Live Video Q&A: Sandra Fluke Sits Down With HuffPost

Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, whom Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) rejected as a witness before his all-male congressional panel on the contraception-funding mandate, found herself in the media spotlight after radio host Rush Limbaugh called her a "slut" for advocating employer health plans cover contraception.

Fluke, 30, thrust into the role of unofficial spokesperson for young women in the contraception debate, has come under intense personal scrutiny. President Barack Obama called to support her and conservatives joined Limbaugh with personal attacks on her.

On Thursday, Fluke joined Huffington Post political reporter Laura Bassett in HuffPost's Washington newsroom for a live-streaming video discussion about birth control policy, the so-called "War on Women," and the experience of having become both a political lightning-rod and a feminist icon in such a short time.

Watch the previously live segment above.

Comments

[larsenmill]

02:25 PM on 04/06/2012

Fact: Fluke is a 30yr old very experienced activist, That is in school on a free ride from the rich liberal left. Link: http://www.lifenews.com/2012/03/05/sandra-fluke-a-self-described-professional-pro-abortion-activist/

[everybody only]

09:58 AM on 04/06/2012

In response to Bruce58B" the Obama Administration has reduced all women to a mindless, weak,uterus, that can't seem to find or afford birth control that has been available free, or almost free, for decades? Can you say with all this phony trumped up issue that women have gained anything? There is no issue here and Ms. Fluke does really need some advice on appearance matter when appearing on TV" your comment April 5th, 7:18 pm.

Wow, where do I even start.'The Obama Admin has reduced all women to a mindless, weak, uterus, that can't seem to find or afford birth control that has been available free, or almost free for decades.'
"there is no issue here"
"Ms. Fluke does really need some on appearance matter when appearing on TV".
Well Bruce, there is a major issue here and it is not going aware, and Ms. Fluke happened to cast a light during a crucial time in American politics that we need to keep the pressure on to retain ground already gained, but more importantly, press forward. I could not have scripted a movie better, RL was the linchpin, so you can thank him in advance for losing the election for you.

[kenkphx]

08:48 PM on 04/05/2012

Ms. Fluke is just getting ready to be a life time government employee.

[everybody only]

05:08 PM on 04/05/2012

As Bruce58B needed to point out, Sandra was looking a "bit haggard". Wow, talk about a catch 22. If she had shown up looking the least big "done up" she would have been slaughtered by the press. The young woman has had the eyes of the nation on her, and she is being pulled in 20 different ways. Funny, I have rarely heard a comment about a private citizen's appearance, who was thrust into the spotlight without warning commented upon, unless it was a female. Did anyone comment that Joe the Plumber looked a bit rumpled? The fact that Ms. Fluke's looks are being brought into this forum perpetuate exactly what we are arguing against....

[SFnomad]

04:42 PM on 04/05/2012

At the rate the conservatives are going, the only demographic that Republicans will win in 2012 will be old white (closeted) straight (so-called) christian 1%er males.

[everybody only]

05:11 PM on 04/05/2012

Maybe we can make a trade with Australia, or Cuba according to those numbers, and agree to do a white knight exchange.....We will provide unlimited Grey Goose, golf carts, ascots, pickup trucks and shotguns, and they will accept our cargo unconditionally. (we might have to throw in depends to even up the deal...)

[ftworth texan]

12:36 PM on 04/09/2012

You are out of touch. Head to head races show you losing the HOUSE - AGAIN.

PROOF : http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/house/2012_elections_house_map.html

[Linda M Ballard]

02:53 PM on 04/05/2012

I'm glad this young lady is able to speak out and advocate for the many uses of contraceptives. Men can have their VIAGRA. Women are not willing to take a back seat on their HEALTH CARE nor go back to the STONE AGE to have men make DECISION for them. Women will never forget what the REPUBLICANS tried to put in PLACE. THE REPUBLICANS have lost the WOMEN'S VOTE. Read THIS IS A WOMEN DECISION in the FEBRUARY 2012 archive and OUT OF THE SHADOW in the MARCH 2012 archive.Visit the http://nldrecognition.wordpress.com. NLD Mom/cancer survivor

[WTH 2012]

03:39 PM on 04/05/2012

Don't know where you've been but contraceptives have been around and selling well for years now.

[treadway123]

04:29 PM on 04/05/2012

Your right! We thought we had this fight back in the 70's, an here women are having to fight for their rights among the men counter part all over again!

[everybody only]

05:22 PM on 04/05/2012

YES, but the judgement and the weight of the decision is placed on the women. It takes two to conceive, don't see a lot of people coming down on the men who contributed to 50% of this issue...

[Skygazer]

02:13 PM on 04/05/2012

Why does the Right and the GOtP-er's think the only way to save America, is by speaking and acting, like *anything but* American's?

It's reprehensible, the lengths you people will go to put yourselves under the yoke of corporate repression and autocratic rule.

[Anthonyg Gordon]

03:33 PM on 04/05/2012

I think there is a misconception on this war on women's health. The problem is the Right believes that health insurance companies should cover contraceptions. What they do not believe in is it being mandatory. By making it mandatory, economically it may raise the prices of health insurance. Imagine yourself owning a company that is a leader in producing birth control. And you found out that it is now law that birth control must be covered in insurance aka a bottomless wallet. This gives you the capabilities to raise the prices of your product while the consumer unknowingly still purchases it because all the consumer is aware of is the co-pay. The insurance companies expenses goes up in contraceptions and therefore everyone's insurance goes up overall. What obama is doing is an exact example on why our health insurance is high in the first place.

[everybody only]

08:24 AM on 04/06/2012

Since the pharmas are tightly aligned with DC and it is no secret, then I would expect, and if not I would insist, that because of greater volume, there are discounted rates applied. Many of the pharmas simply bought out the competitors that make the generic. It's the same product, so why not make both, use different color dye in one batch and make them oval and charge $4 per pill, take the same recipe add blue dye and make them circles. They make greater margins on the original, but make up for it by selling volume on the generic. Of course this relates to US manufacturers, I can't speak for generics coming out of China, etc.

[SFBayAreaGirl]

11:02 AM on 04/09/2012

Do you suppose it is more economical for insurance companies to pay for more births and children? Less available and affordable access to birth control results in more pregnancies and more births. (Not to mention, more abortions, which most conservatives abhor.) More births = insurance companies having to pay for more prenatal care, the actual birth, any complications, and the resulting child, assuming that said pregnant and new mothers actually have some form of insurance. Those who don't, of course, will be paid for by the state, i.e., YOU. Which really is a better deal for all of us? Ensuring that contraception is available and affordable for all? Or many more pregnancies (under your plan) resulting in either insurance companies paying for those or you and I paying for them. (Someone is going to pay, Anthony, and argue it as you wish, but it's not just a woman's issue, it's a public health issue.

[Carroll27]

03:49 PM on 04/05/2012

You don't get to define what makes an American.

[bhaines213]

01:58 PM on 04/05/2012

I’m glad that Sandra Fluke is such an intelligent, articulate spokesperson for this issue. The fact that she has such grace and courage in standing up to her attackers has earned her added admiration and influence. It’s an added bonus that she’s driving the trolls wild. The trolls are not only providing comic relief but because so many of them are clicking on threads about her, they’re insuring that articles on Ms. Fluke get a lot of hits. We can look forward to hearing from her a lot in the future because the right-wing has made her a high profile figure. I guess the trolls are good for something after all.

[4daphne]

01:51 PM on 04/05/2012

I personally like Ms. fluke. All I can say is the young women of this country better keep up the good fight or you and your daughters will be very sorry some day. I can not imagine the republicans having a all woman pannel deciding their policies on Viagra, like they did on birth controll. I might add, I believe that most health care policies cover Viagra! They want to limit birth controll but not Viagra? How about a man going to his boss and explaining the reason why he needs Viagra, what happened to HIPPA ? Let's apply all the limitations to birth controll to Viagra. let's see how well that goes.

[Torn Pec]

01:33 PM on 04/05/2012

AHHHHHHHHHH!

My Eyes!

MY EYES! THey burn!!!!!

[Skygazer]

02:02 PM on 04/05/2012

It might help if you stop trying to type with your face.

[Skygazer]

02:14 PM on 04/05/2012

Yeah, like I said, they'll stop hurting once you stop trying to type with your face.

[georgiaR]

01:10 PM on 04/05/2012

Why should she get "free" contraception? I have insurance - mine are not "free".

[sylvia wadlington]

01:33 PM on 04/05/2012

She is asking that insurance companies BE ALLOWED to cover contraceptives in insurance poilicies that women pay for. She has never asked for anyone to give her anything. She has spoken out against republicans and catholics who keep insurance companies from offing contraceptives as they do, in order to drive women out of the work place and back into the kitchen.

[Carroll27]

03:45 PM on 04/05/2012

She could go to Yeshiva.

[Bflogal99]

11:14 AM on 04/06/2012

You have insurance, you pay premiums. You then expect that because you pay premiums, your health insurance company will cover costs of your health care.

Same thing here. Hormonal contraceptives are medically-prescribed by a doctor. Health insurance should cover them.

[Bruce58B]

01:07 PM on 04/05/2012

Sandy is looking a little ragged around the edges. I guess she can't see that being used by a heartless political machine has made her a laughing stock for most of the public. She is looking as if being drug through a knothole will be her permanent look. Rather sad for a young woman that had a chance to be far better looking in life and TV.

[everybody only]

01:33 PM on 04/05/2012

Yes, those are the women that go down in history books, do you remember one of them except for Helena of Troy whose looks were mentioned while they changed the fate of history. Perhaps Cleopatra, or Queen Elizabeth 1, however , it is a rather sparse field when going to do a dissertation on Churchill, Napoleon, Abe Lincoln or Geoge Washington.

You do realize that you are just perpetuating misogyny, don't you. Cover of Time Mag 2 weeks ago, Women are Surpassing Men as Primary Breadwinners.

I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, why don't you go, and wax your back if you can?

[Bruce58B]

04:17 PM on 04/05/2012

You should bring all that to the circus. I don't believe any contortionist could twist things up as well as you do. And, you forgot St. Joan, Amelia Earheart, Margaret Thather, Dolly Madison, Mr. Kennedy, and I know I have left many accomplished women out. But, think what you want of me. I was just observing that Sandy is looking a little haggard, one would think that the make-up people would make her look a little better for TV.

[pennlady]

02:41 PM on 04/05/2012

No class at all.

[everybody only]

04:46 PM on 04/05/2012

Maybe you should have gone to class 7 days a week instead of imploring women who wouldn't give you the time of day to put out...

[HCLiberal]

01:05 PM on 04/05/2012

What a smart, conscientious and classy woman.
I love liberal women.
Love'em.

[CivilDebate10]

01:30 PM on 04/05/2012

Aww, how sweet. Is that because all you need to do is act like Alan Alda and you can.....

[Carroll27]

03:45 PM on 04/05/2012

They're so easy.

[HCLiberal]

04:15 PM on 04/05/2012

Some are, some aren't. I love them all for their thinking.

[sylvia wadlington]

01:39 PM on 04/05/2012

I love you republican trollies, you have no idea how much you have helped us women organize and unite. Your ugly comments continue to enrage us into action. Thank you again for making it clear that women need to take over washington. The worst of us is so much better than the best of mens in congress.

[Carroll27]

03:45 PM on 04/05/2012

We love you too.

[everybody only]

04:50 PM on 04/05/2012

You are so right Sylvia, their timing is perfect. I understand why this must feel like a coup to them, however, Rush, their boy, set off the fireworks. Maybe after our victory in the fall we can have a little cake made of him (but that would still have to be big) and put a big candle on his head why we dance around singing "I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR", .....

[everybody only]

07:01 PM on 04/05/2012

You my friend are why publishers clearing house is still at large..

[Set to Jet]

01:03 PM on 04/05/2012

What I love about this is that the ridiculousness form the right, I'm willing to bet, made her career. Coming out of a prominent law school in DC with her type of name recognition will help her immensely to get a lucrative job fighting for exactly what all the Limbaugh types hate (should she choose to). Good work, regressives, you shot yourself in the foot yet again.

[CivilDebate10]

01:31 PM on 04/05/2012

Actually, she's a pretty weak proponent of it and if that is the best the radical left can do and if she is artificially inflated because of Rush's criticism, so be it. She's a lightweight.

[Set to Jet]

01:52 PM on 04/05/2012

Honestly, I don't know much about her and her advocacy other than (a) she is a Georgetown Law student, which is not a small achievement, and (b) that her prominence has been inflated by Limbaugh et al, artificial or otherwise, and is now more powerful as a result. Therefore, I repeat: Good work, regressives, you shot yourself in the foot yet again.

[pennlady]

02:42 PM on 04/05/2012

You do mean Rusgs slander not criticism.

[pennlady]

02:08 PM on 04/05/2012

That sounds good. And women can make it happen.