March 1, 2012 2:43 PM
Issa asked to condemn Limbaugh for Fluke critique
It would just take you five minutes to let Congressman Issa know that mainstream America appreciates hearing Rush's always insightful commentary:
Oversight Democrats Call on Issa to Condemn Limbaugh's Attack Against Women and Contraceptives 
March 1, 2012
The Honorable Darrell E. Issa
Chairman
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515Dear Mr. Chairman:
We are writing to ask that you, as the Chairman of the Oversight Committee, join us in a bipartisan manner to strongly condemn the recent statements by radio host Rush Limbaugh regarding Ms. Sandra Fluke, the third-year student at Georgetown law school whom we sought to have testify at the Committee's hearing on contraceptives on February 16, 2012.
As you know, Committee Democrats requested Ms. Fluke's testimony to highlight the critical importance of insurance coverage for preventive health care, including contraceptives, to millions of women across the country. After you refused to allow Ms. Fluke to testify before our Committee, she appeared before the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and she conducted herself with intelligence, dignity, and sincerity.
Yesterday's statements by Rush Limbaugh were a vicious assault, not only against Ms. Fluke but against women across the country who rely on birth control and want it covered by their health insurance policies. The pill has had a profound impact on their well-being, allowing them to control their lives, make very personal decisions about how many children to have and when to have them, and in some cases treat critical illnesses.
As the Chairman of the Committee that first attempted to silence Ms. Fluke and prevent her from testifying, you are in a unique position to speak out now on her behalf and to join us in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, this very public and very malicious attack on all women who share her views.
Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Elijah E. Cummings Carolyn B. Maloney
Ranking Member MemberEleanor Holmes Norton Stephen F. Lynch
Member MemberJim Cooper Peter Welch
Member MemberJackie Speier Christopher S. Murphy
Member MemberJohn Yarmuth John F. Tierney
Member MemberBruce Braley Danny K. Davis
Member MemberMike Quigley Gerald E. Connolly
Member MemberDennis J. Kucinich
Member
You can contact Darrell Issa to urge him to respect our First Amendment Rights and - if you're so inclined - to question the fundamentals of Ms. Fluke's "testimony."
Here's what I wrote, just off the top of my head:
Re Rep. Elijah E. Cummings' demand for you to condemn Rush Limbaugh's remarks: I am a mother of 12, grandmother of 13, Montessori teacher, professional writer and parenting coach. I applaud Rush Limbaugh's sorting out the issues of personal responsibility vs. entitlement. As a Catholic with a daughter at Catholic University, I also support all Catholic institutions who refuse to compromise on this issue.
Rush did not make a fool of Ms. Fluke - she made a fool of herself, admitting that she knew her contraception would not be covered, yet chose to go to Georgetown anyway. It's hard to comprehend birth control costing 1000/yr - and I also wonder whether Ms. Fluke and the other poor creatures she describes have iPhones, iPads, DVDs. Do they buy makeup and how much do they pay for haircuts - very expensive in DC?
Why should we have to sacrifice for her birth control? And why should a Catholic institution be expected to bend to her apparently uncontrollable need for sex?
Posted in Sandra Fluke | Permalink
Comments
And WHY do these members of Congress care about what Rush Limbaugh said anyway? Do they not have better things to do than worry about this 'poor girl' and her feelings? She put her self and her sexual habits out there for the world to criticize. And I'd like to believe the 1st ammendment protects ALL of us, not just the elite few.
Posted by: April | March 1, 2012 3:54 PM
Barbara: Just finished my letter to Congressman Issa. Thanks for inspiring me to do this. I listened to Rush Limbaugh today and was appalled at this story. Our country is so concerned about political correctness, it has forgotten about personal responsibility and morality. We must all begin to speak out and do whatever we can to encourage and enlighten others to do the same. We must take our country back! Thanks again for your courage and determination.
Mary Carol Litman
Posted by: Mary Carol | March 1, 2012 10:05 PM
Thanks, Barbara. I just sent in my letter.
Posted by: Maggie D | March 2, 2012 10:48 AM
I thought you might find this interesting
http://www.jammiewf.com/2012/sandra-flukes-appearance-is-no-fluke/
Posted by: Kim | March 2, 2012 12:46 PM
What upsets me is how the media says we're not supporting women's reproductive rights and don't have the right to say what they can do with their bodies. No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying pay for your own birth control if that's what you want. What's next? Pay for their toiletries and books while at college? Oh, wait a minute, we probably already are.
Posted by: Mary | March 2, 2012 3:23 PM
Well at the very least if they do condemn him they should also condemn Mahrer. He called Palin the c word. I mean if they want to trash the first amendment I guess they should have equal application of it?
Posted by: myKCmom | March 2, 2012 9:57 PM
Although I agree with Barbara and Rush on this one, I feel that Rush's statements were unnecessarily crude and inflammatory, especially in calling for "the videos."
Barbara, your remarks were much more to the point. They will pay for things they feel are important - iPhone contracts, Netflix, Ugg boots, North Face jackets, etc., but they expect their birth control to be free (for them, anyway).
Another question I had about the Issa letter: out of all the prescriptions for birth control that are written, what percentage is written to "treat critical illnesses?" Many of the "I Have A Say" videos talk about using contraceptives to treat seizures, regulate extreme period symptoms, clear up horrific acne. What percentage do these cases make out of contraceptive prescriptions as a whole?
How many women of those women howling for contraceptive coverage are actually using them for medical rather than contraceptive purposes? I would consider it reasonable to pay for somebody's hormone treatments to prevent their seizures, but not their unwanted pregnancies.
Posted by: Michele Mom of 9 | March 4, 2012 10:02 PM
