CMYK SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
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THE TIMES LEADER
www.timesleader.com
Obama course correction reversed political dynamic By DONNA CASSATA Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s opposition is now the divided one. For three weeks of heated rhetoric, Republicans cast the president’s new rule that religious schools and hospitals must provide insurance for free birth control to their employees as an attack on individual liberty. The contentious issue united recently fractured Republicans, Catholic bishops and religious groups while badly splitting Democrats who feared an election-year falAP PHOTO lout. Obama’s leading GOP rivals — President Barack Obama in the Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Brady Press Briefing Room of Newt Gingrich — had sensed a the White House on Friday. political opening and were relentclear that spending months hamless in criticizing the president. Obama caved to the pressure mering out a solution was not goFriday, announcing a compro- ing to be an option, that we needmise that allows employees at re- ed to move this faster,” Obama ligious-affiliated institutions to said in announcing his retreat and get free contraception directly compromise. The comment was a clear acfrom health insurance companies rather than employers who say it knowledgment that his adminiswould violate their long-held con- tration needed to move away quickly from an all-consuming victions. Almost immediately, Demo- battle that pitted Obama against crats who had disagreed with the the Catholic Church, hardly the fight a president White House backed the revised policy. So did Sis- Factions that had wants to pick when he’s seeking anothter Carol Keehan, presi- stood with the er term. dent and chief executive “At the end of the officer of the Catholic GOP cautiously day, Church one, Health Association of the backed Obama’s United States and a cru- midcourse correc- White House zero,” said Sara Taylor Facial player in both this detion. It was a gen, a Republican bate and the fierce fight strategist and over Obama’s health care necessary policy White House politioverhaul law. The na- change that retion’s bishops renewed versed the politi- cal adviser in George W. Bush’s adtheir call for passage of ministration. legislation that would al- cal dynamic. The policy and low a health plan to dethe fury undercline coverage of specific items and services, based on reli- scored the difficulty for the administration in implementing gious beliefs. The once formidable coalition elements of Obama’s sweeping against the president had splin- health care law, which remains tered. Factions that had stood highly divisive nearly two years with the GOP cautiously backed after it became law and within Obama’s midcourse correction. It months of the Supreme Court was a necessary policy change rendering its judgment sometime that reversed the political dynam- in late spring. It reflected the nervousness among congressionic. “After the many genuine con- al Democrats and candidates who cerns that have been raised over want to avoid alienating workingthe last few weeks, as well as, class voters and suburban women frankly, the more cynical desire critical to their fate this Novemon the part of some to make this ber. The initial policy had drawn into a political football, it became
opposition from Democrats such as Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, all Catholic and all facing re-election this year. Challenging the administration was Tim Kaine, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the Senate candidate in Virginia and a Catholic who worked with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras. There was palpable relief among several with the president’s announcement. “I am pleased that the White House has taken further steps to ensure that all women have access to affordable contraception and to ensure that religious organizations will not be asked to violate their beliefs in the process,” Kaine said in a statement. Larson praised the president for finding a “path forward to provide coverage to everyone while addressing the conscience concerns of religiously affiliated organizations.” Manchin and Casey held off on a final assessment, saying they were looking at the details. Before announcing the decision, Obama called Keehan, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards and Cardinaldesignate Timothy Dolan, head of the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops. Keehan was key in a fight that turned out to be health care redux. Two years ago, her support for the health care law in the face of the bishops’ opposition helped sway several conservative and moderate anti-abortion Democrats to back the legislation, votes that lifted the bill into law. On Friday, shortly after Obama’s White House appearance, Keehan issued a statement: “The Catholic Health Association is very pleased with the White House announcement that a resolution has been reached that protects the religious liberty and conscience rights of Catholic institutions. The framework developed has responded to the issues we identified that needed to be fixed.” Mo Elleithee, who worked on Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign, said the administration can argue that in a dysfunctional, highly partisan Washington, the president found a way to compromise.
AP PHOTO
Romney captures Maine caucuses The totals reflected about 84 percent of precincts. He had 39 percent to Paul’s 36.
The totals reflected about 84 percent of the state’s precincts. Webster insisted that any caucus results that come in after Saturday wouldn’t be counted no matter how close the vote. By STEVE PEOPLES “Some caucuses decided not and BETH FOUHY to participate in this poll and Associated Press will caucus after this announcePORTLAND, Maine — Mitt ment,” Webster said. “Their reRomney narrowly won Maine’s sults will not be factored in. The Republican caucuses, state par- absent votes will not be factored ty officials announced Saturday, into this announcement after providing his campaign with a the fact.” Romney’s win, combined much-needed boost after three with his victory in the straight losses earlier presidential straw this week. But the forpoll at the Conservamer Massachusetts tive Political Action governor won just a Committee conferplurality of the Maine ence in Washington vote, suggesting he hours earlier, helped still has work to do to ELECTION slow an embarrassing unite GOP voters beskid that began Tueshind his candidacy. day when he lost conAt a gathering in Portland, state Republican tests in Missouri, Minnesota Chairman Charlie Webster an- and Colorado to Santorum. The nounced Romney had won with twin triumphs dampened the 2,190 votes, or 39 percent, com- perception — for now — that pared to 1,996 — about 36 per- conservatives were unwilling to cent — for Paul, the only other support Romney. Romney’s campaign has demcandidate to aggressively compete in the state. Rick Santorum onstrated skill and flexibility in received 989 votes and Newt winning a big state like Florida Gingrich won 349, but neither and eking out a victory in a lowactively campaigned there. Oth- turnout contest like Maine, where organization and voter er candidates drew 61 votes.
2012
contact are essential. Out of Maine’s 258,000 registered Republicans, nearly 5,600 cast ballots in the weeklong contest. But questions about Romney’s durability as the party’s presumed front-runner persist. Fully 61 percent of Maine voters selected another candidate than Romney in a state practically in his back yard. And Romney’s showing was down considerably from 2008, when he won 51 percent of the vote. Maine’s caucuses began Feb. 4 and continued throughout the week. Several communities elected to hold their caucuses at a later date. Caucuses in Washington County that had been scheduled for Saturday were postponed until Feb. 18 because of a major snowstorm that blanketed the region. Earlier, party Executive Director Michael Quatrano said county officials had been told the results of that caucus would not count toward the total. But in an interview, Washington County Republican Chairman Chris Gardner said that when the decision was made to postpone the caucuses, he didn’t realize his county’s votes wouldn’t count toward the total.
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at a caucus, Saturday, in Portland, Maine. He narrowly won Maine’s Republican caucuses, state party officials announced Saturday, providing his campaign with a much-needed boost.
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