Sandra Fluke Receives Call From Obama After Rush Limbaugh 'Slut' Comments

President Obama on Friday placed a call to Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown University law school student at the heart of the debate over the contraception law, thanking her for speaking out on the issue.

The call came a day after conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh demanded that Fluke release tapes of her having sex in exchange for the contraception that she argued should be covered by employers. Fluke was set to go on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports when the president rang her on her phone. She took the call while waiting in the green room.

"He encouraged me and supported me and thanked me for speaking out about the concerns of American women," she told Mitchell, who received permission from the White House to discuss the exchange between Fluke and Obama. "What was really personal for me was that he said to tell my parents that they should be proud. And that meant a lot because Rush Limbaugh questioned whether or not my family would be proud of me. So I just appreciated that very much."

Fluke appeared to be choking up a bit while recalling the conversation. But she composed herself and went to discuss how surreal her experience has been. After being declined the opportunity to speak on a congressional panel to debate the president's contraception rule, she was subsequently invited to address Democrats on the topic. For that, she was vilified by Limbaugh, who also compared her to a prostitute. On Friday, several leading Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), condemned the remarks. The call from the president put a capstone on the week.

"He did express his concern for me and wanted to make sure that I was OK, which I am," she said. "I'm OK."

UPDATE: 1:29 p.m. -- At the White House press briefing shortly after the news broke, Press Secretary Jay Carney outlined the reasoning behind the president's decision to call Fluke.

Obama, said Carney, felt that, "the kinds of personal attacks that have been directed her way have been inappropriate."

"The fact that our political discourse has been debased in many ways is bad enough," he added. "It's even worse when it is directed at a private citizen who is simply expressing her views about public policy."

The call was placed by Obama from the Oval Office, Carney relayed. It was also the reason why Friday's press briefing was delayed more than an hour.

UPDATE: As reported by Huffpost Media, Limbaugh responded to Obama's call during his program on Friday.

Limbaugh also reacted to President Obama's call to Fluke. Obama told Fluke that her parents should be "proud" of her. Limbaugh had a different message for them. "I'd be embarrassed," he said. "I'd disconnect the phone. I'd go into hiding."

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[OOOOOMY]

11:41 AM on 03/11/2012

Russ Limbaugh used inapproriate language. That being said there is no question that the president is using Sandra to garner the women's vote...and I will leave it as that. The bigger question I have is this...Birth Control availablity is quite available already at either No Cost or very nominal costs to anyone who desires them...for example Planned Parenthood,
Target even Walmart under Article 10 below copy and paste.

Title 10 Birth Control Avilability - AOL Search Results

[James Twomey]

09:07 PM on 03/20/2012

So why does Bill Maher get away with it?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/20/bristol-awaits-obamas-call-shoulder/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D145202

[JackBlair69]

04:00 PM on 03/10/2012

Who coordinated the phone call?

[kaygee]

12:07 AM on 03/10/2012

Let's not forget that the Democratic Party worked against what should have been the first female president. The Republicans had a female candidate at the beginning of the primary process and
may have another jumping in at their brokered convention.

[natannk21]

01:20 PM on 03/06/2012

I can't believe Obama called her...how about he call the parents that lost their sons and daughters fighting for this country rather than this left wing activist who stinks at math?!

[SteveBT1]

12:39 PM on 03/14/2012

Probably because she is one person; we have lost a lot of people in the middle east. So I'm guessing it would be too many people for the president to get in touch with.

[natannk21]

12:49 PM on 03/14/2012

It was sarcasm, hard to get that across on here. This once again proves though Obama only does things that best serve his interests.

[imawinner]

04:59 PM on 03/05/2012

Of course our President is proud of anyone who does his bidding for him. Why should her parents be proud of her wanting to have contraceptives paid by her insurance so she can have sex. What is that about? Our President is taking this country down the path of immorality and no one notices.

[nq5511]

09:57 AM on 03/06/2012

Her parents may be proud of her for speaking TRUTH which leads to healing, if needed. So rare these days. MANY are doing the same, but SECRETLY. She didn't have sex alone, which called for contraception - whoever pays! Some husbands maybe, as a gay man I met who "only" has sex with MARRIED men. Time to take the blindfolds off. Obama may help.

[dispagi]

10:38 AM on 03/07/2012

Her testimony was about hormonal birth control that women needed for non-sex reasons.

[acommontater]

03:24 PM on 03/05/2012

Ole Rush needs to get a spin doctor and pass everything through that filter. Then put it on teleprompter so that it can be delivered correctly. Honest (but maybe a bit stupid) commentary is not nearly as good as having news readers and listeners to tip you off to a chance to show how benevolent and "with it" the POTUS can be. Was there any singing involved? Acommontater

[acommontater]

03:14 PM on 03/05/2012

Reading these posts proves that unlike most voters who will not admit that they voted for the current president, there are still some true believers who want to let him finish the job. And I thought this was the United States of America. BMA. Acommontater

[Okechukwu D Odinaka]

02:10 PM on 03/05/2012

Facing the truth is one of the most difficult thing in life to do. but when it finally been said the fear no longer exit.Thank mr president.

[acommontater]

03:08 PM on 03/05/2012

Unfortunately, most truth is feared by Mr. President and I fear Mr. President Pinocchio.

[Okechukwu D Odinaka]

03:29 PM on 03/05/2012

There is always something to be afraid of. That is the truth and what truth is all about. why do you think people prefers lies in the place of truth?

[bobnic11]

01:51 PM on 03/05/2012

It's really getting bad when you can't state the truth without the left turning on you.
They are showing there true color's.

[fitley]

10:18 AM on 03/06/2012

That's the one thing I always associate... Rush and the truth.

[Amanda Willenborg]

05:10 PM on 03/06/2012

Yeah, like Santorum and religious freedom?

[badman5150]

01:17 PM on 03/05/2012

Here comes another beer summit!

[nq5511]

12:44 PM on 03/05/2012

Oh, Mr President. "How do I love thee. Let me count the ways"....

"I'm IN!!!!!

[tonylaz]

12:21 PM on 03/05/2012

"President Obama on Friday placed a call to Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown University law school student at the heart of the debate over the contraception law, thanking her for speaking out on the issue."...""He encouraged me and supported me and thanked me for speaking out about the concerns of American women," she told Mitchell, who received permission from the White House to discuss the exchange between Fluke and Obama. "What was really personal for me was that he said to tell my parents that they should be proud. And that meant a lot because Rush Limbaugh questioned whether or not my family would be proud of me. So I just appreciated that very much.""

But, remember

"MSNBC is suspending Ed Schultz, host of “The Ed Show,” for one week without pay, due to comments he made about radio host Laura Ingraham.... Schultz twice called her a “slut.” “Remarks of this nature are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said a statement from MSNBC." (Huffpo May 25 '11)

"Ed Schultz called Laura Ingraham a "right-wing slut" on his Tuesday radio show." (Huffpo May 25 '11)

O.K., Mr President, where were were you then when YOUR henchman, Ed Schultz, called Miss Ingraham a slut for a comment totally unrelated to sexual activity? Where were you then, you HYPOCRITE ?

First off, this thirty year old contraceptive commentator is NOT just a "law student"; she is a left wing political activist !

[dispagi]

10:49 AM on 03/07/2012

I'm guessing Laura Ingraham being a seasoned political commentator is accustomed to criticism and doesn't need Obama to console her every time someone calls her names.

[quillerm]

11:14 AM on 03/05/2012

Will Obama call Sarah Palin? Bill Maher called her a C_ NT. Not likely, he is out to destroy Rush, since the rest of the media is in his pocket.

[Thlayle]

11:46 AM on 03/05/2012

What an asinine comparison!

[nq5511]

12:26 PM on 03/05/2012

Sandra Fluke is a law school student. Not reality TV show host.

[Midnight Cry]

12:36 PM on 03/05/2012

so what? Palin is an ex-governor.

[sixties chick]

10:35 AM on 03/05/2012

Obama showed true leadership, compassion and class when he called Sandra Fluke and lost no time in doing so. Even with his busy schedule Obama took the time to show support for Sandra and women everywhere. He was a first responder in this crisis, unlike the Repubs who let the "carnage" go on for days.

[quillerm]

11:15 AM on 03/05/2012

Bill Maher calling Sarah Palin a C _ NT ring a bell? Hypocrisy at it's highest.

[sixties chick]

11:55 AM on 03/05/2012

For one thing, Sarah Palin is a public servant and Sandra Fluke is a private citizen. For another, a one word insult is not even comparable to what Rush did for days on end becoming more vile and pornographic as each day passed. He's truly sick and anyone who thinks his "over the top" behavior is acceptable is just as sick.

[Thlayle]

11:55 AM on 03/05/2012

False equivalency to justify the rabid, personal attack by a public 'celebrity.' Sarah Palin is NOT at all in the same category. She is not a 'private' individual citizen but a public figure who happens in fact to invite personal attacks through her own attacks & personalization of public policy matters.

Condemn Bill Maher all you want but the comparison her is (again I say it) asinine and the so called 'hypocrisy you cite is not a valid complaint.

[Midnight Cry]

12:37 PM on 03/05/2012

his priorities are screwed up.....there are a lot of other people he SHOULD have called before making this call. He is a lightweight...

[CaptRuby]

12:49 PM on 03/05/2012

you are conveniently forgetting downhill and doom and gloom dubya left, recall Sept 2008 financial disaster.

Why?

We are growing now, not shrinking during dubya times... 2.% GDP vs minus 10%, dow is 13K and not 5K, 401Ks are double of what dubya left

Why you all_tea_people_people so dishonest?

[sixties chick]

01:09 PM on 03/05/2012

As a woman, I think it was very gallant of Obama to come to Sandra Fluke's aid.

[Suresp77]

10:13 AM on 03/05/2012

Pres. Obama- what a man! WHAT A MAN! just when you think he can't get more decent, he defines it, he goes and does something like this. I question the sanity of women out there who would vote for anybody but him. He would take time to call a woman and ensure that she was appreciated, her contributions are valued and to give her validation, to reinforce her confidence etc. If this is not the clearest indicator of class vs. the ignorant, bigoted sexist backward view the others take, I don't know what is.

And what a sorry excuse for a father to daughters Santo and others are compared to this amazing man, husband, father, president! If you cant stand up for your own daughters, you're unfit to represent anyone.

[aresponse2dotcom]

11:55 AM on 03/05/2012

horsepuckey..Just another way to deflect the truth of the matter. The true discussion of this law is not about women it is about an attack on freedom of religion.

[Suresp77]

02:55 PM on 03/05/2012

so women should be discriminated against to preserve freedom of religion? The actual consequences of lower income women having children due to lack of access to BC, teenagers forced to have kids they don't want because...some guys in frocks don't want their feelings hurt?

U have some skewed sense of priorities dude!

[jamesrtaylor]

12:34 AM on 03/06/2012

NO......it's actually moe about separation of Church & State, which is all but gone in the eyes of the Cons. But your perception is what you will defend....so have at it -
Jesus Loves You, God, not so much!