BO's administration created quite the Bi-Partisan uproar when they released the final interpretation of what is included as preventative care under the Obama health care law. Essentially, it requires health insurance plans cover all FDA approved forms of contraception, including abortion drugs such as Plan B, enraging religious leaders across the country.
Religious organizations providing health insurance to employees feel the mandate infringes on their religious liberty, (that silly thing we call the first amendment), as the government requires they do something directly conflicting with their religious beliefs. Many groups requested BO's administration permit them a conscience exception to the avoid the mandate, but instead they were given a year to comply with it.
And so the out outrage continues. I imagine much to BO's surprise. After all, he was counseled by senior administrative officials who asked him to reconsider, he would not.
Some say he would not reconsider because it is an election year and he wants to please factions of his party and gain favor amongst female voters. I disagree.
I think Obama severely underestimated the backlash such a decision would create because he fundamentally misunderstands how seriously most Americans view their faith, and how seriously religious leaders view the first amendment.
BO knew there would be an uproar, but thought it would quickly subside. Surely the good people of America will come to appreciate guaranteed contraception over guaranteed religious freedom.
He was wrong, and forced to act.
And act he did.....He held a news conference explaining how after debate and reflection, he agreed to compromise, shifting his position on mandated birth control, to the same position. WHAT???
In Obama's words:
'The policy also ensures that if a woman works for religious employers with objections to providing contraceptive services as part of its health plan, the religious employer will not be required to provide contraception coverage, but her insurance company will be required to offer contraceptive care free of charge,”
There's one problem with this- 'Her insurance' is provided by her employer, ipso facto these organizations continue to offer the very contraception coverage they objected to regardless of how the employee is informed of it. i.e. no substantive change.
Only in Washington does such double speak pass as news of compromise on position.
I often wonder if politicians are required to pass political double speak 101 as the first order of business once elected? If so, surely BO's press conference will be used as a shining example of double speak success.
And so my best guess is the uproar will continue, and it should. Regardless of your position on contraception, (and for the record, I am pro contraception) this is about much more. It's unfortunate that not everyone realizes it
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