CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the show on which Fluke appeared. It was CNN's Starting Point.
Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke, who has become the face of the contraception debate, is taking a stand against her critics after conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh called her a “slut” and a “prostitute” on air weeks ago.
Fluke wrote a commentary on CNN.com, writing that Limbaugh’s “smears” and public condemnation by other critics “are obvious attempts to distract from meaningful policy discussions and to silence women’s voices regarding their own health care,” which have “clearly failed.”
"Attacking me and women who use contraception by calling us prostitutes and worse cannot silence us," she wrote.
Fluke was originally thrust into the public eye in February when she was barred from testifying before the Republican-controlled House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which called only male witnesses. She later appeared before a panel of Democratic lawmakers, which triggered Limbaugh's tirade.
The incident prompted an outcry of support from Democratic leaders like President Barack Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, but muted responses from conservative leaders, including the GOP presidential candidates.
Fluke said on CNN’s Starting Point on Tuesday that she wrote the op-ed to give voice to the women impacted by the debate, and to combat misinformation about her appearance before members of Congress.
“That’s one of the main reasons that I wanted to submit the op-ed, because I wanted people to understand that this is neither government-subsidized contraception, nor is contraception as incredibly cheap as some people have said,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that some folks have made [the debate] so much about me and my access, because that was not what my testimony was about.”
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