I’m going to keep this short… The current debate about contraception is not about Sandra Fluke, or Rush Limbaugh, or contraception for that matter, it’s about liberty.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Rush Limbaugh, he’s been a tireless advocate for conservatism, but he’s wrong here. Mr. Limbaugh made Sandra Fluke the story and distracted everyone from the real issue and from what should have been the winning argument for conservatives. This debate is not about contraception, it is about liberty — and one of the fundamental founding principles of America: religious freedom.
The First Amendment to the Constitution couldn’t be more clear on this:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The simple truth, neither Congress nor the President of the United States can order religious institution to provide something that violates their religious convictions. The President’s compromise — forcing insurance companies to provide free contraceptives to employees of religious institutions is itself just an end run around the Constitution.
Look folks, I know this is a cliché, but there are no free lunches, or free contraceptives. Somewhere, somehow, someone is going to be paying the bill, it’s either going to come out of our tax dollars, or we’re all going to end paying for those free contraceptives in form of higher insurance premiums.
Bottom line; Americans instinctively love liberty and respect religious freedom, they don’t however react well to calling women sluts. If we’re going to refute Ms. Fluke’s argument and point out the flaws in her testimony let’s do it without calling her names.
Update (Saturday, March 3, 2012 5:30 p.m.): Rush Limbaugh posted a statement on his web site this afternoon apologizing to Ms. Fluke:
For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.
I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit?In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone’s bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level.
My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.
Good, Rush did the right thing here, and it’s important to note that while he apologized for his poor choice of words, he did not concede the greater point. Which is that the left wants to deny Americans their God-given, Constitutionally protected right to religious freedom.
Related
- Contraceptive War: Advertisers Bail From Rush Limbaugh Show Over Satire Of White House Operative Posing As Student – Pat Dollard
- Something missing from Georgetown Law’s condemnation – William Jacobson, Legal Insurrection
- Sandra Fluke Does Not Speak for Me – Angela Morabito, The College Conservative
- “Stunner. Georgetown ‘Coed’ Sandra Fluke Is a 30 Year-Old Women’s Rights Activist” – Jeff G., Protein Wisdom
- If You Don’t Like Slut As A Title For Sandra Fluke, How About Czar? – Smitty, The Other McCain
- Activists: Birth control can fight global warming – Jason Howerton, The Daily Caller
- What did Sandra Fluke really say? – Charlie Spiering, The Washington Examiner
- Sebelius: Decrease in Human Beings Will Cover Cost of Contraception Mandate – CNSNews.com
- Obama mandate: Not a women’s issue – Cathy Ruse, The Washington Times
- Schools Navigate State Birth-Control Patchwork – Wall Street Journal
Mr. Limbaugh made Sandra Fluke the story
No, the Left made her the story by trotting her out in front of the committee.
And then by shrieking hysterically about what Rush said.
Which they always do, because they know they can count on Just About Everyone on the starboard side to hurry and distance themselves from Rush.
Dance Monkey Dance! It’s fun!
If Fluke or the slut comment aren’t the issue, then don’t mention them. Not even to pivot to The Real Issue.
No oxygen, no issue.
I don’t disagree with you, but I think you’re missing the point, Rush’s comments are a distraction and created a stumbling block for opponents of the Obama Administration’s contraceptive mandate. They helped Democrats and their willing accomplices in the sound bite media shift the debate away from religious-freedom — which we were winning and turned Ms. Fluke into a useful victim.
Dan Foster’s sums things fairly well over at NRO: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/292479/slut-gate-and-gentlemanliness-daniel-foster