UK: The US and the contraception catastrophe

The Economist

The contraception compromise
And on and on...

Feb 13th 2012, 3:29 by C.H. | NEW YORK

THE great contraception catastrophe seemed destined to end this way, that is, not to end at all. Barack Obama’s mandate that employers offer contraceptive services, at no cost to patients, had caused uproar among conservatives. It seemed dubious that any change would placate them, unless Mr Obama scrapped the rule entirely. But the president tried to compromise on Friday morning. Religious institutions such as hospitals and charities would not have to pay for contraception themselves; insurers would bear the costs instead (see my prior post). So what did the compromise achieve?

A few groups, such as Planned Parenthood and the Catholic Health Association, expressed their approval early in the day. But the armistice did not last long.

Mr Obama's move did not please America’s insurers. America’s Health Insurance Plans released a terse statement that the lobby was “concerned about the precedent this proposal would set.” Nor did it please his Republican opponents. Mitt Romney, speaking to CPAC on Friday, promised to “reverse every single Obama regulation that attacks our religious liberty and threatens innocent life.” Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, vowed to fight the compromise with new legislation.

Perhaps most importantly, Mr Obama did not win over the bishops. Timothy Dolan, the leader of the United States Conference of Bishops, initially noted that the plan was a “first step in the right direction”. By Friday evening, however, Mr Dolan and his colleagues had revised their opinion: “…today's proposal continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions.”

On first glance, it seems that Mr Obama’s accommodation had little effect. Those who always supported the rule will continue to support it; those who detested it will continue to detest it. Democrats can say that the president tried his best to compromise. Republicans can say that Mr Obama’s efforts to compromise are a sham—the bishops want Mr Obama to repeal the mandate for every employer, not just religious ones. Mr Obama’s campaign opponent, whoever he may be, will use the rule as the ultimate example of a president who imperils not just our salaries but our souls.

One important group, however, may be swayed. There is little comprehensive polling about this issue (at least none that I am aware of). But Planned Parenthood and NARAL have conducted some surveys. These are hardly impartial groups, but any bias should hold constant within their own polling. According to their latest survey, the share of Catholics who approve of Mr Obama’s plan rose slightly after Friday’s accommodation, from 53% to 57%. Mr Obama was never going to convince his most rabid critics. But moderates might be swayed. This compromise, at least, may not be entirely for naught.

http://www.economist.com/node/21547417