Rush Limbaugh
/ File photo
Comments by a conservative radio commentator are creating a firestorm of controversy.
It stems from the contraception insurance debate that's been happening on Capitol Hill. On Thursday, Democrats narrowly blocked an effort by Senate Republicans to overturn President Obama's policy on contraception insurance coverage. It's a heated issue that led to strong comments by Rush Limbaugh on his radio show.
The controversy surrounds Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown University law student and activist for women's reproductive health and Limbaugh, a conservative provocateur with 20 million listeners. On his show, he made Fluke his target after she spoke out on Capitol Hill in favor of the Obama administration's rule that would require health insurance to provide free birth control as preventative medical care. "Contraception, as you know, can cost a woman over $3,000 during law school. For a lot of students who, like me, are on public interest scholarships, that's practically an entire summer's salary."
Limbaugh immediately took to the airwaves and went on the attack. "What does it say about the college co-ed Susan Fluke who goes before congressional committee and essentially says she must be paid to have sex," Limbaugh said. "What does that make her? It makes her a slut? Right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex."
And it didn't end there. "If we are going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it," Limbaugh went on to say. "And I'll tell you what it is. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."
Angry Democrats quickly defended Fluke, demanding Republican leaders denounce Limbaugh. "There is no call for those kinds of comments those are very inappropriate and they should be repudiated by lots of people," said Senator Maria Cantwell, (D, WA).
This all happened as Senate Republicans lost their battle Thursday to allow employers to opt-out of providing birth control coverage if they have a religious or moral objection.
On the campaign trail, Mitt Romney fumbled, first saying he opposed the Senate Bill, then later corrected himself, saying he supports it. Rick Santorum pounced on that. "Then after his consultants talked to him, he came back and said, "Oh I didn't understand the question," Santorum said.
So what do conservatives think about Limbaugh's comments? Some say he was crude, but they agree with his larger point. "It's absurd to suggest birth control should be free product provided by taxpayers for all women no matter what their income. It's ridiculous," said Mona Charen, a Conservative columnist.
Listen to Limbaugh's comments.
As you might imagine, people are flocking to the internet to express their views on the controversy. One person writes, "What this man said on air is a vile remark to all women Republican,Liberal,Democrat,Libertarian, All women of all ages use the pill for all different reasons, To call all women who use the pill SLUTS, it a picture of where the new Republican party is at."
Another says, "Rush gets paid a lot of money to piss people off all day long. Offending the sensibilities of the average person is his job. With this latest statement, his mission is yet again accomplished."
Others support him saying they understand his larger point, "This isn't about having - or not having - babies. This is about personal responsibility. The question is not whether contraception is available to women - it is. The question is whether or not someone else should have to pay for it," one person wrote.
And yet another thinks, "This woman's parents must be so proud of her, and future employers must be so impressed. She went to a Catholic law school and now she's whining about how they may not give her a free abortion when she wants it."
What do you think about the controversy? Do you agree or disagree with what Limbaugh said? Should he apologize? Where do you stand on the contraception coverage issue? Leave your thoughts below.
Information from NBC News used in this report.
