iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app More

Rush Limbaugh And Birth Control: Anti-Science On The Airwaves (VIDEO)

First Posted: 03/ 8/2012 7:03 am Updated: 03/21/2012 8:32 pm

CARA SANTA MARIA: Hi everybody. I'm Cara Santa Maria. As you all know, Rush Limbaugh made some comments this past week that raised more than a few eyebrows. In addition to being anti-woman, what he said is fundamentally anti-science:

RUSH LIMBAUGH: What does it say about the college co-ed "Susan" Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? Makes her a prostitute.

CSM: First of all, her name is Sandra Fluke, and she's Georgetown Law Student who was testifying before congress on behalf of a classmate whose birth control was not covered by her insurance plan. See, the Obama Administration's new health insurance regulation would ensure that her friend's insurance company would pay for contraception for the reason she needed it, to control her ovarian cysts. Not for the reasons Rush claims:

RL: She wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex.

CSM: Wow. I have to admit that I'm almost impressed by how little scientific reasoning went into that statement. I reached out to Dr. Shari Brasner, a New York City obstetrician and gynecologist, to pinpoint the five most important things Rush Limbaugh does NOT understand about pharmaceutical contraception.

SHARI BRASNER: So, first of all, you don't take the birth control pill every time you have sex. It's designed to be used each and every day, whether you're having sex once a month, once a week, or every day. The second thing is you can use birth control for other reasons. And a lot of my patients use it simply to control their cycle. The third thing is using birth control pills to control dysmenorrhea, or bad periods. It really helps with the cramps, or the nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea associated with them. Gynecologists and dermatologists use birth control pills to control mild to moderate cystic acne. Lastly, we use birth control pills to treat medical conditions, like endometriosis or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It really can help with a whole list of diagnoses.

RL: So Miss Fluke, and the rest of you Feminazis, here's the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it, and I'll tell you what it is. We want you post the videos online so we can all watch.

CSM: Oh, Rush. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

See all Talk Nerdy to Me posts: www.huffingtonpost.com/news/talk-nerdy-to-me
Like Cara Santa Maria on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Cara-Santa-Maria
Follow Cara Santa Maria on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CaraSantaMaria

FOLLOW HUFFPOST SCIENCE

CARA SANTA MARIA: Hi everybody. I'm Cara Santa Maria. As you all know, Rush Limbaugh made some comments this past week that raised more than a few eyebrows. In addition to being anti-woman, what he sa...
CARA SANTA MARIA: Hi everybody. I'm Cara Santa Maria. As you all know, Rush Limbaugh made some comments this past week that raised more than a few eyebrows. In addition to being anti-woman, what he sa...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 5,987
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Highlights
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2 3 4 5  Next ›  Last »  (61 total)
10:11 PM on 04/02/2012
These are some of the facts that one could learn in a sex education class. If we don't attend sex education classes as teenagers, we become uninformed adults.
03:37 PM on 03/29/2012
I'm sorry, but one of the 5 things Rush Limbaughs mom should have been doing was taking birth control BEFORE she got pregnant with him!
08:53 PM on 03/15/2012
Why is it that only penised-Americans want to regulate women's bodies, but applaud Viagra?
03:21 PM on 03/27/2012
I think it is to protect all those non-penised Americans still in the womb.
07:09 PM on 03/27/2012
Having children is SUCH an ego trip!
Little replicas of yourself.
03:38 PM on 03/29/2012
man has always wanted to regulate and rule over women's bodies!
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
10:09 AM on 03/15/2012
Does she pay for her drinks before sex?
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
LemmonHerk
02:44 AM on 03/15/2012
Many
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wadisplace
12:43 AM on 03/15/2012
Rush's Mama should have used it.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jumpinjohn011
11:12 PM on 03/14/2012
Contraception is free in most states @ Planned Parenthood or can be obtained very cheap. Also, the pill is covered if it is used in the case of ovarian cysts. The whole issue is not denying contraception; but forcing institutions to go against there basic beliefs.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Patrick Stewart
Because the status is not quo.
01:20 AM on 03/15/2012
Then maybe they are in the wrong business. If you are going to offer healthcare, you don't get to pick and choose which types you like.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jumpinjohn011
10:08 PM on 03/15/2012
Ok, then offer none . That'll solve everything, you think? Or maybe they should work where it will be included and not go against their beliefs! What sounds better. Healthcare is part of a compensation package and not a right according to the Constitution.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
sedagive42
10:54 PM on 04/01/2012
They were not asked to cover it: only not deny the opportunity withing the health insurance plan if a person chooses to purchase that coverage for themselves. The same with offering vision or dental, or even catastrophic coverage for the downhill skiers among them.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jumpinjohn011
11:11 PM on 04/01/2012
That's like saying 1 + 2 = 3 and 2 + 1 = 3 are different. It's the same thing!
09:31 PM on 03/14/2012
Have sex w/Rush he can only go 3" deep no one needs birth control !
10:20 AM on 03/20/2012
4 WIFES AND NO KIDS, DAMM YOU MAY BE RIGHT.
photo
BobDobalina1
Trying to see things from a GOP perspective
01:25 PM on 03/29/2012
Yup! Anybody with that great a fear of women HAS to have an "issue with endowment". He also seem to have a penchant for large black cigars as well. That looks like the same type of "compensation" that causes middle-age men to buy sports cars. Either that or Rush has some "other agenda" that requires him to have something that size and shape in his mouth. What's funny is that the vast audience that he caters to, must have the same predilictions since they follow him so slavishly.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
connman250
WE WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR BRAVERY
09:04 PM on 03/14/2012
So are you telling us that Sandra Fluke needs us to pay for contraception? She is paying $41,000 per year for tuition and wants someone else to pay for her birth control?

Full-time per year

40,920.00
09:58 PM on 03/14/2012
Read the column up above, use more than .0015% of your cognative brain power. Life is more than drinking cheap beer and burping up foolishness.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
connman250
WE WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR BRAVERY
02:06 PM on 03/20/2012
So why don't you send her a check for it, big mouth!!!!
Jimsoutside
Work in progress
10:13 PM on 03/14/2012
If you'd read the article, you would know that she was testifying on behalf of a friend. Not herself.
So her tuition cost is irrelevant.
As is your comment.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jumpinjohn011
11:06 PM on 03/14/2012
Forget the article. Listen to her own words, She states "I" when speaking to the committee and then says some of her friends. She put "herself" into the middle of it all.
11:22 PM on 03/14/2012
4 bucks at target for birth control.....the argument fell apart when everyone found out it is cheaper than a coffee at Starbucks! ......if you can't afford 4 bucks stop drinking your double soy milk latte...oh yeah I bet these woman who can't afford birth control can't afford an identification....there is a pattern here.....the politicians can't say it so I will....most people in America are morons and should not vote..... but I will agree they should all be on birth control.....
08:27 PM on 03/14/2012
USE IT
07:27 PM on 03/14/2012
Would have been nice If Rush mother would have had some form of conterception
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jumpinjohn011
11:08 PM on 03/14/2012
English major I presume!

Rush's mother

contraception
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
06:04 PM on 03/31/2012
It would have been nice if Rush's mother had had some form of ...
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mmmmikkimac
07:10 PM on 03/14/2012
It sounds to me, that Rush Windbag likes to watch other people having sex! Is he a voyuer? Or does he have a secret porn collection? Either way, he has a lot of loose screws.
10:22 AM on 03/20/2012
IS THAT WHY HE ASKED FOR SEX TAPES TO BE SENT TO HIM?
06:36 PM on 03/14/2012
So, The Government will now tell Women, the Catholic Church and the Insurance companies what to do with contraceptives?

It was very clear that Ms. Fluke advocates insurance overage of contraceptives. The question is: What is her moral or legislative authority on the matter?

I too would like other non-therapeutic benefits...but that needs to be negociated in the FREE market, and not imposed by any Government.
Jimsoutside
Work in progress
08:53 PM on 03/14/2012
Kinda missed the point of the article, didn't ya?
11:23 PM on 03/14/2012
the article has no point when you can get birth control for 4 bucks at Target!.....
05:01 PM on 03/27/2012
No, she hit the nail on the head.
08:54 PM on 03/14/2012
Sandra Fluke majored in Politics and Women's studies at Cornell, worked on domestic violence in NYC for several years and chose to go to Georgetown (which she knew was a Catholic University that didn't provide coverage for contraception for women). Remember she is 30 yrs old and has managed to not get pregnant so she has been getting along quite well without government assistence thus far.... Her real issue is not oral contraception.... she thinks it is discriminatory that employers and insurance companies are not required to cover transgender sex reassigments surgery...http://scaredmonkeys.com/2012/03/06/leftist-activist-contraception-queen-sandra-fluke-wants-gender-reassignment-to-be-paid-for-by-health-insurance/
get the facts
Jimsoutside
Work in progress
10:26 PM on 03/14/2012
What you find at scaredmonkeys is typical tin-hat conspiracy stuff...if that's your source, you need to do better...much better.
Apparently Sandra Fluke worked hard and got two degrees from a fine eastern university. She worked with victims of domestic violence for several years and decided to go to law school, and she chose a very fine law school...Georgetown.
I'd say that so far what she's done is pretty admirable.
The fact that she has 'managed to not get pregnant' would indicate that she is in control of her reproductive function. Again, admirable...wouldn't you say?
But she's not asking for government assistance, and in the context of this article her issue is indeed contraception.
And she has a right to her opinion on transgender sex reassignment surgery and it's economic implications and to voice it...just as you do. Her opinion will not require anyone to do anything, but she has a right to it.
05:48 PM on 03/14/2012
Do you still care what he says?
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
connman250
WE WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR BRAVERY
09:09 PM on 03/14/2012
Sandra Fluke will be a one percenter after she graduates from Georgetown.
09:34 PM on 03/14/2012
Good for her.......intelligent hard working people deserve to be compensated properly !
09:53 PM on 03/14/2012
And as such I am sure she will be happy to pay her fair share of taxes to help support this fine country
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dancenownzen
05:39 PM on 03/14/2012
HE can't learn he FLUNKED out of college - ask his MOM......

Limbaugh graduated from Cape Girardeau, Missouri Central High School, in 1969. Because of his parents' desire to see him attend college, he enrolled in Southeast Missouri State University but left the school after two semesters and one summer. According to his mother, "he flunked everything", and "he just didn't seem interested in anything except radio
05:45 PM on 03/14/2012
OMG anyone that is anyone has a college degree, you showed him.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dancenownzen
05:56 PM on 03/14/2012
not trying to show him anything........ just pointing out that he is not bright when it comes to formal ed
06:35 PM on 03/14/2012
Bill Gates became the richest man in the US without one.
This comment has been removed due to violations of our [Guidelines]