The failed Blunt amendment: Is the contraception fight finally over?
In Washington's latest culture war battle, the Senate scraps a GOP attempt to let employers ignore birth-control coverage mandates they disagree with
On Thursday, the Senate shot down a Republican attempt to overturn President Obama's requirement that almost all employers offer their workers health insurance that covers birth control and sterilization. One Republican, Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine), joined all but three Democrats in the 51-48 vote to table Sen. Roy Blunt's (R-Mo.) amendment, which would have allowed employers and health insurers to refuse to cover contraceptives — or anything else they object to — on moral or religious grounds. Does the Blunt amendment's close defeat, coupled with the lack of action in the House, signal an end to the polarizing fight over "something that is hardly the top issue to American voters," or will conservatives be back with another challenge?
Conservatives won't quit — nor should they: "Democrats managed to wrangle enough votes to table the Blunt amendment" this time, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, but only after "a lot of ridiculous spin" over how this is a fight for birth control. It's not. Instead, this fight "has everything to do with allowing people to freely practice their religion without interference from government," and that's too important for conservatives to give up on. "Clearly, this issue isn't going away."
"Senate kills Blunt amendment on religious conscience exemption..."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It's time for Republicans to give up: "Democrats seem eager to fight over the proposal," says Steve Benen at The Maddow Blog. And with 63 percent of the public siding with Obama, it's no wonder many Republicans are "looking for an escape hatch that doesn't exist." GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney got tripped up trying to duck the issue, while the Obama camp is putting it front and center. "You can tell a lot about the salience of a political fight by which side is most eager to talk about it." The GOP should quit before they get even farther behind.
"Dems eager for Blunt Amendment fight"
Going forward, it's all about spin: With both sides convinced they have a winning hand, "don't expect the issue to go away," says Mark Silk at Religion News Service. But sadly, don't expect "a reasoned public discussion about how best to balance religious liberty against other rights and interests," either. This is now a fight about framing the fight. "There's a species of genius" in Blunt's push to paint "ObamaCare as anti-religion," but it will only work if Republicans can convince voters that their party isn't anti-contraception.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The hunt for Planet Nine
Under The Radar Researchers seeking the elusive Earth-like planet beyond Neptune are narrowing down their search
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine interactive crossword - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published