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Chris Stirewalt, Susan Ferrechio and Tony Welch discuss the conflict between Catholic institutions and the Obama administration regarding contraceptio...
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All you.
That.
-- cardinal Timothy Dolan archbishop of New York in an interview with Fox News about the lawsuits filed by his archdiocese.
And 42 other Catholic institutions including -- archdiocese of Washington and University of Notre Dame against the Obama administration over rule requiring Catholic groups.
To provide insurance policies that cover contraceptives and this is power play.
Welcome back so.
We did not expect necessarily that contraception thing would continue to be part of the national political dialogue.
And yet here we are it's late may and and it's back this is an unprecedented step we've never seen.
The Catholic Church in such a large scale take legal action like this against the federal government it's a big deal so how will -- -- the election and and what's going to go on with that.
Unfortunately we can offer you the wisdom of -- much -- -- former.
Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee is democratic strategist he's a friend of this telecast Internet telecast.
Ended and the sound the sound American.
And of course whose -- we'll we'll tell us we'll tell Tony and I'm -- we're getting carried away and will be -- refereed here OK so the question is this.
If you're Mitt Romney -- A bad day for the -- -- good day for you you're happy if the if the match hysteria about the Catholic Church has swung into action against residents largest denomination -- but at the same time.
You do not want to talk about the pill you are not if you are Mitt Romney you're not Anderson having a big discussion about bill.
Is this net good -- bad.
For it tough to know that I think you've you've been making very good point that it's it's that the president credit for O'Neal and Mitt Romney has -- -- there's -- they were from both sides this.
Here's the thing.
28 states right now.
-- will offer concept and you have here if you're at church and start.
Except if your church only eight states -- who have -- but there are eight states who actually make this requirement of Catholic -- other than just Catholic institutions.
I I think where we're the difficulty will come in maybe where -- in the best position is this the idea that he's already -- compromise on this.
It becomes difficult to people don't wanna compromise so that he had his position that was too narrow he broadened it and for some folks.
Colonel don't know Dolan had initially as -- I this visually sets.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- Right because this this is the way they want it so that they won't be the issue Mitt Romney will probably say it's best that other people are making this case for me because I'd rather not talk about Marco Rubio suggesting that all employers ought to have the system ought to be able to say have access to this exactly a week and now we have a religious exemption no matter who you are small -- market is so Susan.
Places like Stephen -- Ohio.
Which actually is about seven miles -- from Allegheny County Pennsylvania.
I are going to be ground zero in this fight this on the Franciscan university and student built one of the institutions -- in this fight.
Notre Dame.
And carries a lot of weight around this country Dolan is the first American cardinal in a long time.
And this is a big deal for Catholics.
Does it translate though into swing voters or is this preaching to the.
Well she makes the argument Obama needs to make the argument that this is the Republicans trying to roll back rights for women know that their health rights and preventive care.
He's already trying to make an argument if if in fact he's gonna go -- talk about this that's the way he needs to make it sound because people buy into that and and you can CNN poll numbers that show that Obama's -- over a lot of female independent voters that coming -- independent vote does his way including in -- -- election as we know independent voters are incredibly valuable so that's a big deal he can look it make it look like Republicans are trying to.
Take away rights -- out of what.
And and that's really pushing argument a lot of people's minds that people behind you know it's not hard to make that argument for him.
-- for -- again to get out there and start talking about it like to say contraception on -- it's not really attractive and it's -- getting into that specifically.
The Democrats have a winning argument about women's rights what do you call Wednesday that to keep the argument in your favor well they talk about religious freedom which really resonates with people file.
Okay so that's great for their base thing again looking at the independent voters.
And that's why this is a real tough call -- investors.
I Tony.
Here's an -- for jury says the whole contraception debate is good example of how the right doesn't respect states' rights.
If state wanted to fund abortion on demand you've got to the right would be over -- screaming for a right to life amendment of the constitution just like they wanted to marriage amendment.
In a weird way.
For the president this does sort of attach itself to the gay marriage thing doesn't that because there's this is a national mandate on a moral issue.
-- is letting that happen on a state by state basis.
-- and and I think the presence with the equipment but it wouldn't be moral and that is that the that on this on a concept that we have to.
I think the president's point would be that that's that's a health issue that that.
This first of 28 states mandate.
Health -- contraception coverage for women under the health care weddings analyst bill exempts but his religious and -- that -- right but so these entry comes in four or religious organizations.
Expert who -- -- sense wanting to point out here this isn't the Catholic Church.
Suing these interactive -- -- are not certain there are many many Catholics and when he gets to this discussion many Catholics if if it's true that.
Ninety plus women Catholic women have used birth to a some point we might come down on the side of this that says look I understand that there needs to become.
And Tony is hoping that a lot of them happen to live in Allegheny County Pennsylvania.
Or Ohio -- Ohio would be fine if that's been there and we thank you both very much for being with this --
