents pregnancy. The spilling of that precious fluid "sperm" for other than procreation is a SIN. And while these Right to Lifers are at it, no oral sex, and no masturbation. I won't even mention same sex as that is the highest of sin. And I won't mention the various other health reasons for taking the pill because frankly they think those don't count!
For some within the Catholic religion it seems/ed to be okay to "spill" that precious seed with underage boys and girls if there was a priest involved. They just admonished those priests and sent them on their way to other places to rape again. Or these wonderful "god" men just hid the knowledge until it festered and finally came out. But no matter about this precious seed; as the recipients could not get pregnant. Bad behavior, but not excommunicatable. No the Church would not expel these men, or keep them from communion. But a woman who takes birth control, well she should not be allowed to take communion! Or any man or woman who believes abortion or prevention of pregnancy has a role in women's health should not be allowed communion. In other words Rape is okay, Protection is not.
And of course it is also NOT okay for a woman of any age that was victim of rape to get a simple D&C. No, "god" thinks she should not have control of her body because she was raped, she should have to carry that abomination to full term even if it causes her great mental distress. The baby is innocent so therefore should be carried. A D&C in the first few weeks of conception should not connotate an abortion, no baby has formed and what is there is not viable to live outside the womb. But the right to lifers would have you believe there is a "baby" there from the moment of conception or the mingling of sperm and egg. What a crock!
Now there are people out there vying to have the extra fertilized eggs saved for invitro-fertilization not be destroyed because they are living creatures. Well, I say if that population of Right to Live wants to have those eggs transplanted inside their own bodies then by all means let these eggs live on.
These "do-gooders" also have now banned late term abortions thereby saying that a women whose child has the most massive birth defects and will not be able to live once born, must still be carried until it is full-term even though it will live only hours after birth with no brain or some other defect equally abhorrent. These abortions were carried out with great thought and care for the life and mental health of the mother. If it was against the mother's religion she was not forced to have it.
Now I personally am not for abortion to be used cavalierly as birth control. But when there is a good reason medically for abortion or D&C and it is agreed upon by woman and doctor then there should be the ability to have one. And this induced rape of the vaginal ultrasound should be challenged in the courts if any state passes it.
So, if any woman out there thinks any of the above dictates that someone should have control of their body to this extent then go ahead, vote Republican. But, if any of this makes you uncomfortable then elect a Democrat to both Senate, House and Presidency because as we see by Rick Santorum the Republican's would like to control your body from puberty to menopause. Rick Santorum tells you he is speaking about FREEDOM, when in fact, he is speaking about rules that HIS church MANDATES to HIM, so HE believes they should also restrain and govern YOUR life.
They don't want you to interfere with THEIR religion by mandating that you can have free birth control for your health reasons. But they would like to interfere with your life for about 40 years through laws that they want to place on the books regarding YOUR personal freedom to administer to your own health. THEY would like to MANDATE your life be controlled by THEIR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!
Any one besides me notice, republicans always tear people down and never are for AMERICANS???? They do it to one another too!!!
labeling an entire group of people is ignorant
dirt - Sorry but from what I've read here from you....it is you that is ignorant.
Need to ask all those catholic holier than thou folks if they think a vasecthomy is a sin....its contraception you blow hards! Next you people will be calling a handful of sperm a person. All of this is ridiculous anyway compared to the problems we really have going on. No one wants a pack of old farts spouting religion 24/7 to tell us who to marry or who to have sex with and how to go about doing that. If we are in church you can talk til the cows come home but within the government.....shut the hell up please. You right wing republican morons have crippled this country with your dogma, some of you democrates need your ass kicked too
Rush Limbaugh is an incendiary device who will soon hopefully implode on himself and spare us from any more of his raving rants. Stop Listening to Him PEOPLE!!
Rush crossed the line but just curious what you call a college student who goes before Congress to say that she will spend over $3,000 in 3 years at law school to have "protected sex"? At $1 apiece, that's 3,000 condoms or 1,000 a year or a little less than 3 a night. Either way, as a tax payer, I don't think I should be expected to pick up her tab. If she drank one less cocktail at the nightclub, she could easily afford her "habit".
This really isn't about condoms, sex or anything other than good old Obama handing out more free stuff and picking up votes. If he gets re-elected, the welfare line will continue to grow until we look more like Greece and a lot less like America.