Fluke, who was called a "slut" and a "prostitute" by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, spoke before a crowd of mostly Warren supporters at The Roost, a cafe on Bridge Street. Watch video
Sandra Fluke speaks at the Roost in Northampton on Tuesday afternoon. Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz stands in the back.
NORTHAMPTON — Swamped by a crowd of admirers, feminist Sandra Kay Fluke made a pitch for Democrat Elizabeth Warren's U.S. Senate campaign at a local cafe Tuesday, calling the U.S. Senate one of the last barriers between conservatives and women's rights.
Fluke, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention, has been a lightning rod for women's rights over the past year. In February, Republicans refused to let her testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on insurance coverage for birth control. Soon afterwards, right wing commentator Rush Limbaugh called Fluke a "slut" and a "prostitute" on his national talk show.
Fluke spoke before a crowd of mostly Warren supporters at The Roost, a cafe on Bridge Street. She was introduced by former Northampton Mayor Mary L. Ford, the city's first woman mayor, who urged a crowd of Smith College students to build on the achievements of previous generations.
"These fights have been going on cross-generation," Ford said.
Flanked by current Mayor David J. Narkewicz, Ford said the sight of Fluke facing down a room full of conservative Republicans in Washington was "one of the most enduring images" in recent politics.
`"There's a war on women," Ford said. "That's the subtext in this election. Don't let them turn back the clock."
Fluke, who was hustled out by Warren campaign workers afterwards without taking questions from the media, said Warren will champion women's rights, in contrast to Warren's opponent in the Massachusetts Senate race, incumbent Republican Sen. Scott Brown.
"We've been getting a part-time senator," Fluke said. "This race has national implications. No sleep until November."
Learning of Fluke's appearance, Brown's campaign released a statement affirming his support for women's rights.
On the way out of the cafe, Fluke stopped to talk and take pictures with more than a dozen students. Jesse Klein, a member of the Smith Demorcats, called her well-spoken.
"You can tell she really cares," Klein said.
Shabia Furkan, a freshman at Smith, was among the throng waiting for Fluke to arrive. She said there was a buzz at Smith about her appearance.
"People who knew were letting other people know," she said.
Northampton resident Yana Tallon-Hicks did not come to The Roost to see Fluke but was pleasantly surprised by the event. Although she described herself as apolitical, Tallon-Hicks has unequivocal feelings about Limbaugh.
"I think he's stupid," she said. "You can quote me."