Tag Archives: health-care reform

President Obama Called Sandra Fluke Because He Wouldn’t Want Sasha & Malia Called “Horrible Names”

Jessica WakemanMarch 7, 2012 //

Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a "slut" and a "prostitute" on air. Read More »

Advertisers Drop Rush

A number of advertisers have dropped Rush Limbaugh. Read More »

Birth Control Victory

Birth control will be covered by most employers under health care reform. Read More »

“I thought about Malia and Sasha, and one of the things I want them to do as they get older is to engage in issues they care about. Even ones I may not agree with them on. I want them to be able to speak their mind in a civil and thoughtful way. And I don’t want them attacked or called horrible names because they’re being good citizens. And I wanted Sandra to know that I thought her parents should be proud of her. And that we want to send a message to all our young people that being part of a democracy involves arguments and disagreements and debate. And we want you to be engaged. And there’s a way to do it that doesn’t involve you being demeaned and insulted, particularly when you’re a private citizen.”

– President Obama in a press conference yesterday, on why he called Sandra Fluke, the woman who Rush Limbaugh called a “slut” and “prostitute” because she testified to Congress about using birth control. (More on that here and here.) The president also said, when asked about whether there is a “war on women” taking place regarding reproductive rights, “One of the things I’ve learned being married to Michelle, is I don’t need to tell her what it is that she thinks is important.” Damn straight. [The New Yorker]

Jon Stewart Takes On Rush Limbaugh Over “Slut” Slur

Jessica WakemanMarch 6, 2012 //

Advertisers Drop Rush

A number of advertisers have dropped Rush Limbaugh. Read More »

Patrica Heaton Attacks

Actress Patricia Heaton attacks Sandra Fluke over Twitter. Read More »

Sausagefest

Congress convened an all-male panel to talk about ladybusiness. Read More »

Watch Video

Jon Stewart took on Rush Limbaugh’s “slut” slur on last night’s show and put it best, as always: “Personally, I don’t get too worked up by the things Rush Limbaugh says because he is, and has been for many years, a terrible person.” This is so amazing, I have nothing better to say than put your headphones on and watch it. [The Daily Show]

Today’s Lady News: 11 Advertisers Drop Rush Limbaugh’s Show

Jessica WakemanMarch 5, 2012 //

As of this evening, 11 advertisers, including corporate biggie AOL, have dropped their $$$ from Rush Limbaugh’s show after he called a woman a “prostitute” and “slut” on air. [Think Progress]
Could — and would — Sandra Fluke sue Rush? [The Daily Beast]
Women earn less then men at every education level, according to a new report by the U.S. Census Bureau. [GOOD]
Riot police arrested 31 non-violent demonstrators yesterday who were protesting against Virginia’s new law that forces a woman seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound first. (A previous iteration of this law would have forced women to have an invasive transvaginal ultrasound.) [Feministing] Keep reading »

Sandra Fluke Talks Rush Limbaugh’s ‘Slut’ Smear On “The View”

Jessica WakemanMarch 5, 2012 //

Advertisers Drop Rush

A number of advertisers have dropped Rush Limbaugh. Read More »

Limbaugh's Insult

The conservative host calls Sandra Fluke a "slut." Read More »

Sausagefest

Congress convened an all-male panel to talk about ladybusiness. Read More »

Watch Video

Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown University Law student who was called a “slut” and a “prostitute” by Rush Limbaugh last week, appeared on “The View” this morning. She utterly floored me with her articulation, composure and professionalism.

Three weeks ago, Fluke was barred from testifying to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committe about women’s access to affordable birth control. Instead an all-male panel trashed President Obama’s compromise on health care reform that if religiously-affiliated employers won’t pay for contraception for their employees, insurers must pick up the cost themselves. Sandra Fluke was later given an opportunity to testify to a group of Democrats, although it was not official, in which she explained how female students at Georgetown are struggling to pay the cost of birth control. Rush Limbaugh then attacked her on air, calling her a “slut” and a “prostitute,” and demanded she post videos of herself having sex online. Keep reading »

Advertisers Drop Rush Limbaugh After He Calls Woman “Slut” On Air

Jessica WakemanMarch 3, 2012 //

Limbaugh's Insult

The conservative host calls Sandra Fluke a "slut." Read More »

A Compromise

Obama tries to settles birth control debate in health care reform. Read More »

Birth Control Victory

Birth control will be covered by most employers under health care reform. Read More »

UPDATE, 3/3/12 at 6:30p.m: Rush Limbaugh issued an apology on his web site today to Sandra Fluke, a young woman he referred to earlier this week as a “slut” and “prostitute” during a discussion about birth control. In his apology, Limbaugh said:

“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. 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.”

Limbaugh’s chief of staff refused to tell The New York Times why the apology was issued. We’re hoping the advertiser pushback had something to do with it. [Politico, New York Times]

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Several advertisers have pulled ads from Rush Limbaugh’s radio show after he called a woman a “slut” and “prostitute” on air Wednesday and suggested that she film her sex acts and put them online. Activists Twitter-bombed Rush’s advertisers, threatening a boycott, and so far two sponsors — mattress stores Sleep Train and Sleep Number — have responded, promising they will cut off the dough. Keep reading »

Senate Defeats Blunt Amendment Allowing Employers, Insurers To Opt Out Of Paying For Birth Control

Jessica WakemanMarch 1, 2012 //

A Compromise

Obama tries to settles birth control debate in health care reform. Read More »

Birth Control? Boooo!

Crowd boos birth control at GOP debate. Watch »

Birth Control Idiocy

Birth control "just costs a few dollars," says expert Rick Santorum. Read More »

Earlier today, the Senate narrowly defeated a proposal called the Blunt Amendment that would have allowed employers and health care insurers to opt out of paying for birth control (and other medical services) if it is contrary to their religious beliefs. The vote was 51 to 48, with Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine the sole Republican to support it.

Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) proposed this amendment in response to the Obama administration’s decision that if a religiously affiliated employer refuses to cover the cost the cost of birth control, the tab must be picked up by the insurer. Democrats countered that Obama’s compromise should suffice and that the Blunt amendment would give employers power to make medical decisions for their employees. Keep reading »

Hey, Boss, May I Please Go On The Pill?

Jessica WakemanMarch 1, 2012 //

You’ve probably read — on The Frisky or elsewhere — that religious employers are at odds with the Obama administration over the requirement, under the health care reform law, that insurers cover the cost of birth control if the employer itself — say, a Catholic school — refuses. These employers say it’s against their conscience to have insurers that cover birth control (despite the fact many do already, anyway). Now, someone cheeky over at the Tumblr for Obama’s reelection campaign mocked up this permission slip so employees can ask their bosses for permission to take contraception. Thankfully I work at The Frisky, where having lotsa sex and not getting preggo before you’re ready is encouraged! [BarackObama.Tumblr.com]

Today’s Lady News: Women More Likely To Support Obama’s Birth Control Decision

Jessica WakemanFebruary 29, 2012 //

Women are more likely than men to support President Obama’s mandate that insurers cover the cost of birth control, according to a new poll of registered voters by Poll Position. Forty-six percent of women supported the mandate, compared to only 37 percent of men. Anyone else surprised these numbers are so low? [UPI]
Senator Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican, announced she will not be seeking reelection. [New York Times]
A Michigan school district has introduced a new comprehensive sex ed program that will discuss homosexuality and transgender issues with 4th and 5th graders. This has Gretchen Carlson of Fox News very upset that kids are learning “explicit sex.” [Think Progress] Keep reading »

Jon Stewart On Congress’ Anti-Birth Control Sausagefest

Jessica WakemanFebruary 21, 2012 //

Sausagefest

Congress convened an all-male panel to talk about ladybusiness. Read More »

Moronic Comments

Everybody has something ignorant to say about birth control. Read More »

Birth Control Victory

Birth control will be covered by most employers under health care reform. Read More »

Watch Video

Last night on “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart was freaking hilarious in his coverage of last week’s anti-birth control sausagefest in Congress, in which a panel of all dudes tried to argue against President Obama’s health care reform compromise. Did you know these men mentioned “spiritual rape,” whatever that is, and Josef Stalin? When you have to invoke Stalin (or Hitler, or Mussolini, although let’s be honest, no one invokes Mussolini) into an argument to get people on board, you know you’re reaching. [The Daily Show]

Today’s Lady News: I Think They’re Just Messing With Us Now

Jessica WakemanFebruary 17, 2012 //

Oh, look at this all-male TV panel that MSNBC convened to discuss yesterday’s all-male hearing discussion about birth control coverage in healthcare reform!
Oklahoma’s state Senate advanced a “fetal personhood” bill on Wednesday that criminalizes all abortion by defining a “person” as the fertilized egg. A bill like this would also criminalize in vitro fertilization, stem cell research, and some birth control. This is the bill that had a proposed amendment by State Sen. Constance Johnson, who sought to make it illegal for men to masturbate and waste sperm! [News OK] Keep reading »