During President Obama's first news conference of 2012 today, he answered questions on why he made a phone call to support Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, the role of debate in democracy and whether or not he agrees with DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz about the GOP waging "war against women."
Obama said he called Fluke, who was labeled a "slut" by radio host Rush Limbaugh, because he doesn't want people who speak their mind about policy issues to be discouraged or attacked.
Limbaugh apologized to Fluke, saying he shouldn't have used the language he did and it was wrong.
Asked to comment on Limbaugh's apology, Obama said he doesn't know "what's in Rush Limbaugh's heart," but said that such remarks "don't have any place" in public discourse.
Obama said the incident made him think of his two daughters and his hopes that they can engage in issues they care about in the future.
Obama said he doesn't want his daughters "attacked or called horrible names" for speaking their minds and being good citizens.