Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Here are a couple of posts about the back story involving Rush Limbaugh’s vile comments about law student Sandra Fluke’s defense of access to birth control.

By the way, President Obama called Fluke today “to offer her words of encouragement amid a controversy involving Rush Limbaugh’s words toward her.” Impressive.

Via First Read:

“The speaker obviously believes the use of those words was inappropriate, as is trying to raise money off the situation,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in a statement. 

This from the guy who raises money off of his own despicable statements about all kinds of issues. Okay, they’re not as abhorrent as Rush’s, but the policies Speaker Boehner stands for and tries to push through the House certainly aren’t good for women, and do tacitly encourage right wing nut jobs like Rush to up the stakes until it becomes the GOP agenda on crack.

But thanks for the statement.

Notice he said the “words” were inappropriate. What about what was behind the words?

The comment refers to Democratic fundraising efforts related to Limbaugh’s comments, in which he called Fluke a “slut.” Fluke had been asked to testify about the policy of Georgetown University, a Catholic college, toward covering contraception for students. Her testimony came amid a controversy in Washington in recent weeks regarding the extent to which religious institutions should be required to cover contraceptive services as part of their insurance policies, despite moral objectives to contraception.

She’s fast becoming THE new hero to anyone who believes in equality, women’s rights, and fairness.