Last Wednesday, Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke spoke at the Democratic National Convention about Todd Akin, women’s rights, and contraception. In February, Fluke was denied testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the requirement that employers provide contraceptives in insurance payments without a copay.

Fluke became nationally known for her work with Georgetown’s chapter of Law Students for Reproductive Justice, especially after negative comments from conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Many Georgetown students came out in support for her cause and President DeGioia sent out a letter condemning Limbaugh’s slur.

In an interview before her speech with CNS Maryland, Fluke said that she wanted to provide women with important information about the records of the two candidates.

“What I hope to do with my time is to provide people with information about the record of Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan and of President Obama and Vice President Biden when it comes to issues that are important to women.”

During her speech on Wednesday, she came out in strong support for Obama and the Democratic party.

According to Fluke, the reelection of Obama would create “an America in which our president, when he hears a young woman has been verbally attacked, thinks of his daughters — not his delegates or donors — and stands with all women,” she said. “And strangers come together, reach out and lift her up. And then, instead of trying to silence her, you invite me here, and give me a microphone, to amplify our voice.”

She ended her speech by saying that American women had the chance to either choose a president who “either has our back or turns his back”. Video link to her full speech here.

Photo by AP/J. Scott Applewhite

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