Have you seen the headline that Obama was backing down on the contraceptive issue? Don't take their word for it. You can let Obama speak for himself. See his
seven minute explanation before you condemn him.
So now that you heard his side, do you still think that he backed down?
He is perfectly consistent. It's fairly obvious that the Catholic bishops organization saw the situation as an opportunity to mount an attack on birth control under cover of an alleged "Obamacare" attack on religious freedom. And, according to some reports, the group carefully planned out a well coordinated attack plan in advance of the announcement so that the pulpits could simultaneously label the issue as a violation of the constitutional church/state clause. They could not have guaranteed it's prominance in the Fall campaigns any better. Anything but discussion of the critical public policy issues! Oh, well, tho, look what it did for Rick Santorum; manna from heavon on the eve of several state caucous'. Who benefitted more? Obama, I think.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for Santorum, the next primaries aren't until Feb 28, in Arizona and Michigan. So there is a long gap and he may not be able to capitalize on this sentiment for it burns out.
ReplyDeleteObama did not "back down" on the insurance for birth control issue. He was flexible enough and smart enough to see that the new approach was better. He can achieve the same goal without arousing so much opposition. His opponents were all geared up for a fight and are probably disappointed that he changed his approach. i think Obama outsmarted the opposition this time.
ReplyDeleteDoris
I think Obama backed down. I am basing my opinion partly on Lisa Miller's article of 2-18-12. She says; "It seems far-fetched, from my perspective, to think that God should have any oinion at all about contraceptive technology, let along about which corporate entity should pay for it." It's true that Santorum, and others of his ilk (Huckabee said he would rather go to jail) made a lot of headway with this, but I think that, as time passes, they will be seen as out of touch with the reality of the times. Obama should have stuck to his initial idea, but then I can't think of much that he has stuck to. DORY
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