Controversies in recent months over exempting birth control from health care coverage, spiced by conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh's labeling an advocate of contraception coverage a "slut, " raised the profile of women's issues in the political spotlight.

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Rush Limbaugh has been an inescapable presence in the media this past week since he called a Georgetown University law student a slut for speaking out in favor of having employers cover contraceptives in their health care plans.

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And when a member of your "team" says something extreme, it is either ignored or excused by invoking extreme statements from the other side of the ideological gulf -- therefore the conservative response to Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a slut was to try and make the debate about Bill Maher's past statements about Sarah Palin.

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