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Friend --

In a recent statement that was both factually inaccurate and
horribly offensive, Republican Missouri Senate candidate
Rep. Todd Akin said that victims of "legitimate rape" don't
get pregnant because "the female body has ways to try to
shut that whole thing down."

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan tried to distance themselves from
the remark -- but the fact is they're in lockstep with Akin
on the major women's health issues of our time. Just this
morning, the Republican Party voted to include the "Human
Life Amendment" in their platform, calling for a
constitutional ban on abortions nationwide, even for rape
victims. Several Romney supporters and advisers stood
silently by while this vote took place, and the Los Angeles
Times reports that the platform "was written at the
direction of Romney's campaign."

President Obama spoke out in response to Akin's
comments: "What I think these comments do underscore is why
we shouldn't have a bunch of politicians, a majority of
whom are men, making health care decisions on behalf of
women."

This controversy is not an accident, or a mistake, or an
isolated incident. It's a reflection of a Republican Party
whose policies are dangerous for women.

There is a clear choice for women in this election: Stand
with President Obama:

http://my.barackobama.com/A-Clear-Choice11

I entered this national debate on women's rights in
February, when, as a Georgetown Law student, I testified
before members of Congress on the issue of contraception.

Without knowing me or my story, Rush Limbaugh called me a
"slut" and a "prostitute" on his radio show.

Many Americans stepped forward to tell me they agreed with
me, and supported my right to speak out without being
verbally attacked. President Obama stood with us.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand? He didn't even condemn the
remark, instead saying only: "It's not the language I would
have used."

Since that moment, I'm even more resolved to continue the
fight to make sure every single woman -- and every man who
cares about the women in his life -- knows exactly what's
at stake in this election. The Republicans are
frighteningly clear on these issues.

The party platform itself includes a "salute" to states that
have pushed "informed consent" laws, such as those that
force women seeking an abortion to first undergo an invasive
and medically unnecessary ultrasound.

Just last year, Paul Ryan joined Todd Akin and more than
200 other Republicans in co-sponsoring legislation that
would have narrowed the definition of rape, limiting which
victims of rape were "legitimate" enough to receive financial
assistance for access to abortion care.

Mitt Romney famously says he would "get rid of" Planned
Parenthood if he had the chance. And both Romney and Ryan
pledge to go back to a system where insurance companies can
discriminate against women and charge us more than men for
the same health insurance.

Akin's comments shouldn't be surprising. But this isn't
about him -- just like it was never about me.

President Obama has told us what he's fighting for: "I want
women to control their own health choices, just like I want
my daughters to have the same opportunities as your sons."

Republicans, led by Romney and Ryan, have made it clear
that they want to make our decisions for us.

President Obama trusts us to make our own.

It's as simple as that. Join me and stand with him today:

http://my.barackobama.com/A-Clear-Choice11

Thanks,

Sandra Fluke


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