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Tony Sayegh and Brian Benjamin discuss the latest push against a requirement in the healthcare overhaul
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OK time for me he's -- handle it got to New York boys with me today I like Baghdad is.
I like -- Sony Sega fear.
-- the national political correspondent course -- radio news service and Brian Benjamin is here with me as well he's the managing.
Direct your Genesis companies at a 2012 Obama delegates so welcome to both of you thank you agree to be here -- -- But we have some good topics for.
On tap today let's talk about this today's Wall Street Journal Catholics to Catholics do over help -- Basically the university -- game that -- extensive new York and 41 other Roman Catholic institutions.
To the Obama administration and federal court Monday.
The latest push against requirement and health care overhaul law that him that employers.
Cover contraception in workers' health -- so.
Who wants to go first in this lawsuit have a leg to stand -- Absolutely -- -- because the church is very keen on the fact that this is now.
When you think about separation of church and state it's about the government infringing on the church and that is what this -- is dealing.
And these are people who are radical conservatives don't forget this president Notre Dame.
Bringing forward this action against the federal government in the administration was the same president who invited president the President Obama to speak at the commencement 2009 the same president.
Who initially thought may be a compromise could be worked out this is now because the dabble in public policy is in the details and what this health care.
A rule -- mandate does is force Catholic institutions to quietly blatantly their religious liberty and religious beliefs and there's really no room for that and -- in our country today.
Now the Obama administration is saying that they are willing to work with the the Catholic outside of the story back down.
An administration official familiar with that the discussions said Monday that federal agencies were trying to still try to work that Catholic leaders to implement its proposal for February.
Which is.
It would modify the requirement to allow Catholic employers to avoid directly providing birth control their policies and stick.
Insurance companies will be required -- -- contraception for participants who wanted it.
Went -- explicitly charging you do that religious employer or work.
Actually that is what we as Democrats like to call compromise that was what the world used to be like.
Before the Tea Party and some of them some of the -- engines of the Republican Party which is completely focused on taking out President Obama.
The truth of the matter is that in February the president came out and said let's work with let's work with -- institutions we understand that you don't want to provide this this this coverage spot.
We're gonna have insurance companies provide that coverage that was what you don't have to be a part of that process I think that's beyond fear.
Alaska might check -- but the truth is legal in the country.
And so the idea that that happily.
Church should somehow supersede not -- their own jurisdiction.
But the entire country I -- wanna go on the points was that the was that some accounted first -- was -- all well.
If even if we get around this this compromise that February was the god of the fact that there are some people were Catholic who worked at other businesses and they don't want.
People who.
-- went there they -- there -- you did.
It's it's -- point look there.
Conscience clause laws in most states -- -- New York has won a very liberal state.
Which does not -- Catholic hospitals to perform abortions and and to sponsor.
A practices that they are religiously again so there is room for compromise that way to compromise that provide initially -- -- there's no such thing there's no such thing now because the reason it was for only churches.
Not institutions that's what you -- Notre Dame.
And others this universe -- college in Ohio for those all of whom are joining this seat because with this one in case sledgehammer.
With 41 -- from the conference of bishops that this is a sledgehammer approach to religious liberty and there is actually no real accommodation being made.
And everyone understands it just as you say okay well we're not gonna save the insurance up premium it's paying more contraception mandate but so churches you -- -- -- premium.
-- is and -- give -- to your employers for free -- believes that that's not compromise that's a shell game but the and that's being exposed systematically and cart and then there's something that has to be very clear cardinal -- in.
The president noted in these individuals Biden and -- were against this in its first inception.
Are not right -- this whole idea that this is the right away revolting is nonsense that's the right thing good.
This is this is.
Political -- has become political because if you would I say okay we have differences of opinion and we're gonna sit down at the table and negotiate come up with an answer.
You can't then why would negotiate and say oh -- come -- step away from the table and I'm just gonna -- you.
That's -- -- is called negotiating in bad faith and that's I think the Republicans that I don't think it has been -- part of that all of these are the Republicans who -- Well listen the Catholic Church the Catholic voters -- cardinal -- has a political moment.
What's what's the motive.
Of the of the cardinal army or the head of the conference of Catholic -- what's his political -- here's the bottom line if -- -- -- negotiating right.
And I'd recognize it as a political climate that's going on.
If I turn around and see -- I expect my negotiating hand because now you've built fourth because of the powers that be of the political system so that's -- the negotiating tax code.
He's that you see his point it Bryan's point is that's what's that political -- Democrat vs.
Republican -- said Republican pork from Ireland well when it needs is more -- it be okay so I -- saw it as good a shape that's consulates take this to its its first step.
The cardinal met with President Obama and Vice President Biden and -- and chief of staff -- back I believe in November -- he felt.
That he left that meeting with a clear understanding between he and the -- -- as to what the church would accept.
And not accept.
And when he left the president change his position against the advice of the vice president and his own chief of staff -- -- -- Katherine Sebelius and Valerie Jarrett.
And that is when the cardinal feelings but wings decided to say I think -- up my preparation I think that the Federer because number they agreed that -- never agree -- wait a minute they caught eight.
Realistically -- that the president -- -- -- today.
He he agreed to had to negotiate right to have conversation about what this thing will look like.
So what happened but it how that would mean that you tell what would get on the devils isn't that needs help what -- -- also but he does it but hey.
He has said they want I I do.
What this is going to force it sort of forced sterilization.
The morning after pill which is an abortion inducing drugs -- of course into their play that's absolutely it's right there -- gonna take back what I thought believe me I wish we were talking about is that what you were talking about the economy.
-- or not this is part of the president's idea.
That he is going to placate the important -- -- all this politically based no I generating this this complete.
A -- over contraception being taken away from one minute this is not passing -- predict north of the idea that.
Women have the right to choose and that they are there are women who go to university and on the -- some of these -- institutions.
-- about that that want to have the right candidate and an eight.
Candidate that you go to plan doesn't look like hundreds of million dollars upon questionnaires which he's got a hundred you know well why what it says should be -- -- -- yeah.
Conscience clause that that don't force Catholic hospital performed abortions did not what was the -- -- -- but remember.
The insurance company will handlers on the side this is not as did it have to come through.
The institutional and has a lot of tickets so imagine what I think what's your point so then do the premiums to -- -- -- -- -- that they're -- what does that they're -- this state they're okay this is exact rate that they wouldn't go if they are just provided we -- lately.
Another -- what we're -- -- for three -- still charging you the same rate this is the church subsidizing abortion inducing drugs and sterilization which another update yet your your basically pushing an argument but.
We don't I don't -- don't -- to -- well of course but we don't know the details of this of this case I don't wanna get into that part of the artwork -- Change whether it's giving you any -- -- -- any part of or separate left and that's a point okay so so what that you.
Million of them so now but -- on the break and right you -- that.
Believe this is political but it was us that in the sense that the church.
The Catholic administrators and and and those leaders gain leverage because it puts the president in a pickle in the media picked up on it and then but I felt that he just pick up on the Obama.
I do go ahead but he's just that's on the that exposes why this is not political will go -- So I ask you.
In the sense of the polish politics Democrats -- Republican vs Tea Party or wherever else -- -- cling to.
How do you think Brian this will play out politically Leo for the president.
I believe that the president is going to come to an agreement with the same parties probably they -- it's it's just a matter of who when where and how.
This -- become a major wedge for the president was initially going to be the issue that galvanize women behind him it initially did -- as details play itself out.
And the Catholic.
On clergy and all there -- related.
A leadership.
Has taken a stand against this I think it's an issue that's working against the present -- equally important demographic which is the Catholic -- And no president has won election without a strong showing from the Catholic -- which the president did -- 2008.
And this is not because Catholics are against abortion.
It's about Catholics who believe in the protection of their church and religious liberty and freedom.
-- whole separation of church and state clause that we refer to all the time was about because the government.
Not infringing on the church.
Not the church -- infringing on the government and mount -- point is when the president agreed to to come up with a compromise that was to address this point.
That's what most of the green with a point it's just that the president has addressed this and outlook and now making another -- what what what what look at.
What what's your -- residents are right what do you get a little baby and I went.
But I gotta pick and I had a comment from Charles streets these -- -- other faiths widow would follow up that your your.
Jesus Christ of latter day saints is set up as he released you know.
You feel like they are the only ones that are getting picked on it's totally correct.
Isn't totally -- and then.
These I mean you know it's that interactive shows that no absolutely and it's it's a fair -- comment -- At the end of the day and I will repeat this point you know lipstick on a pig it's still a pig that's the exact issue with this policy and the president has picked -- by.
He calculated initially -- talked to many people close to as you know Democrats or Republicans are actually friends off there.
-- -- the president who -- think this was a slam dunk for him with with the female vote.
And who now are saying well we kind of opened up a can of worms that we weren't told to prepare for and let me tell you in a split screen.
Fight between the cardinal Dolan President Obama my -- on the cardinal.
Yes absolutely nothing politically begin an RL you sets up before that that says watch.
There is no political agenda.
For the Catholic Church to pursue in fact the archbishop of Los Angeles was one of the leading.
Advocates or obamacare the Catholic Church believes in charitable care they believe in a lot of -- top line promises.
All of socialized medicine but now what you've done is you've created eight -- -- comic issue that they fundamentally our guests and now you've you've you've wash yourself.
In a position where people -- supported you -- -- out of the last but.
-- I think what he's doing what he's doing it's been a point that have already been agreed to the president has already agreed to this point what we're talking about now is.
A woman's right to choose that the big -- about a woman's right.
-- -- -- Because very simply insurance companies.
-- won't be allowed to provide women with the coverage with contraception in the morning after pills.
-- -- terms of political I mean I don't know what of their pay off or put.
We don't nothing that's what we know what -- -- insurance premiums to spend.
-- remembered that the this is but this will be done outside -- saying the insurance coming -- -- it added the graciousness of their own arsenal are going to give contraception and aborted inducing medication and sterilization drugs for free.
Actual question.
Without comment from someone in one out of one I want to ask equipment in question make that that's your answer to -- go -- -- real quickly.
Do you believe that the president.
Is trying to hurt the Catholic Church.
I believe the president has an agenda it's to win female votes and I think -- average in his way he wants to see right over and he's not -- over -- -- Wall Street.
