White House Says They Won’t Budge on HHS Birth Control Mandate: “Our Position Is Clear” (Video)
Posted by Jim Hoft on Sunday, February 12, 2012, 9:47 AM
White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew told Chris Wallace on FOX News Sunday this morning that the Obama Administration will not budge on the controversial mandate that forces Catholic organizations to provide birth control, abortion drugs and sterilizations to all employees for free. Lew told Wallace the White House will not budge on this,
“Our position is clear. We have set out our policy.”
How disingenous. Lew knows the Catholic bishops are the leaders of the US church and yet he misleads on their position of authority. Disgraceful.
Related… Rush Limbaugh had this to say on the so-called HHS accommodation: “There’s no ‘compromise,’ it’s all BS!”
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Published May 23, 2012 at 11:51 pm - 58 Comments
Sageinmn commented:
This brings Obamacare back into the forefront of political discussions. Good luck with that Democrats! The only thing left for the President is “Wag the Dog”.
StrangernFiction commented:
Can I get a show of hands for those who now understand that the ‘rats are not just our political opponents, but the enemy. I’m curious as to how much actual headway we are making here.
melanerpes commented:
We will see if the bishops, cardinals, or Pope have cajones.
Toa commented:
Their position is clear, all right. A look at Barak Obama’s background, his books (whether or not it was him who actually wrote them), and his actions tell us all we need to know about his position regarding Christianity and Judaism.
thenabrd commented:
it doesn’t matter what the priests, bishops, cardinals and the pope say, he’s just declared he is above them and much more “important” than they are to the catholics!!! henry the VIII didn’t like the catholic church’s view on divorce, so started his own church to get his divorce. i wonder what bambam will call his church? whatever it is, i’m sure it will include his name (barackist hussienism obamic universal church of fairness) and at the alter will be his image instead of a cross, or star of david, etc.
Ex-Californian commented:
Obozo is so completely exposnig himself as a tyrant abrogating the Constitution that even the marxist praetorian guard media is not going to be able to cover his tracks with their incessant howls of racism. The only way Ozero is going to stay in the Whitehouse is by massive voter fraud & a declaration of martial law to stop oppposition.
west1890 commented:
The tree of Liberty is looking dry.
John Fembup commented:
““Our position is clear. We have set out our policy.””
Yes they have, and yes it is.
By twisting the commerce clause into unrecognizable spaghetti, the administration asserts a power to force Americans to buy insurance products we do not want. By ignoring the first amendment, the administration asserts a power to force church institutions to purchase unwanted insurance products which violate their religious beliefs. And, by the way, the administration also asserts a power to force insurance companies to provide its products free of charge.
All these administration positions are as clearly unconstitutional as they are “clear”.
So now – - why would anyone expect this bunch of lawless thugs to stop with insurance and religion after rendering the commerce clause and the first amendment meaningless? Why would reasonable and rational people not now finally realize the necessity of removing this entire crew from American political office as swiftly as possible?
Halftime in America? No – two minute warning in America !
saveus commented:
all hail the mighty obummer
Sickofobama commented:
Okay Catholics and Jews and others who aren’t stupid:
Quit voting for Commiecrats.
Obama is at war with Christians and Jews.
And not with Muslims.
WTF up!
flyoverland commented:
If they think this is just Catholics they are more clueless than I thought. Our Lutheran pastor today read a letter from the President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Rev. Matthew Harrison. It was clear that this policy is unacceptable and cannot stand. The pastor concluded by saying when man’s law collides with God’s Law, God’s Law must prevail.
maryd commented:
Evil, plain and simply EVIL.
Liz commented:
The Federal Government is a dumb beast. Our tax dollars feed it, and it grows more and more obese, and more belligerent, and continues to mow down individual citizens and their churches, as it belches offensive and non-sensical new policy meant to ultimately destroy us. How’s that for a summary of what’s going on.
Theadora commented:
Not only is obama pretending to be the president, now he is pretending to be the Pope.
SturJen commented:
Didn’t the founders of this great country of ours escape Great Britain for just this same reason? Our ancestors wanted to be free to practice their religion as they saw fit, and not how the King decreed.
StrangernFiction commented:
The only way Ozero is going to stay in the Whitehouse is by massive voter fraud & a declaration of martial law to stop oppposition.
This is looking more and more likely by the day.
Greg commented:
Lew sez this is simply about a women’s right to birth control…………I think it is much more a run at establishing the authority of WON WTF to establish any thing he states is a right. There is no prohibition of birth control,,every women in the US has it available. The implementation of birth control pills has grossly changed the demographics of the US. So why make an issue. Is he establishing his primacy over the church, Is he establishing his primacy to implement laws regards any thing he wants to declare as a right. Is he drawing attention away from other topics.
StrangernFiction commented:
as it belches offensive and non-sensical new policy meant to ultimately destroy us.
And the word here that so many conservatives, much less Americans, can’t seem to grasp is meant.
StrangernFiction commented:
And what of those who refuse to stand in the face of this evil? What of them? Could they be accomplices?
SeniorD commented:
Let’s see what happens if Obama wins, but looses BOTH Houses of Congress to Tea Party Conservative Republicans with veto proof majorities.
Patty commented:
America desperately needs a Hero
Stunned Americans are asking, “Why would Obama, in an election year, boldly trash the first amendment, forcing Catholic institutions to provide birth control, abortion drugs, and other contraceptive services which go against their faith?” These baffled, naïve people still do not get it. First and foremost, Obama is a hardcore leftist hater of America as we know it. He is laser-focused on implementing his vowed fundamental transformation of America into a socialistic, secular-progressive Disneyland.
As proven by their gleeful willingness to exempt Obama from the usual vetting process during his 2008 presidential campaign, the liberal mainstream media has given Obama every reason to be confident in their cover and support as Obama ignores the Constitution to fulfill his anti-America anti-freedom agenda.
For three years, we have witnessed Obama slowly peeling off his well-crafted “moderate” mask. Our first glimpse of the real Obama was his unprecedented government hostile takeover of private secular auto companies and his bullying banks to accept government bailouts.
Then, despite a majority of Americans screaming “No!” to ObamaCare, Obama basically said “screw y’all” and forced the passage of his health care bill. A Rasmussen poll that week showed that 55% of Americans wanted it repealed. It did not matter. The king had decreed it so. Displaying off-the-chain arrogance and dictatorial power, Obama’s enforcer, Nancy Pelosi, ruled that “[w]e have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it.” Yes, even Democrats who voted to pass the bill were clueless regarding its content. Obama revealed a little more of the man behind the mask.
Due to my commitment to make my point as concisely as possible, I will not list Obama’s unprecedented overreaching power-grabs, trashing of the Constitution, and crimes against individual freedoms. Let’s just say that Obama has revealed two-thirds of his true face. What we are seeing is more horrifying than anyone could have possibly imagined.
If un-repealed, ObamaCare will literally give this man (Obama) power to dictate which Americans live or die — that is, total control of our lives. Lord help us. Only God should have such power.
My black centenarian grandmother cried tears of joy when Obama was elected. Ironically, her hero’s government-controlled health care, which will be rationed, equals a death sentence for my grandma if she needs an expensive procedure. Economist Thomas Sowell points out that government health care will not reduce the cost; it will simply refuse to pay the cost. The sick, the elderly, and the disabled will suffer the most when the government rations care. Obama blatantly suggested that a senior might consider taking a pill rather than having surgery.
Clearly, Obama feels emboldened to do whatever he pleases. If Obama is arrogant enough to ignore the First Amendment and “dis” a huge bloc of Catholic supporters in an election year, think how full-blown, no-hold-barred, out-of-control his attacks on freedom will be if he is re-elected.
To save America, we must select a conservative nominee best capable of defeating Obama. I believe that candidate is Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum.
Now, I respect y’all too much to blow smoke claiming Newt to be a great conservative. Frankly, his attacks on Bain Capital infuriated me. However, there are things I love about Newt. Newt is brilliant at articulating conservatism and experienced at successfully implementing conservative ideas. But most of all, Newt understands that the biggest, most destructive threat to America as we know it is Barrack Hussein Obama. And also extremely important is the fact that Newt is not intimidated by the “race thing.” Newt does not give a hoot about being called a racist. Newt is fearlessly eager to aggressively address America’s problem which is Obama.
Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are good, decent men. However, I do not believe that Romney has the stomach to say and do what needs to be done to defeat Obama. While I will enthusiastically support whichever of our candidates winning the Republican nomination, I disagree with Paul’s foreign policy ideas.
I really like Santorum. However, I am not confident that he can raise the funds necessary to override Obama’s billion-dollar campaign.
Also, right or wrong, like it or not, a presidential candidate has to have “it,” a special charisma. How else could an inexperienced freshman senator like Obama win the presidency of the United States? Newt Gingrich has “it.” Again, I admit, he “ain’t” perfect. But Newt does not wish to end America as we know it. Obama does and will!
Brother and sister patriot Americans, like Bonnie Tyler sang in her song, “I Need a Hero,” America desperately needs a hero. I believe that that person is Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum.
If Obama is allowed to continue his occupation of the White House after November 6, 2012, he will boldly remove his mask, completely revealing his face. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/america_desperately_needs_a_herobut_who.html#ixzz1mBnpewnw
succotash commented:
When the government orders something to be handed out “free” the consumer ultimately pays. The insurance co will pass the cost for “free contraception” onto the consumer just like the “free cell phones”they are handing out to every swingin’ d#ck,the consumer is paying for it via the 911 charges on landlines and/or cell phones Americans had better wake the he!! up we are being trampeled upon daily by the media and the very people in government who are supposed to represent “our voice”. It is a joke and I for one am not laughing.This is very serious.
Ruready? commented:
There is much to be thankful for. If Obama wins reelection, at least we will know that our citizens knew WITH CLARITY who they were voting for. This will greatly reduce the number of options to resolve this national nightmare. Again, there is much for which to be thankful.
TMI commented:
Understanding the fictions that surround Catholics with views that differ from Church doctrine. I find the writings of Patum Peperium helpful, and this post, with a take-down on Father Drinan, especially useful in understanding the mindset of counter-Catholics:
http://jacksonville.typepad.com/patum_peperium/2012/02/i-also-say-to-you-that-you-are-peter-and-upon-this-rock-i-will-build-my-church-and-the-house-of-kenn-1.html
.
an observer commented:
#2.
Yep, ALL Democrats – every one of them – are the enemy.
a former dem commented:
WOW. This interview is going to double down on the backlash. Hell, I’m not catholic, I’m not pro-life, I don’t even agree with the church’s position on contraceptions. And I’m pissed about this!
The catholic faith have a right to practice their faith as they want, if I want to go buy contraceptions, fine, I have a right to do that. Its not the job of some catholic institution to pay for it! As long as they aren’t infringing on my right to go buy it, I don’t care what they want to preach in their church.
How the hell are the demonRats so DUMB????? This is not about contraceptions, its forcing one group of people to pay for another group’s items that goes against their faith!
What the hell is this bullchit?!??!?! What else are they going to cram down on America next as a “right”??
an observer commented:
Well, we’re just going to have to ram this “decision” up his skinny, black a$$ in November, aren’t we?
S. Wolf commented:
StrangernFiction #2
:here:
‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.’
First Amendment – Religion and Expression
JT commented:
I also heard Lew say the unemployment rate decline to 8.3% wasn’t due to people leaving the work force. And the douchbag Gregory didn’t challenge a word he said. What a couple of worthless douchbags.
Militant Conservative commented:
This is the designated hill you will die upon?
OK, stupid, but OK.
Sageinmn commented:
Good post Patty! I believe that this is the reason Obamacare was heath reform defined by getting everyone insurance. Once everyone is insured, the Feds can regulate insurance companies out of existence and replace them with government insurance. Government insurance can be changed and adjusted however the government wants.
I like Santorum’s plan to keep health care in the consumers hands. HSA was a good but under utilized program.
Patty commented:
#33 February 12, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Sageinmn commented:
Their plan all along is Universal Health Care. God Help Us, All.
Thank you for your comment.
a former dem commented:
#33 #34
no need to guess, Dingell man has already admit this whole crap is to “control people”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgqJwlJ_m9Q
xiphos commented:
Maybe once again he can remind us of “his Christian Faith”, with the help of Stephanopoulos.
bg commented:
++
the man was not only obtuse..
but he sat there and utterly failed to explain
why black & white were not black & white..
iow: he not only lied, but proceeded to prove he lied..
==
GrandmaC commented:
My husband and I sat watching Mr. Lew and realized what a load of crap this guy is regurgitating – We are both still unemployed but are not counted because we have given up trying to find a job and have retired. We know many people who have not worked for at least 2 years and no longer counted as unemployed. Do not believe the numbers coming from the WH and BO.
bg commented:
++
btw, has anyone else notice how they’re starting to
refer to the US as no longer being #1 in the world??
i sure have, wait, the sound byte is sure to grow louder..
==
Patty commented:
There is a fact worth mentioning here. The women who are only hearing Birth Control is free.
Women use birth Control. Various methods and some can be purchase at the nearest drug store.
Birth control pills are use for other reasons besides birth control. The Birth Control Pill as an Acne Treatment and regulate periods.
But Birth control pills and various other methods can cause cancer. Believe it or not. This is a prescription drug.
Prolong use of Birth Control pills: Depression
Optical problems like increased susceptibility for cataract
Increased number of gallstones
Cardiac failure and transient ischemic attacks in very rare cases.
Decreased resistance towards seasonal infections.
In females the risk of ectopic pregnancies is exponentially related to the period of usage of hormonal contraceptives.
Increased susceptibility towards endometrial and cervical cancers because of poor nutrition and lack of hormonal balance in endometrial tissues.
Jaundice, clotting and thrombosis on rare circumstances.
_______________
So, this could be not just poor judgement on the part of this administration but effectively prescription for Cancer itself.
Isn’t it odd no mention of this. And isn’t it odd that Komen backs away from their decision to fund Planned Parenthood. Obama care has been delighted in their deceitful tactics to in a round about way see to it that abortions are funded in a matter of swish and bait. A political trick that this administrator delights in.
sistrum commented:
“Our position is clear. We have set out our policy.”
That’s funny — the Catholic Church can say the same, and they did it centuries before you.
And there’s this funny yellowed document called the Constitution that respects that. Also promulgated centuries before your statement.
Patty commented:
Now, let’s see if I got this right. Komen helps those with Breast Cancer. Planned Parenthood performs abortions.
Pill is dangerous and Obama prescripts a dangerous drug for women, free.
What next, a smaller population that will need Universal Health care coverage, yet more health problems by the Obama care administration and possibly more deaths.
Got it.
Patty commented:
Now, what party is killing Americans, softly. You guess it.
CBDebver commented:
#40 — regarding other uses for birth control pills besides birth control such as “Acne Treatment and regulate periods’. The herbal remedy Vitex is far better for those alternate uses with no side affects and non-prescription.
Patty commented:
http://james-a-watkins.hubpages.com/hub/Obama-Czars
Can’t post today on Gateway the whole version of article but go to site and remember Obama’s beginnings and who he has invited into his killing freedom field.
Patty commented:
#44 February 12, 2012 at 12:52 pm
CBDebver commented:
______________
Yes, medicine has come a long way. And for herbs and homeopathic, I am a true believer and take herbs regularly even though my Doctor isn’t a believer. I believe that herbs with a great multivitamin is all you need. Of course exorcise and good diet.
Blacque Jacques Shellacque commented:
Cardinal Dolan == SUCKER!!!!
donh commented:
First Obama demanded the Catholic Church prostitute itself to sin….then in compromise he offers to raise the Catholic Church to the level of a pimp .
FurryGuy commented:
So the much media ballyhooed compromise is in actuality no compromise at all.
We have a tyrant and dictator illegally occupying the WH.
Economan commented:
The Democrats are enemies of freedom, the Constitution, and of the American people. How much more proof do we need? They should be arrested! This is not a tyranny!
Patty commented:
John Holdren was named by Obama as the Science Czar despite having wrote in his book, “Women could be forced to abort their pregnancies, whether they wanted to or not; The population at large could be sterilized by infertility drugs intentionally put into the nation’s drinking water or in food; Single mothers and teen mothers should have their babies seized from them against their will and given away to other couples to raise.”
LilyBart commented:
What shocking arrogance!
And what is this ‘women’s right to contraception”? Where is that right guaranteed – and so important that it trumps other people’s consitutional rights?
This is the future? Any shiny new law is so important that it trumps our fundamental contitutional rights?
JPL17 commented:
“Didn’t the founders of this great country of ours escape Great Britain for just this same reason?”
You hit the bull’s-eye, SturJen!
Major Kong commented:
All hail Long Shanks Obama. What would William Wallace do?
Big Al commented:
another slimy RED oozes out of the wordwork to assume a high position in the administration. Wonder how long he will last?
On a serious note, while I am not a big social issues person and certainly don’t pretend to defend Catholic beliefs, since when did contraception become “healthcare”??
ahem commented:
And there’s no change in the Church’s position; so we agree on that, at least.
WillofLa commented:
After listening to Sabelius on her interview on TV, on the radio I understand what this is now. Not that I didn’t before, but it’s much clearer now that I had the chance to hear from her expose what Obama is actually doing.
He really had no intention of violating our 1st Amendment right to free exercise of our religious beliefs. But to show you how liberals hold no feelings for the sanctity of people’s religious beliefs, they are so smart in figuring out what they needed to do in order to put more pressure on insurance companies to make some of them close their doors and put more people out of insurance where they would be put in a position to turn to the government for help. This is what Obama and the other Socialist want in order to get more of ObamaCare into operation regardless that we are all waiting to hear from the Supreme Court on whether ObamaCare is about to be nullified or not. See, liberals don’t wait around, like we do. They keep on keeping on their agenda no matter what law suets they are having to deal with. On the other hand to show how liberals have control over our court system every time they get a court order we are forced to stop immediately what it is we’re doing, but they never have to. What’s wrong with that picture?
What Obama wanted to do was to cause a big rile with church people when he and his advisor’s knew damn well what would happen if he stepped on our toes, we’d start screaming and people would stand against him. That’s why it was so easy for him to change his attack so quickly, he already had this planned to do to begin with. He just had to wait until the uproar reached it’s peak and most of America were defending their rights, and then it gave him the opportunity to unload this coverage, this benefit onto the insurance companies.
What I want to know is where is the law? You know that thing that Congress makes in order for us to have to do what it says do? Obama is again going around Congress and is just giving HHS the authority to make law themselves by telling the insurance companies what product they have to provide, and how much they have to charge for it, or as in this case, what not to charge for it. As in the cost for contraception, morning after pills, abortion whatever, is provided….FREE!! Where as most insurance companies were collecting premiums every month for providing this benefit anyway, now they have to provide at no cost to the policy holder.
This FREE business is exactly what Sabelious said was what women needed because most “struggle” to pay the premium every month, or the cost of having to buy birth control pills every month if the insurance company didn’t provide them in the insurance policy, as some don’t provide such things. Well, now they have to for the one’s that provide that benefit. This is the government MANDATING or forcing this benefit onto the insurance companies which churches carry. Well, who’s going to pay for this? Even though the insurance companies are paying for this benefit now, the member’s who have insurance through the church will still have to pay for it themselves if the church provides the insurance themselves. This is still a violation of the right to practice their beliefs without government mandates. If the insurance is provided to the church outside the church then it’s just for those women who get birth control pills or whatever and keep it private outside the church.
Sabelious kept saying that this was so the women’s health care would be provided for FREE when everyone knows that if those women who were getting coverage or not were having to buy birth control themselves would be spending around $600 a year, or $50 dollars a month. What, these women couldn’t cough up $50 bucks a month? C’mon, give me a break!
This is nothing but Obama forcing the insurance companies to provide something by order of the government, and being told how much to charge for it. That is a violation of the rights of privately own business to not be overburdened by government regulation and cost which will drive some of them out of business, and is right in line with ObamaCare to be a single source insurance that the people won’t have any choice in their personal health care. That is what is behind what Obama did, he’s just pushing his agenda further down the road towards single source insurance Socialized health care in America. Smart, huh?
aprilnovember811 commented:
The arrogance of these marxists. Hey buddy, your a$$ is going to be kicked out the door soon. Our position is clear, we aren’t following an unconstitutional law. Ugly marxist fraud.
aprilnovember811 commented:
Gregory hasn’t even thought about what’s going to happen to his kids in the future. He actually thinks they’ll be fine.
WillofLa commented:
Contact your insurance company and tell them to stand up to Obama and his Communist lacky running the HHS and tell them to tell Obama they are not going to either provide this benefit, or that they are not going to offer it now, FREE. That they have the right to not have to take regulation which will overburden them financially and reduce their profibility. Stand up to government intervention!! Stand up to government over regulation! Stand up and force Obama to have to go to the Congress and have to write a bill to submit to Congress. Disallow Obama’s abuse of his authority!!
RS commented:
The great and wise Obama has spoken.
You may now kiss the ring.
Dale commented:
No one is trying to deny women the use of contraceptives they’re simply saying…. we aren’t going to pay for them. NO employer should be forced to pay money so that their employees can have sex without pregnancy.
WillofLa commented:
I am all about standing against authority when it is wrong, or it makes a stupid law that is not needed. But what I’ve discovered is the American people are lazy. If it’s not inconveniancing them, they aren’t going to take the time to oppose it. Also to, if it’s not hurting their business that much, they aren’t going to do anything about it. But in this case this HHS ruling will cost insurance companies a lot of money in having to have to provide this benefit….FREE. Nothing in life is FREE. It cost somebody something eventually. In the case of having to provide birth control and whatever else for free, the insurance company is going to have to pay for it themselves. But they are going to have to raise their rates to cover the cost. If people who were on the edge of not being able to pay, surely won’t be able to afford a raise in the premium. This HHS ruling will cause some people to drop their insurance and look for cheaper insurance somewhere even though everyone will be providing the HHS benefit free. That means some insurance companies may have to close it’s doors if so many people drop their policies because of the increase in premium cost. Everything is about cost, obviously. But when enough insurance companies drop out of the business, more people will turn to the government for coverage. And that is exactly what Obama is doing here.
Obama must be defeated in November!! Vote Rick Santorum!! The only real conservative in this Presidential election.
lizzy84 commented:
“Puts the issue to rest?”
Hardly. This is not about women rights or contraception. It is about oBama and his elites’ tyrannical disregard for the Constitution and religious freedom and their belief that they can mandate The Church and other religious people, insurance companies and the rest of us into how to live our lives..and this after FLOTUS tells us what we are allowed to eat. I am so sick of these people. He is not the King and his elites do not speak for me, not by a long shot and they never will.
Sandy commented:
Now its up to Congress to take a vote on whether Obama’s power grab is constitutional. Wonder which side the Dems will come down on. I think this time obama’s bit off more than he can chew.
mn8 commented:
WHEN WILL AMERICANS HOLD TO A POSITION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS? WHEN WILL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO STAND FOR TRADITIONAL AMERICAN VALUES NOT BUDGE!!!
Molon Labe commented:
You either worsahip God or Obama. The lines are drawn.
VideoSavant commented:
If this is the hill on which Obama wants to die, let’s do everything we can to make it so.
Gary commented:
Molon Labe#68
It seems to me like you worship Obama in that case. You’re still planning on voting for him right:
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/02/romney-shuts-down-hecklers-at-maine-town-hall-event-video/
(comment 14)
True colors shine through. I love it.
Molon labe likes to challenge everybody else’s conservatism and call names like it was the schoolyard, but here you have it in his own words.
He won’t simply stay home in protest on election day, making it one vote easier for Obama to win, but rather will proactively go out and vote Obama (to spite Romney apparently!).
Molon Labe your conservative creds are revoked. Please stop posting on this conservative blog.
aprilnovember811 commented:
He has no choice but to budge. We will not budge. He can go to hell! It won’t be followed and the fines won’t be paid.