Will Obama's contraception compromise help his campaign?
The president tries to appease Catholic leaders by revising a controversial birth-control mandate — and may have won over independent voters in the process

President Obama is not off the hook with Catholic leaders. On Friday, Obama revised his rule requiring employers to provide workers insurance with copay-free contraception, offering religiously affiliated hospitals, charities, and other organizations a way to opt out, essentially by ushering employees into direct deals with insurance companies. Liberals who preferred the original policy say the compromise will do — but conservatives say the rule still steamrolls the rights of devout employers who object to facilitating birth-control coverage in any way. The nation's Catholic bishops say they want the mandate lifted for any person of faith who objects — not just religiously affiliated employers. Will Obama's revised policy do him any good politically?
Obama's deal will help him politically: "Most Catholics will be fine with this compromise," says Andrew Sullivan at The Daily Beast. Studies suggest that 98 percent of Catholic women not only believe in birth control but have used it." By opposing contraception anyway, the bishops have "gone out on a very long limb" and helped Obama "more firmly identify the religious right with opposition to contraception, its weakest issue by far." That helps Obama win over independent women.
"How Obama set a contraception trap for the right"
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.
But even some Democrats disagree with Obama: Plenty of liberal Americans love that Obama "has picked a fight with religious groups over contraceptive mandates," says Ramesh Ponnuru at National Review, "but these people are already voting for Obama." Don't forget: There are plenty of "independent voters and even some Democrats who have serious qualms about this policy." And, compromise or no, Obama might have just lost their votes.
Regardless, this is no compromise: Obama's so-called compromise "doesn't pass the smell test," says Mary Kate Carey at U.S. News & World Report. The president is still making religious employers link up their workers with insurers offering free contraception — including the morning-after pill, which no Catholic sees as "preventive care." Obama has tweaked the wording, but the result is the same. "The administration is trying to pull a fast one here."
"Obama's contraceptive 'compromise' doesn't pass the smell test"
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
-
Music reviews: Bon Iver, Valerie June, and The Waterboys
Feature "Sable, Fable," "Owls, Omens, and Oracles," "Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper"
By The Week US
-
Are bonds worth investing in?
the explainer They can diversify your portfolio and tend to be a safer investment than stocks
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
Elon has his 'Legion.' How will Republicans encourage other Americans to have babies?
Today's Big Question The pronatalist movement finds itself in power
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK