GOP Struggles To Contain Birth Control Fallout
Top Republicans are working overtime to mask palpable concern within their party over a Thursday Senate vote to roll back an Obama administration rule requiring most employers to provide workers with contraceptive coverage in their health benefits.
Yet despite a growing sense that the GOP has veered into politically dangerous territory, a full-scale retreat would embarrass the party, and alienate a powerful segment of its conservative base.
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The measure in question was authored by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) — a member of the GOP’s leadership team — and would allow employers who provide health benefits to deny coverage of particular services — including contraception — for reasons of conscience.
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But according to a top Democratic aide briefed on negotiations between Republican and Democratic leaders, something changed in recent days — and in the end Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) took it upon himself to force the issue.
“They were pushing for it, but once they realized what a disaster it was turning into they started trying to walk it back,” the aide said. “They started making rumblings that they wanted to change and moderate it, which is why Reid went ahead and filed it as is.”
Late Wednesady, on the Senate floor, Reid hinted at the GOP’s dilemma. “Yesterday I had to bring up a Republican amendment that they didn’t even bother to file, they just wanted to talk about it and hold press conferences on this issue.”
Source TPM: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/gop-struggles-to-contain-birth-control-fallout.php?ref=fpa
Funny comment on TPM
Bah! Only men should be permitted to have sex. Er, okay, that sounded really different in our heads. Okay, how about this: only men should be permitted to have sex free of consequences. Oop. Turns out that message isn't focus grouping as well as we expected either. How about, both men and filthy sluts should be permitted to have sex, but Godly people shouldn't have to bear the expense of keeping the filthy sluts from having abortions! Anti-woman? How did those crazy liberals get that out of that message. Okay, wait! I got it! Freedum!!!!! It's all about protecting our freedumz! That's it! Winner, winner chicken dinner! Too late. . .? What?
= new reply since forum marked as read
They could have just crafted legislation aimed at the actual rule that Obama unveiled but then they went one step waaaaaaaaay too far out of bounds with this particular legislation IMHO. The fact that they got 48 votes (including nearly every female GOP Senator) on an extremist POS amendment like this- which went way beyond the actual objections to President Obama's insurance rule- is pretty creepy IMHO.
