White House Openly Considers Caving to Bishops on Birth Control Coverage

[madfloridian]

This is not about religion, it is about an attempt to control the decisions of women. It is about the rights of women to decide whether or not they want to get pregnant at a given time. I hope this is not true. However it fits a pattern through the years of trying to be amenable to the right wing....even though they continue with extremist behavior.

White House Openly Considers Caving to Bishops on Birth Control Coverage

According to a New York Times article today by Robert Pear, the White House has now publicly confirmed that President Obama is considering caving to demands by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and other far right religious groups that he "expand the exemptions" from the requirement that insurance plans under health reform cover birth control without a co-pay.

If he does so, the President will be trading the health, welfare, autonomy, and economic prospects of millions of women and the opinion of the entire medical and public health communities to curry favor with a very small minority of male-dominated religious right groups such as the USCCB which has found that it can not, on its own, force women to become and remain pregnant.

And as far as I am concerned, if the President does this, he will also forfeit the right to call himself "pro-choice" under any definition of the term as I understand it.

It is a serious cave in, and it will have consequences for women who otherwise can not afford contraception.

This is not a trivial matter. Cost plays a major role in consistent access to and use fo contraception, most especially for low-income and middle class women. Access to birth control is a major factor in preventing unintended pregnancies, ostensibly a goal of this Administration. Moreover, it is the right of every woman to decide whether and when to bear a child and under what conditions. No religious figure has the right to "override" the fertility and health decisions of any woman.

Here is more from an earlier article:

Obama and the Bishops: Is the White House Caving on Birth Control Coverage?


Anti-choice conservatives target birth control

This week, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) threw itself a pity party in Baltimore. According to the bishops, their "religious liberty" is threatened unless they are able to ensure that every single person in the United States (well, actually the world) is made to follow Catholic canon law to the letter. According to the New York Times, the bishops are "recasting their opposition" to same-sex marriage, birth control, and other fundamental aspects of public health and human rights, because they view both government and culture as infringing on the church’s rights.

I view it as a religious group infringing on the rights of persons to make decisions on their own, not based on church policy.

In 2009 the Chicago Sun Times called out President Obama on letting the Bishops set policy.

Chicago Sun Times: Obama can't let bishops set U.S. policy

Catholic bishops have every right to speak their mind and preach the church's teaching. But they are engaging in outright political lobbying. Helping to write legislation that turns Catholic doctrine into law. Attempting to blackmail U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island by denying him Communion unless he comes around. Violating the separation of church and state.

When bishops lobby legislators, they should be required to do what all tax-exempt 501(c)3 groups have to do. Create a parallel political organization and pay taxes on the contributions they receive. And fully disclose, like every other lobbying organization -- corporate or charitable -- what they take in and what they spend to advance positions they advocate.

[NMMNG]

1. No surprise

Caving is his specialty.

[Tansy_Gold]

8. And he's very very good at it.

:puke:

[Dawson Leery]

2. Tax churches! All of them!

[defendandprotect]

72. +1000% -- agree ...

only the property which surrounds a church and its soup kitchen should be

exempt --

NOT their real estate holdings, not their stock portfolios --

[MedleyMisty]

3. So....

How did that multidimensional chess work out for Chamberlain?

[SomethingFishy]

4. They can't be that stupid can they?

Really, they couldn't possibly be that dumb. I'll wait and see. If it happens Obama might as well throw in the towel. Obama could call for the death of all abortion doctors, internment camps for gays and name Christianity the USA's official religion and the right wing will still not vote for him. If he does this he will alienate too many people on the "D" side to possibly be elected.

[DJ13]

9. Yes they can

The sellout to health insurers proves they can.

[lark]

48. don't think his masters want him to be elected

No sane Dem would do that to women, and Obama isn't stupid and I don't think he's insane, so he has a good reason for his treachery to women. What that reason is, who really knows, but my guess is he's doing what he was paid to do from the beginning, destroy the Dem party by driving away the constituencies. For the environmentally minded, he aided and abetted BP, for women - no birth control, for seniors - he put Medicare & SSI on the table, for financial Dems - TARP, tax cuts for the rich, gutting the Consumer Protection etc, etc.

[Marnie]

62. REpubls told us who he is, the Machurian Candidate.

Just like they eventualy tell us about all their dirty little secrets.

Listen to what they cause others of, or what sounds like gaffs, and that is what they are doing themselves.

You don't believe that Newt et. al really believe in child enslavement?

Grow up.

[ooglymoogly]

57. Yes indeed they can....but they will call it "yes WE can"

and the sycophants will shout hallelujah and gimmi some-more that ol' time democratic democracy, praizzzzze Jeeeezussss..uh.

[AmericaIsGreat]

5. He better not

I got over Obama a long time ago but I still want to see him do the right thing and caving would not be doing the right thing.

[Sal Minella]

6. I get it! The Church is a PERSON! Like zygotes and corporations!

I hope I live long enough to see women considered "persons," too.

[Angry Dragon]

7. the catholic church is infringing on my religious rights

[The Genealogist]

10. Up with zygotes, down with women

That is the message I am hearing from these bishops. Catholic bishops? Males. Telling women what they may and may not do with their bodies. You want to do that in your congregations? I can't do anything about it. But to ram it through and make it policy that affects all American women? I cannot accept this. Women's bodies are their own. Period.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. ....because they want to find a position even MORE unpopular than raiding pot clubs?

for fuck's sake. WHO do they think this is going to get votes from?

[madfloridian]

12. When the reporter from RH Reality Check called the WH to verify....

here is what she was told. There was no denial.

"I called the White House last week for comment on their policy, and two days later received a call back from someone at HHS who'd been asked by White House staff to call me. I was told by the HHS spokesperson that no decision had been made on when to finalize the policy and that technically the department could take until next summer to decide since the final rule does not go into effect until August. When I asked what more, on top of the weight of evidence already made public, was left to consider, I was told that the department was hearing from "all stakeholders." Apparently, HHS considers the USCCB, the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family and other religious right organizations to be a stakeholders of your womb, because they are weighing heavily on this decision."

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/11/20/white-house-admits-it-is-considering-caving-to-bishops-on-birth-control-coverage

[Auntie Bush]

19. Why would the President do this? Those groups are not going to vote for him anyway but,

he will lose a lot of Women voters. We need to inundate the WH with petitions.
Obama needs a warning and a swift kick in the pants...right in front! If we women say nothing he'll think it's OK. No Birth control...no Viagra!

[madfloridian]

20. You are right....the ones who support this will not vote for him.

I live among those people...mostly Baptists, not so much Catholic put same views toward women. I seldom discuss politics here anymore, but it is not hard to get the drift of what they are thinking. They have been so brainwashed that no matter how hard he tries to please, it just won't matter.

[roguevalley]

21. because that is who he is, a dumb fucker

who only cares about himself. I wonder what it will take to get the obama bots to get it.obama is an opportunist dumb fuck. I agree with ows that he is about as relevant as my dog's poop.

[ooglymoogly]

59. When will we get it through our thick skulls....this man is not

a Democrat, just because he calls himself one...He could, under no circumstances, win an election as a right wing pug...but he can fool democrats...boy can he fool Democrats....hell up until a few months ago he was a dead ringer for a right winger trying to woo the oligarchs and their minions...it is only when elections roll round, that he begins to sound, again, like a Democrat; realizing correctly that democrats will fall for the shpiel, once again, and again, and again...and the Oligarchs will realize he is just the man they want in the presidency to carry their toilet water, just as they always have.

After what shocker will the rank and file Dem's realize this man is a Judas goat.


Rah, rah, rah...four more years, sis boom bah... four more years ...Bush, Bush, bush...er...0bama, 0bama, 0bama...

[defendandprotect]

73. Obama was sent in to do this because the GOP couldn't do it -- same with Social Security/Medicare !!

After 20 years and more of Koch Bros. DLC infiltlration and influence over the party

and its candidates -- what do we expect?

[defendandprotect]

75. "Stakeholders" are Grand Ole Patriarchy and its underpinning = Organized patriachal religion !

Patriarchy's war on nature, women and chidlren --

and the effort to control women and reproduction --

2,000 years of exploitation -- !!


Catholic members are ignorning the church teachings which means that

officials have to turn to church to try to regain control over women!

[RueVoltaire]

92. It's time to occupy the churches, IMO,

and turn them into community centers where everyone is welcome, and no one has to call themselves a sinner to join.
"You find as you look around the world that every single bit of progress in humane feeling, every improvement in the criminal law, every step toward the diminution of war, every step toward better treatment of the colored races, or every mitigation of slavery, every moral progress that there has been in the world, has been consistently opposed by the organized churches of the world, I say quite deliberately that the Christian religion, as organized in its churches, has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world."
Bertrand Russell - March 6, 1927

[tpsbmam]

13. It's everyone (on the right) setting policy but the American people.....

It's special interest groups on the right setting policy contrary to what the American people want. Obama is completely deaf and tone deaf when it comes to the vast majority of Americans and rarely fights for us. When he does fight, it's mostly lip-service -- he talks a good game but then folds with any whiff of controversy or right-wing gamesmanship. When he isn't being an outright right-winger he's the capitulator-in-chief. There have been times I've been proud of him.....I can count those times on one hand. This sure as shit isn't one of them!

:grr:


ETA: boy, the apologists are out in force tonight! When I first came across this post, it had 3 recs. By the time I recc'ed it, I was the sole recommendation. Now it's down to zero. Man, those campaign workers are busy, busy!!

[madfloridian]

32. Now that is the truth.

And yes, you are right about the unrecs.

I would think most here would support a woman's right to birth control.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Why are they even "discussing" bargaining away a woman's right to choose with these guys? K&R

Kinda like Lincoln discussing slavery with Jeff Davis and Simon Legree.

[haikugal]

17. Bush's third term...Obama the tool...We have no voice.

We shouldn't be surprised and we need to stop expecting him to do anything differently than he has...peace prize my ass.

[defendandprotect]

76. +1000% -- It's amazing that anyone would be surprised!! What does it take???

[shraby]

15. How is Viagra treated by insurance companies???????

[Auntie Bush]

36. I believe it's covered by insurance.

But woman have to pay out of their own pocket. See anything unfair about that?
It's a man's world! We pay to help them get us pregnant and then we pay to prevent that pregnancy...not fair!

[leftyohiolib]

39. it's not covered with my insurance it's 20 dollars a pill to have sex with my wife

see anything unfair about that?

[Auntie Bush]

58. Yowee! $20.00 a pill! I had no idea!

I've always heard it's covered for men. Learn something new everyday!

[leftyohiolib]

100. it wasnt for me. but i'll try to submitt it again if they accept it i'll let u know

cross your fingers for me! maybe some do i had uhc they said no but i now have bc/bs maybe they do. but last time it tried to get insurance to take it cvs said they wouldnt. 10 pills was $196.00

[Aerows]

16. Religion is a choice

You choose to follow a religious doctrine. The law isn't a choice, it's a blanket statement about what is legal and what isn't legal.

That's why we have separation of Church and State, because not everyone believes in the same religion.

[BadgerKid]

18. As a man, I would like to see religion get out of women's pants. (sic)

There are women affected by this who aren't Catholic.

[LadyHawkAZ]

22. NO EXEMPTIONS!!

There should be NO exemptions AT ALL! NONE!

[RC]

23. Tell me again why Obama should not be Primaried.

What part of separation of church and state does he not understand here.
Just because it does not include a government sanctioned church service does not mean this is not violation of the Constitution.

[leftyohiolib]

41. because the supreme court nominations are more important than any other issue

the chances of getting obama re-elected are better than finding and priming a challenger

[sulphurdunn]

52. Consider the composition of the Court

in terms of religious affiliation and ask yourself how that might serve the agenda of the Bishops were Obama to make another reliable nomination given the chance. It's as though the political class has ceded control of the Supreme Court to the Church. The only question is what they expect in return.

[Divernan]

65. Obama looks more likely than Bush to appoint another Opus Dei Catholic to the USSC

Given his new found affection for the conservative and controlling wing of the Catholic Church.

[ooglymoogly]

68. The only difference between 0 appointments and Bush appointments

Obama will appoint somewhat more intelligent corporate shills, that live marginally within the bounds of sanity, while Bush has appointed like minded lunatics; corporate shills, with the IQ of a greedy maggot.

[leftyohiolib]

99. exactly we're better off wih prez.o picking the scotus . it's obama's fcc blocking the tmobile merge

you wont see that with repubes picking the appointments.

[Politicalboi]

24. Couldn't they be sued for such idiocy?

How dare these pedophiles have a say in ANYTHING! I was raised Catholic, and for those who expose their children to religion look out for backlash. I resent it, and it can't be undone. It's a shame that the Catholic church still exists.

[defendandprotect]

77. Agree -- why hasn't ACLU or other organizations sued even on Bush giving Vatican taxpayer $$$

for their "faith based" religions --

Court is impeachable for 2000, for the Bush violations and Obama's violations!


TREASON --

[TheKentuckian]

25. For what plausible reason?

There is no benefit in pretending such a thing and if there where you are supposed to have some semblance of core beliefs.

Birth control????

[madfloridian]

27. There are no plausible reasons.

It's being done in the name of "bipartisanship". It's all about winning and showing us they really don't need us.

[madfloridian]

26. Obama met with Bishop, no response to CARD...group against discrimination.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/christianity/catholicism/obama-meets-catholic-bishop-wont-talk-discrimination-opponents

"As frustrating as it is that the hierarchy wants to have its cake and eat it too, it’s also pretty frustrating that Obama has twice invited Archbishop Dolan to the White House for a private meeting, but recent requests by the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination (CARD) to meet with Obama’s staff have gone unanswered. CARD leaders (including Americans United, which serves as chair of the coalition) want to discuss the president’s failure to ban religion-based job discrimination in publicly funded “faith-based” social services (as he promised during the 2008 campaign). That’s a real religious liberty issue!

The most recent CARD letter to the White House – Sept. 19 -- was signed by 57 groups. They range from African American Ministers in Action, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Association of University Women, American Humanist Association and the American Jewish Committee to the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Union for Reform Judaism, United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, Women of Reform Judaism and Women’s Law Project.

Obama administration officials have met with CARD representatives in the past, but no meeting has occurred in 2011 despite repeated entreaties to the White House."

..."If Obama wants to be the kind of leader he told us he would be in 2008, he needs to start listening to the genuinely oppressed religious minorities and nonbelievers who face frequent persecution and harassment and stop giving so much time to groups that have nothing to fear but their own delusions."

[markpkessinger]

55. "genuinely oppressed religious minorities" my ass!

The victim card played by religious conservatives -- you can't make this stuff up!

[RainDog]

28. that's the deal breaker for me

if he sides with the religious fascists, I won't vote for him.

he would no longer be the lesser of two evils.

there would no longer be any reason for me to support him if he is willing to toss women onto the trash heap of history.

[woo me with science]

29. There's a new one every day.

[hifiguy]

30. Sickening, absolutely sickening.

This administration is scraping through the bottom of the barrel to the muck below. Previously I had thought only Repukes capable of such craven actions. And there are still people who defend him blindly. More fools, they.

:puke:

[Divernan]

42. Wager all females still supporting O can well afford THEIR birth control.

[defendandprotect]

78. Can't get cheap labor without overpopulation ... it's a new beginning for RCC/Vatican -- !!!

[madfloridian]

31. Excellent article on this at Salon. Words of Obama in 2008

http://www.salon.com/2011/11/21/why_obama_cant_give_in_to_the_bishops/singleton/

"Three years ago, a United States senator declared that he opposed a regulation by the Department of Health and Human Services that would make it easier for healthcare providers to opt out of providing services — like filling prescriptions for contraceptives — that they opposed for religious reasons. He said it raised ”troubling issues about access to basic health care for women, particularly access to contraceptives. We need to restore integrity to our public health programs, not create backdoor efforts to weaken them. I am committed to ensuring that the health and reproductive rights of women are protected.”

Here is more:

"But the truly absurd part is that some of these people already have insurance coverage for contraception, either because the employers are in states that have mandated coverage or because they decided to offer it. For example, Georgetown University offers two separate plans, one of which not only provides contraceptive coverage, but also (gasp) abortion coverage, which is optional for providers.

Presumably, they won’t be applying to get out of contraceptive coverage if the Obama administration does cave to the bishops, but what if the new exemptions go further than the existing ones in the states? That could mean some people would actually lose the coverage they have, though the question would probably end up being decided by a court. In other words, getting women and men better access to contraceptive services is supposed to be one of the key victories the Obama administration has declared on behalf of women and pro-choice supporters — but if the bishops get their way, some women could end up being even worse off."

[madfloridian]

33. Belmont Abbey will sue Obama over the birth control provision. They never quit fighting.

So we will have to learn how to fight back and stop caving in.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/279733859b024638903c8f595becd9dc/NC--Belmont-Abbey-Lawsuit/

"BELMONT, N.C. — Belmont Abbey College is suing the Obama administration over a birth control provision in the landmark health care legislation approved last year.

The Catholic college in Gaston County says the rule would require it to pay for birth control and sterilization for employees, practices that are contrary to Catholic teaching.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed the lawsuit in federal court on the school's behalf and says the exemption in the law for religious employers only covers institutions that hire and serve members of their particular faiths. Belmont Abbey has about 200 full-time employees and 1,700 students, but not all of whom are Catholic."

[dembotoz]

34. it must be because the super committee did not cave-he had to go out and prove again

that he really does not stand for anything.


i am.....disappointed is the wrong word.

even disgusted does not go far enough.......

[Fuddnik]

35. Which Republican campaign is he working for?

Because if he keeps alienating his own voters, he's a dead duck.

[WCGreen]

37. Well, this will help with Newt's vision of children cleaning schools

to save money...

Take away easy access Birth Control through harassing Planned Parenthood and bowing down to the medieval teachings of the my once Catholic Church will almost assure a whole mess of kids working for their educations.

[KoKo]

38. K&R!

[TheKentuckian]

40. You know it is rough when you get the "hush...let it sink and hope it goes away" treatment, Mad.

[Divernan]

43. Absolutely! O's folks are in duck and cover mode!

[Divernan]

44. The world is crushed by the burden of population growth

[Divernan]

45. O needs to keep the poor class expanding & popping out kids for canon fodder.

[muriel_volestrangler]

46. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are all arseholes

and, sad to say, Obama is being a bit of an arsehole to even consider listening to these idiotic misogynists. Look at this complete failure of both logic and compassion from the bag-o'-shite bishops:

The rules already include an exemption for certain “religious employers,” but the exemption is so narrow that some church groups say it is almost meaningless. A religious employer cannot qualify for the exemption if it employs or serves large numbers of people of a different faith, as many Catholic hospitals, universities and social service agencies do.
...
Under the government’s narrow criteria, the bishops said, “even the ministry of Jesus and the early Christian Church would not qualify as ‘religious,’ because they did not confine their ministry to their co-religionists.” Moreover, the bishops said, “the exemption is directly at odds with the parable of the Good Samaritan, in which Jesus teaches concern and assistance for those in need, regardless of faith differences.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/us/politics/democrats-urge-obama-to-defend-birth-control-rules.html?_r=1&src=rechp

Um, no, "concern and assistance for those in need, regardless of faith differences" would mean that every woman, even Roman Catholic women, gets contraceptive coverage. They can't even understand a simple parable in their own holy book. They're too dumb to be let out on their own.

[KamaAina]

47. So that's how the 3D chess game ends

Bishop takes Queen, mate. :(

[blkmusclmachine]

49. The WH invited the dominionist Oak Initiative to pray over Obama this Easter Sunday:

And delivered a sermon about Church-State Governship. NOTHING suprises me anymore with these phony, so-called "New Democrats."

[stormpilot]

50. It's seriously CREEPY

these robed creeps should stay out of it, who the fk do they think they are?!?

[CrispyQ]

51. I'm pretty sure I'm going to write in my 2012 vote, but if he does this, it will seal the deal.

Sellout.

[Remember Me]

80. I've got a different word for him

ass

[muriel_volestrangler]

53. Even Republicans want birth control to be a compulsory part of health coverage

In general do you support or oppose the new federal requirement that private health insurance plans
cover the full cost of birth control and other preventive services for their female patients?
      Total Men Women 18‐29 30‐49 50‐64 65+ Dem. Ind. Rep.
Support 66% 63% 68%   76%   70%  61%   51% 82%  64%  47%
Oppose  24  26  22    13    21   29    38  10   26   42

http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/8217-F.pdf

Even Republicans are more in favour of it than against it. Every single grouping they give the stats for is in favour of it. And Obama wants to cave to the one group for whom it is completely irrelevant - old men who have taken a vow of abstinence.

[markpkessinger]

54. Can't wait to here the rationalizations from the defenders on this one n/t

[WillyT]

56. The Capitulator-In-Chief...

:wtf:

:banghead:

:mad:

:kick: & Rec !!!

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[markpkessinger]

61. If an Episcopal Church can have its tax exempt status threatend b/c of an anti-war sermon...

...delivered in the context of a Sunday service a few days before the 2004 election, but which did NOT tell parishioners who to vote for, why on earth is the USCCB permitted to get away with this?

I'm referring, in case folks aren't aware of it, to All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, a well known large, liberal parish with a history of social activism. In 2004, a few days prior to the presidential election, Rector Emeritus Fr. George Regas preached a sermon based on a hypothetical debate between Bush and Kerry, with Jesus as moderator. Regas posited that as moderator, "Jesus , 'Mr. President, your doctrine of preemptive war is a failed doctrine. Forcibly changing the regime of an enemy that posed no imminent threat has led to disaster.'"

Wikipedia actually has a fairly good account of the story here.

And here's another good article on it: BUSH ADMINISTRATION TARGETS THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF A LIBERAL, ANTI-WAR, ANTI-BUSH CALIFORNIA CHURCH.

Personally, I have no problem with what any clergy person preaches about in the context of a worship service, be it of a conservative or liberal bent. But the USCCB is directly lobbying in order to influence policy. But the churches that ever get targeted are left leaning ones. Why is that, I wonder?

[caseymoz]

63. "Oh, I'm being persecuted because other people use birth control"?

Why? How does it interfere with worship? Has anyone been arrested for not using birth control? Has anyone been denied treatment for not using birth control? Have non-users been publicly separated from the users or humiliated? Has anyone even tried to force a Catholic, against their will to use it. Has anyone even tried to force these assholes to say you won't go to Hell if you use birth control? No.

Really, I'm tired of these buffoons, this creepy boys' club called the Catholic hierarchy. I pity Catholics for feeling compelled to believe any of what they say.

Henry the 8th looks to have had one thing right. If I were Rep. Patrick Kennedy, I'd tell them where to stick their Eucharist and convert to Unitarianism on the spot. There's more than one way to have a communion.

Meanwhile, somebody should bring a case against these freeloading lobbyists and separate tax-free religion from lobbying. Really, if you want to effect an earthly government, you must obligated to pay some taxes to it.

[defendandprotect]

79. We need to first deal with Obama --- !!!

[caseymoz]

85. I should say so. nt

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Quantess]

66. And yet, Christians imagine themselves to be so persecuted.

Look at them, imposing their religious beliefs on everyone! I am not religious, and I do not appreciate my rights being trampled upon by a religion I do not subscribe to. I don't want them to make my decisions for me!

[madrchsod]

70. not all christians feel they are persecuted....

and not of them impose their beliefs on anyone.

[Quantess]

89. Well, that's true, too.

Christian DUers get daily reminders that they aren't actually persecuted, and most are too accepting of others to impose their christianity on others. :)

But the pope definitely needs to get out of my life! No wonder he has to ride around in a protective bubble. He's a menace to society.

[Warren DeMontague]

67. As usual, the most 'oppressed' people on the planet

are those who aren't being allowed to run other peoples' lives enough.


CUT IT OUT! HOW DARE YOU TELL US WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO!!!

[madrchsod]

69. since when does the head of a foreign state have the right to dictate us policy?

a foreign state telling the president of the united states what they think is best for his citizens? i thought he was elected to carry out the wishes of the american people.

[defendandprotect]

71. This isn't "caving" -- this is TREASON as much as passing taxpayer $$ onto religious organizations .

which BOTH Bush and Obama have done -- !!

[judesedit]

74. Give me a break. Remember separation of church and state.Then men should have to pay for viagra.

It's effing male supremacy gasping for its last breath. They are over-compensating for their actual impotence in many cases. In other cases, if they would keep it in their pants, women wouldn't need birth control or abortions. It's the holier-than-thou, hypocritical, cheating, lying, dead-beat dads that have plenty to say. And I say it's none of their damn business.

Ladies...don't buy insurance that won't cover your bcp's. I thought preventive medicine was supposed to be co-pay free anyway????

[emilyg]

81. Earlier poster said he

pays for Viagra.

[ohheckyeah]

82. Who IS this guy?

Seriously, why is he a supposed Democrat and what the hell is his agenda?

[woo me with science]

91. Are we clear yet?

[Autumn]

83. "all stakeholders."

What stake do these obscene people have in a womans womb? I say they have no stake, neither does Obama. I will not vote for Obama if he goes along with this.

[Citizen Worker]

C'mon DUers it's not that he's caving this is who he really is! We all need to accept it and move

on and work for the formation of a SECOND political party.

[AverageJoe90]

94. This kind of rhetoric is the LAST thing we need right now.

If we fall for this malarkey, it'll make it all the easier for our enemies to destroy us all that much quicker. We. Must. FIGHT!

[defendandprotect]

95. Nonsense ... we need to stop alibing and lying to ourselves about Obama and who he is ..!!

Wish it was "malarkey" but Obama has also continued Bush's treason in turning

taxpayer money over to "faith-based" religious o4ganizations -- most of which

belong to RCC. Not only has Obama continued this practice, he's increased the funding!

:puke:

[Citizen Worker]

84. C'mon DUers it's not that he's caving this is who he really is! We all need to accept it and move

on and work for the formation of a SECOND political party.

[RainDog]

86. Democrats tell Obama not to side with religious tyrants

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=5068542&mesg_id=5068542

it's pretty disgusting that they even have to make their case. I didn't vote for someone who was going to allow the catholic church to dictate to the state about women's health care.

It is SHAMEFUL that Obama would do this to poor women. Where is his sense of decency?

[madfloridian]

87. Thanks for the link. He's hurting their re-election prospects.

I don't blame them for fighting back.

[RainDog]

88. exactly.

and honestly, I don't know where in the fuck Obama got the idea that it was okay for him to bargain away women's reproductive rights as the leader of the Democratic Party.

He's in the wrong party if he thinks that's okay or even a strategy to use.

[defendandprotect]

96. True -- that's what Koch Bros. DLC/New Party has been about along... destroying the party ... !!!

And we've had more than 20 years of this destruction of the party and moving

it to the right! Obama was just one more severe blow to the party.

[midnight]

90. Are we awake now? Does the Catholic Corporation think that AlEC lobbyist

have been so successful making Americans think that only the wealthy are entitled to health care, that they can come in and make us think birth control for the working people should be taken off the table too? Absolutely dark ages thinking...

[AverageJoe90]

93. Obama better start kicking ass again soon.

He's done it before. And hopefully, he'll give these Vatican authoritarians what for.........maybe after he wins his second term in office he can sue these pricks as well.

[Doctor_J]

98. He's been kicking the asses of real Dems for 3 years

I am betting he won't stop that

[Doctor_J]

97. More pandering to groups who won't vote for him

and many of whom would like to see him dead. I have already decided not to campaign, walk the streets, raise money, or spend money on him next year. He's pretty much an unmitigated coward

[treestar]

101. Would that not be up to Congress?

So now we're worried about the Catholics taking over? I thought it was the Muslims.

[Vinca]

102. It ought to be up to women.

If you're Catholic and don't want birth control, don't go to the doctor for it. Easy solution.

[bertman]

103. More of the same from the Caver-in-Chief. KICK. Too late to rec. nt