77% Reject Republican Arguments On Birth Control [View all]
Americans overwhelmingly regard the debate over President Barack Obamas policy on employer-provided contraceptive coverage as a matter of womens health, not religious freedom, rejecting Republicans rationale for opposing the rule. More than three-quarters say the topic shouldnt even be a part of the U.S. political debate.
More than six in 10 respondents to a Bloomberg National Poll -- including almost 70 percent of women -- say the issue involves health care and access to birth control, according to the survey taken March 8-11.
That conflicts with Republican presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney, who say Obama is violating religious freedom by requiring employers -- including those with religious objections to birth control -- to provide a way for women to obtain contraceptive coverage as part of their insurance plans.
The results suggest the Republican candidates focus on contraception is out of sync with the U.S. public. Seventy-seven percent of poll respondents say birth control shouldnt be a topic of the political debate, while 20 percent say it should.
More: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-14/republicans-losing-on-birth-control-as-77-in-poll-spurn-debate.html