The Other McCain

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Since We Can’t Call Sandra Fluke a ‘Slut,’ Would ‘Lying Liberal Bitch’ Be OK?

Posted on | March 4, 2012 | 124 Comments

Sandra “Not a Slut” Fluke testifies, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012

Far be it from me to stoop to name-calling as a substitute for argument, but this question is not merely rhetorical. It seems that Sandra Fluke — who is receiving media Martyr of the Month beatification as the Matthew Shepard of “reproductive rights” — stands accused of makin’ stuff up.

This story isn’t on my beat: Until Wednesday, I’d been covering the GOP presidential campaign, then I had a family emergency that required me to drive home from Michigan, then Andrew Breitbart died on Thursday, and so I’ve been kind of busy with other stuff. I hadn’t too much followed the details of this controversy, except to note that everybody was slamming Rush Limbaugh for calling Sandra Fluke a “slut.” Fortunately, John McCormack of the Weekly Standard was all over this story:

Nancy Pelosi held a congressional hearing on Monday with a single witness, Georgetown student Sandra Fluke, to testify about the need for Obamacare to mandate that religious institutions provide free contraception and abortifacients under their health insurance plans.

(We make note of the key facts: One witness, testifying before Congress, about mandating free contraception coverage.)

“Forty percent of the female students at Georgetown Law reported to us that they struggled financially as a result of this policy,” Fluke testified regarding the Catholic university’s policy of not covering birth control. “Without insurance coverage, contraception, as you know, can cost a woman over $3,000 during law school.”

(Again noting the key facts: Fluke claims to have conducted a survey, discovering that 40% of her felllow students “struggled financially” because of contraceptive costs averaging $1,000 a year during the three years required to complete law school. Fluke made these claims, it must be repeated, during a congressional hearing at which she was the only witness.)

Birth control pills can be purchased for as low as $9 per month at a pharmacy near Georgetown’s campus. According to an employee at the pharmacy in Washington, D.C.’s Target store, the pharmacy sells birth control pills — the generic versions of Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Ortho-Cyclen — for $9 per month. “That’s the price without insurance,” the Target employee said. Nine dollars is less than the price of two beers at a Georgetown bar.

WHOA! John McCormack has done something here that evidently no one else — not the New York Times, not the Washington Post, not Nancy Pelosi’s staffers in the House of Representatives — is capable of doing: Calling up a drugstore and asking them how much birth-control pills cost.

Give that man a Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism.

Now let’s back up a minute and consider the key facts again: Nancy Pelosi holds a hearing of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee seeking to justify a federal policy that would mandate insurance coverage of contraceptives — with no deductible and no co-payment — even for religious institutions where artificial contraception is forbidden as a matter of church doctrine.

In justification of this policy, Pelosi produces exactly one witness, Sandra Fluke, who then asserts that she has conducted a survey of her fellow students, determined that four out of every ten of them have “struggled financially” to pay for their contraception which, she has further determined, “can cost a woman over $3,000” during the three years required to complete law school.

Craig Bannister’s CNS article about Fluke’s testimony mocked these assertions, and when Rush Limbaugh told his radio listeners about the story, he used the words “slut” and “prostitute” to describe Fluke, thus making Limbaugh the target of one of those online lynch mobs that Media Matters specializes in orchestrating.

While everyone is focused on Limbaugh’s alleged “misogyny,” however, it seems that we are ignoring much more important questions:

  • How and when did Fluke conduct her survey of Georgetown Law students’ alleged struggles with contraceptive costs? How many students participated in this survey? What kind of questions were asked? Was the survey conducted with a statistically valid sample? Can Fluke describe her survey’s methodology and provide us with the original questionnaires?
  • How did Fluke arrive at her $3,000 estimate of the cost of contraception? What types of contraceptives — condoms, diaphragms, pills, spermicidal foam — were included in these calculations?
  • Was Fluke aware that a monthly supply of birth-control pills could be obtained for as little as $9 a month? Are Fluke’s math skills sufficient to multiply 9 x 12 x 3 and realize that a three-year supply of pills would therefore cost $324, which is 89.2% less than her $3,000 estimate?
  • Is Fluke aware that annual full-time tuition at Georgetown Law School is $46,865, compared to which an annual cost of $108 for birth-control pills is what statisticians might call “a drop in the bucket”?

Let me be clear: I don’t think Sandra Fluke could provide credible answers to these questions, because I think Sandra Fluke lied through her teeth at that congressional hearing, and I think it’s high time people stop worrying about the alleged misogyny involved in calling someone a “slut” and start asking some hard questions about the alleged lying of Sandra Fluke.

Ace of Spades is giving Jake Tapper hell because Tapper got an interview with Sandra Fluke and didn’t bother to ask her any hard questions about her wildly exaggerated estimate of contraceptive costs. But instead of expecting journalists to do actual journalism, here’s a wild idea:

Aren’t Republicans a majority in the House of Representatives? Doesn’t that give them subpoena power? Couldn’t some GOP committee chairman subpoena Sandra Fluke, put her under oath, and force her to answer some hard questions under penalty of perjury?

I’d sure as hell like to see that hearing, wouldn’t you? And if the House Republicans don’t give us that hearing, I’m prepared to denounce John Boehner as a gutless sissy-boy.

Now, I’ll wait for liberals to accuse me of “homophobia,” so we can spend another week engaged in pointless distractions.

UPDATE: At one point in this “controversy,” Ace tried to find the proper comic tone for riffing on Sandra Fluke:

She’s not a hero. She’s just a Chubster looking for some camera time.

Not good. I thought about going there. The line where I have Fluke “lying through her teeth”? That was going to be “lying her chubby ass off,” but I wasn’t sure that readers would understand that I actually like chubby asses, and I didn’t want to risk offending women who’ve got that kind of more-cushion-for-the-pushin’ biscuits-and-gravy action that me and Sir Mix-a-Lot dig, IYKWIMAITYD.

So I decided against that joke, with a bit of a guilty conscience for even having considered it.

I also felt a slight twinge of guilt when I remembered having made fun of Maureen Dowd’s musty old vajayjay a few years ago. But then I thought about all the vicious things MoDo wrote about Sarah Palin, and my conscience felt a whole lot better all of a sudden.

UPDATE II: Linked by Bob Agard, Monoblog and Rio Norte Line — thanks! — and I want to take this opportunity to apologize to readers for some of our commenters who have made derogatory remarks about Sandra Fluke’s appearance. This is terribly unfortunate, and probably sexist, too.

Besides, it is inaccurate to imply that Sandra Fluke is unattractive.

A recent survey I’ve conducted indicates that 27% of men are attracted to women with the “varsity softball scholarship” look. In fact, seven out of 10 Eritrean immigrant cab drivers in the D.C. metropolitan area say that they would be attracted to Sandra Fluke, especially if her family were willing to provide a dowry that included a small herd of goats, or if they could score a Permanent Residency Visa out of the deal.

Also, if given a choice between Maureen Dowd and Sandra Fluke, the Eritrean cab drivers would unanimously choose Fluke.

Category: Ace of Spades, Contraceptive Culture, Feminism, Rush Limbaugh

Comments

124 Responses to “Since We Can’t Call Sandra Fluke a ‘Slut,’ Would ‘Lying Liberal Bitch’ Be OK?”

  1. rosalie
    March 5th, 2012 @ 8:17 am

    It’s never too early.  Actually, feminazi slut would have been a much more accurate description of Fluke.

  2. Facts From Which They Wish to Distract : The Other McCain
    March 5th, 2012 @ 9:10 am

    […] a ridiculous controversy over Rush Limbaugh’s use of the word “slut” to describe liberal liar Sandra Fluke? Is it possible that they’re trying to distract attention from their own shady […]

  3. Pathfinder
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:04 am

    Hmmm….  Maybe this was just a Fluke.  {Pun intended} http://mrctv.org/videos/shocking-video-contraceptives-obtained-without-federal-mandate

  4. AngelaTC
    March 5th, 2012 @ 11:04 am

    So let’s give her credibility! Defensively attack the person, instead of the message, so the Democrats can continue to take over our lives piece by piece.

    Interesting strategy.

  5. firefirefire
    March 5th, 2012 @ 11:14 am

    I woud like to remind Ms, Fluke that “Swallowing” is free.

  6. You demand I buy your birth control, but you don’t even require your dates to buy you dinner before using it. Discuss. at Haemet
    March 5th, 2012 @ 11:17 am

    […] for contraception?  Doesn’t it take two to tango? Aren’t we all empowered these days? Stacy McCain, in calling Sandra Fluke a liar, forgets to rip apart this part of her testimony: “Forty percent of the female students at […]

  7. Why Rush Didn’t Need to Appologized to Sandra Fluke « sitting on the edge of the sandbox, biting my tongue
    March 5th, 2012 @ 11:22 am

    […] Rush didn’t ruin Sandra Fluke’s reputation, and if she is losing any sleep at all, that’s because she’s exposed her for a lair. […]

  8. Bob Agard
    March 5th, 2012 @ 12:02 pm

    I am so glad I came back to see if you had any updates. “Varsity softball scholarships? Immigrant cab drivers hoping to score a Permanent Residency Visa?” Absolutely hilarious!

    I am going to check with my local pharmacy today to see what Wal-Mart charges for various birth control prescriptions.

  9. Rush Limbaugh Apologizes on Radio Show; Byron York Explains Background : The Other McCain
    March 5th, 2012 @ 1:05 pm

    […] of a three-year supply $324.PREVIOUSLY:March 5: Facts From Which They Wish to DistractMarch 4: Since We Can’t Call Sandra Fluke a ‘Slut,’ Would ‘Lying Liberal Bitch’ Be OK?March 4: While We Were Out, Rush Limbaugh Apologized and Romney Won the Washington State GOP […]

  10. supercon
    March 5th, 2012 @ 1:11 pm

    Uh, did you not read the thread? No girls allowed. 

  11. Sick of Stupidity
    March 5th, 2012 @ 2:09 pm

    Many college students struggle 40% actually sound low, I struggled but would I ask for the gov’t to cover the cost of my hobbies? No.  The people at Georgetown made a choice to go there.  They need to decide on their priorities. Give up their sexual promiscuity.  Find a way to fund it.  Go to cheaper college and use the extra money on their desired activities……..

  12. Nance Confer
    March 5th, 2012 @ 2:27 pm

    Your mother must be so ashamed of you.

  13. TWB
    March 5th, 2012 @ 2:47 pm

    Stacy, I linked to this post last night. Don’t know why it’s not tracking back. Damn computer thingy, thing.

    http://pohdiaries.com/r-s-mccain-pins-down-a-proper-name-for-sandra-fluke-and-its-not-contraceptive-media-martyr/

  14. ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore « The Camp Of The Saints
    March 5th, 2012 @ 2:49 pm

    […] I kid because I ridicule fools. Although, unlike your Courageous Dispatcher, it must be noted that Stacy McCain has apologized for some remarks: …it is inaccurate to imply that Sandra Fluke is unattractive.A recent […]

  15. Wil
    March 5th, 2012 @ 3:04 pm

    They
    say, 98% of woman have at one time or another have used birth control. The
    2% must be  most Catholic nuns and Rick Santorums wife. 

  16. Wil
    March 5th, 2012 @ 3:13 pm

     Why did Rush stop taking Viagra? ….

     Because, it only made him
    taller.

  17. Wombat_socho
    March 5th, 2012 @ 3:39 pm

     Well, they used to be pretty awesome. During the Counter-Reformation.

  18. Wombat_socho
    March 5th, 2012 @ 3:41 pm

    Tell us more about your adventures in the land of the dead!

  19. Prague_one
    March 5th, 2012 @ 3:55 pm

    1. The phrase “can cost up to”  is commonly understood to mean that the cited figure is the maximum potential cost, not the minimum or any sort of average.

    2. As such, the fact that this lady claimed birth control can cost up to $3K is not at all contradicted by the fact that birth control can also cost as little as $324.

    3. The area between those two figures (3,000 and 324) is what’s know in mathematics as a “range” – perhaps you’ve heard of the concept? 

  20. Vega - Poli-Cultural Humorist
    March 5th, 2012 @ 4:28 pm

    Wussy little men who pick on women behind their backs because they are too lame to confront the issue like a man.

    Ooooohhhh, you insulted her appearance? How manly, how brilliant.

  21. Rich
    March 5th, 2012 @ 5:37 pm

    The best part of the Pigboy/Gtown student controversy, is that you wingnuts have no clue how your pinheaded, sociopathic comments aid and abet your  so-called enemies on the left.
    Blog posts like this, and your accompanying comments are being forwarded to soccer moms and possible indie voters nationwide.
    Keep it up!

  22. Mike G.
    March 5th, 2012 @ 5:54 pm

     Ya don’t say?

  23. Gregory Purcell
    March 5th, 2012 @ 6:08 pm

    “contraception, as you know, can cost a woman over, ($1000 a year)”.     can it?  is that possible?  If it can cost that much what she said is not a lie.   Did you include the cost of the Doctors appointment to get the Prescription?  are there more expensive methods than the pill (yes).  Also calling  women whores and sluts because they uses birth control… well lets see how that works out for you all come November.

  24. Cammeooo
    March 5th, 2012 @ 6:18 pm

    SONDRA FLUKE UR NOT FOOLING ANYONE…U INDEED ARE JUST AS RUSH SAID—-AND MORE—WHY DO U THINK UR NAME IS OUT THERE? ur not that  dumb are u? ahhh well yes i guess u are..anyone can go into a family planning clinic and get birth control for free—and that means U can too—DUHHH!! POLITICS AS USUAL WITH A NEW FLAVOR OF THE WEEK…. FLUKE OF NATURE

  25. Doug
    March 5th, 2012 @ 6:29 pm

    Do butch dykes actually need contraceptives? I´m not accusing, just asking.

  26. cifweltr
    March 5th, 2012 @ 8:17 pm

    And if you can’t take the generic? If you need more expensive pills or the patch or the ring, which cost $40 per month WITH insurance? Or if you can’t take the pill at all and you need a cervical cap or Depo-Provera shot, both of which are considerably more expensive and require frequent visits to the doctor? Not every person with a cough can just stuck on a cough drop. It might be a cold or it might be pneumonia or COPD or lung cancer. Not every person or every condition can be treated the same way, which is why there are many forms of birth control.

  27. Bob Trombetta
    March 5th, 2012 @ 9:04 pm

    Wow. Scared of intelligent, autonomous women much? Holy crap. Maybe all of you who are so focused on her looks and how you wouldn’t throw her a bone should post pictures of yourselves, since I’m sure you’re all absolutely gorgeous and irresistible.

    Just kidding. This is like a meeting of the male sexual catastrophe club.

  28. Gwendolyn Davis
    March 5th, 2012 @ 9:43 pm

    She’s in law school – I think the ability to lie like a cheap rug would be seen as a positive trait.

  29. Gwendolyn Davis
    March 5th, 2012 @ 9:56 pm

    That’s one hell of a range, if those gals are “struggling” one would think they would shop around for the best price.

  30. Gwendolyn Davis
    March 5th, 2012 @ 9:58 pm

    Why should the rest of the American taxpayers have to pay for it?

  31. ThePaganTemple
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:00 pm

     Too fucking bad, that doesn’t mean the government has the right to tell insurance companies they have to offer coverage for it. That’s my only fucking gripe about this, really.

  32. ThePaganTemple
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:03 pm

     Oh, so that’s what you call a woman who fucks so much she needs help paying for birth control, “intelligent and autonomous”. That’s interesting, I usually just call them whores.

  33. cifweltr
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:11 pm

    So insurance shouldn’t cover ovarian cysts, which have absolutely nothing to do with how much sex a person has?

  34. cifweltr
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:12 pm

    If you actually paid attention to Sandra Fluke’s testimony, you’d know that yes, some people use pills known as birth control for reasons that have nothing to do with sex, such as ovarian cysts, which, if left untreated, can rupture and require expensive surgery. Which is exactly what happened to Sandra Fluke’s lesbian friend. 

  35. cifweltr
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:14 pm

    You mean why should insurance companies – which are funded by insurance premiums, not taxes (unless you count tax breaks, which are entirely different) – cover things like pneumonia and lung cancer? Because that’s what health insurance is for.

  36. ThePaganTemple
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:33 pm

     God Damn what a stupid fucking thing for me to say. I hate you god damn people, every time I make the mistake of engaging you I get just a little bit more fucking stupid.

  37. ThePaganTemple
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:35 pm

     They should cover it if they want to, and if they don’t the government shouldn’t require it. If you don’t like it you are free and welcome to purchase insurance through a company that will. The fact that I’m even having to explain this fucking shit to you is proof you are an un-American socialist shit hook.

  38. cifweltr
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:41 pm

    Except that most Americans get insurance through their employers, who tend to hook up with the lowest bidder for providing insurance. Insurance companies are for-profit and so they will take any excuse to deny coverage. So yes, if it takes government intervention to make sure that insurance companies are required to provide coverage for all legitimate healthcare needs, I want my government to step the fuck up and make it happen. “Welcome to purchase” from another company sounds nice unless you’re among the vast majority of poor people in this country who can only afford insurance because it is part of the job. It sounds like you’d rather the government let people die than offer benefits, which sure as hell isn’t what “Bring me your tired, your poor” was all about. 

  39. Michael Swartz
    March 5th, 2012 @ 10:46 pm

    I appreciate the shout out for my site, although it’s actually ‘monoblogue.’ Yes, I spell it in an odd fashion, like monologue with a ‘b’.

    As for the topic, I wouldn’t be derogatory about Ms. Fluke’s appearance, other than to describe her as ‘plain.’ In 20 years she will likely look like most other feminists do, which is to say spinster material.

    And while I understand the argument that some people are on birth control for the purposes of regulating their menstrual cycle (as women close to me have been) that still does not mean we as taxpayers should just give out The Pill like candy. Certainly no one is going to hand me free asthma medication which, unlike the case apparently is for Fluke, is actually a preventive medication which allows me to function at a reasonable level. I’m happy to do a co-pay because I’m quite aware these drugs don’t come from the Advair tree and that’s part of the cost figured in for health insurance.

    Anyone with common sense knows that nothing from the government (or the health insurance company) is “free.” So if there’s something Ms. Fluke lacks it’s not necessarily looks but common sense (and perhaps a moral compass.)

  40. Youridiculous
    March 6th, 2012 @ 2:12 am

    wot a bunch of wankers.

  41. Danny Guam
    March 6th, 2012 @ 3:04 am

    Look, if RSM wants to fuck goats who am I to object. Just don’t expect me to pay for it with my taxes.

  42. Wombat_socho
    March 6th, 2012 @ 5:36 am

     And in such cases, the pills are covered, even by Catholic institutions. As you would know if you had been paying the slightest bit of attention to the facts in the case, as opposed to Fluke’s bullshit.

  43. Doug
    March 6th, 2012 @ 6:34 am

    I´ve got no problems with insurance
    companies coving ovarian cysts, that´s their job. Treating and preventing are 2
    different pairs of shoes. The pill may or may not prevent these is some women,
    however not that many women become ovarian cysts to justify giving all women
    the pill for free. Also, it doesn´t work for everyone, it´s not a fail proof
    prevention method. The negative side effects are a greater risk then the
    preventative potential. The cases you described above or not the average cases.
     Some things need to be handled on a case by case basis, but for the vast
    majority of women the anti baby pill can be obtained, for about $200 a year or
    less. Fluke attempted to mislead Congress, that is a crime. For the vast
    majority of women who take the pill it´s merely a form of birth control, why
    should we use insurance premiums to cover the costs of extracurricular carnal
    activities? That will only increase insurance costs for others. It would be
    much cheaper to handle the rather small amount of ovarian cysts than it would
    be to provide blanket coverage anti baby pills for all female students in
    America. Don´t forget it´s the cyst that doesn´t get treated that´s dangerous,
    nobody is trying to deny treatment of any disease or illness. What did
    women do all those many thousands of years before we had the pill? And don´t
    forget, one of the side effects of the pill is itself can be ovarian cysts.

  44. A Guy From Lithia Springs
    March 6th, 2012 @ 11:47 am

    What’s hilarious about this entire episode is that you conservative dummies did it all to yourselves!     A bunch of middle aged dudes who took their fill of drankin’, partyin’, smokin’ and fornicating are now holier-than-thou in their middle aged to golden years.   It’d be hilarious if it weren’t so sad…..

  45. tinwoman
    March 6th, 2012 @ 3:42 pm

    Wow, nothing on here but misogynistic hatred of women and making fun of one woman’s appearance because she dared to speak out.  All of you are one small step above drooling rapists hiding in a dark alley with a knife at the ready.  You need to ask  yourselves why you hate women this much.

  46. fahdutnik
    March 6th, 2012 @ 3:55 pm

    What is wrong with you people?  Denying Ms Fluke’s and any woman’ appearance in a Congressional hearing regarding insurance coverage of contraception was wrong and stupid.  After all women are at the forefront of this issue and the panel of men  who were in that hearing were certainly out of order.  This is an issue affecting women and men who would/could avail themselves of contraception.

  47. AJ_Olding
    March 6th, 2012 @ 7:42 pm

    The trial dealt with the leaglity of the Bill. They were reviewing it based solely on the First Amendment. Affects of the bill do not play into the legality of it. If Fluke was allowed in, it would have essentially been the same as allowing a KKK member to be on the Jury for the Michael Jackson Trial. It had nothing to with the LEGALITY. and that”s all that mattered.

  48. fahdutnik
    March 6th, 2012 @ 8:43 pm

     You people are idiots.  Sorry I ever visited this filthy site.

  49. Wombat_socho
    March 6th, 2012 @ 8:52 pm

     We’re sorry too, since you managed single-handedly to lower the IQ here by ten points.

  50. AJ_Olding
    March 6th, 2012 @ 9:19 pm

    ” You people are idiots.”
    Good to know the kind of mudslinging I’m dealing with.

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