The American Spectator : Obama's Law of Contraception

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Obama's Law of Contraception

By Peter Ferrara on 2.22.12 @ 6:09AM

It's all of a piece with the Obama-Stephanopoulos practice of Calculated Deception.

I have frequently discussed in this column the concept of Calculated Deception. That is President Obama's practice of taking advantage of what he calculates average people don't know, and what the Democratic Party-controlled media won't tell them, to mislead them into thinking and believing what will most benefit him politically. That practice is now spreading across the entire Democrat party.

We are seeing this play out now in particularly ugly fashion in regard to the fabricated issue of contraception. President Obama, the Democrats, and their party-controlled press are play-acting as if the Republicans are campaigning to ban contraception. That is their interpretation of Republican opposition to President Obama's mandate forcing Catholic institutions to provide for their employees free contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs and sterilization.

It is not just the Catholic Church. We will all now be forced to pay for free contraceptives for everybody -- and abortion, sterilization, and anything else Il Duce decides we must pay for -- through the individual and employer mandates of Obamacare. Prepare to dig into your pocket to pay for partial-birth abortions in a second Obama term. This fascist authoritarianism is what the Democrat party has given us in the Obamacare legislation they undemocratically crammed down our throats, when they temporarily held the last Congressional Democrat majorities in U.S. history.

The Supreme Court Has Already Ruled
As Dick Morris, Rush Limbaugh, and others have already pointed out, the game began with George Stephanopoulos, a political activist who plays a journalist on TV for the political activist organization ABC News. During a Republican presidential debate Jan. 7, Stephie stunned the candidates by asking whether they thought states had the power to ban contraceptives.

Mitt Romney rightly replied that it was a silly question. That was the correct answer, because the Supreme Court ruled on it almost 50 years ago.

In the case of Griswold v. Connecticut 381 U.S. 479 (1965), the Supreme Court struck down an 1879 Connecticut law that prohibited the use of "any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception." The Supreme Court struck down the statute as unconstitutional precisely on the grounds that states do not have the power to ban contraception.

Seven years later, in Eisenstadt v. Baird 404 U.S. 438 (1972), the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional a Massachusetts law that prohibited the distribution of contraceptives to unmarried persons. The court ruled that states do not have the power to prohibit contraceptives for unmarried people, as well as for married people, as at issue in Griswold.

So the answer to the question asked by Stephanopoulos is No! States do not have the power to ban contraceptives, under long-established law. But Stephanopoulos already knew that. This is where Calculated Deception comes in.

Stephanopoulos and his Obama administration overlords also understand that the average person has no knowledge about the legal history of Griswold v. Connecticut or Eisenstadt v. Baird. And Stephie and his Obama pals also know their politics. They know that no political party can viably campaign on banning contraceptives in modern America today. The Republican Party would be better off disbanding than doing that.

So what better way to deflect criticism of the Obama mandate that the Catholic Church pay for contraceptives and abortion drugs contrary to their religion, than to turn it into a charge that the Republicans are standing with the Catholic Church on this because they want to ban contraceptives. After all, why is the Catholic Church holding to this outdated view on contraceptives unless they and their Republican allies really do want to ban them?

As Glenn Reynolds has explained, this makes as much sense as claiming that those who would oppose on religious liberty grounds a law requiring mosques to sell bacon really are out to ban bacon. But this is not about sense or logic. It is about politics, and manipulating the gullible into changing the subject.

So this comes down to an even more fundamental assault on the Catholic Church than the mandate. The Obama administration, the Democrats, and their media allies are really attacking the Church as an outdated institution with retrograde beliefs unacceptable in modern society. And they are doing so to sacrifice the Church to their political interests in misleading the voters as to what the Republicans believe. And because they literally hate the Catholic Church, for its very beliefs.

The bottom line is that there is no Republican anywhere in America campaigning on banning contraceptives. There are no proposals in state legislatures anywhere to ban contraceptives, even though Republicans now control a majority of state legislatures. But this is not about a debate on the issues. It is about dishonorable Calculated Deception to mislead voters about what Republicans stand for, in an extreme, fundamental way completely unrelated to reality.

Of course, many conservatives disagree with the reasoning behind the decisions in Griswold and Baird. That would be an interesting issue for a legal seminar on constitutional law. But it has no place in politics today, unless you want to be Exhibit A for the Marxist Left running today's Democrat Party, and unless you want to be an instrument for the reelection of Che Guevara as president. Note that even those conservative legal philosophers who disagree with the reasoning of Griswold and Baird are not advocating laws to ban contraception.

The Crisis in American Media
To further extend a theme from last week, it is dishonorable for those in the media to pose with the Democrats as if they are raising a legitimate issue here. That only reflects a fundamental crisis in American media.

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About the Author

Peter Ferrara is Senior Fellow at the Carleson Center for Public Policy, Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy for the Heartland Institute, and General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is the author of America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb, now available from HarperCollins.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (89) | Leave a comment

Brian Mc| 2.22.12 @ 6:45AM

I love the "Sue me" statement; if that don't say it all. We've been conformed into a corner by the compassion mongers and I'm starting to wonder if the libs have finally overextended and by their deceptions finally opened the eyes of those who were once so easily deceived. I suppose that we will find out come November.

c. j. acworth| 2.22.12 @ 7:49AM

Can someone out there please translate "Sue me" into latin? We need a new Presidential seal.

James Coltron Zarou| 3.10.12 @ 5:38PM

First, I strongly object to the above written about contraceptive ads and how all of the people in them are "black". That is bigoted and should be taken down.

To the above by Brian Mc, and others: What is a compassion monger? Can one use it in any context such as: war monger, a hate monger? I'm confused. If compassion is what Jesus taught us through the Bible, how did compassion become a bad thing? I want to be known for being compassionate! I see that there are many who say "the libs", when they don't understand that many people are liberal and you may be too, perhaps in a few ways. I believe Liberal to mean many things, but mainly that I love all God's creatures, my enemies, my foes during political disagreements, and I am liberal with the Good Will I want to spread as Jesus did. I believe a word that needs to be used in word and in deed is compassion. It is my hope that we want to do what's right for our country, for those in need, and follow the word of the Lord. No one wants to force people to do anything, however, wouldn't it be nice if we could give a dollar when we could to those in need? I am a Vet, and my life has been turned upside down. I fought for our country, but all I see since I've been home is more fighting and it is horrific. We are supposed to the a Great Country! How can we be when we insult each other? Black, White, Women, Hispanic? What's going on?
Please think about who may be reading what you are writing. I am trying to get my life back since being back, however, I am so ashamed of my Republican Party, that I want to go back and live in the middle east! Yes, it's that bad. also think about the fact that everyone comes in their own individual package. I am financially conservative, however, I am liberal in my giving of my time and money to the church and other organizations. This country would be so much better off if we stopped trying to out shout each other as to whom is more horrible. I don't believe that anyone in Government went in with the thought of doing wrong to others. So, before we say something that is an attack on an individual, we should think about it for 15 minutes and make sure we're not walking away from the Lord. Remember, love they neighbor as thyself.

Timothy L. Pennell| 2.22.12 @ 8:42AM

"To further extend a theme from last week, it is dishonourable for those in the Media to pose with the Democrats as if they are raising a legitimate issue here."

Congratulations. That was the test.

The life of JESUS CHRIST is sometimes referred to as: The Greatest Story ever told. By the same token, Barack Hussein Obama/Barry Soetoro/Abu Hussain can be seen as: The Biggest Lie ever told.

Who is the Media, anyway? How many of them are Democrat Operatives. (Like Alcoholics and Drug Addicts and Marines, there are no FORMER Democrat Operatives)

Ya got Georgie, at ABC. He was in the Impeached Rapist's Administration. He worked the "War Room", where he and Paul Begala and James Carville, pushed Mud and Hit Pieces from the White House to the Press Rooms.

Ya got your Chris Mathews, who worked for Tip O'Neil and Jimmy Carter, and has an uncontrollable discharge of Man Fluids, at the sound of his Leader's voice, regardless of whatever it is he's lying about that day.

Jay Carney. The Slimy little guy, holding the White House Press Conferences. He used to be in the Print News. Went to ABC for the Sunday Show. Works as Obama's Propaganda Minister. He looks right in to the Camera, and spins his little Webs. I imagine in a former life, he had a Black Hat with a pretty Swastika emblazoned of the front.

CNN didn't get the "Clinton News Network" label for nothing, and everyone at MSNBC would volunteer to be Obama's Human Urinal, if only he would ask.

The Fourth Estate has become a Fifth Column, in this Country. It's not even trying to PRETEND that it's "Fair" anymore. As far as I can tell, George Soros' Media Matters, hasn't denied writing NBC News Outlet's Scripts, and, quite frankly, sees no reason to.

Anybody see any OUTRAGE surrounding Fast and Furious? What about Solyndra? Global Crossing? What about his WAR OF CHOICE in Libya? The Economy?

Gasoline is $5.00 in California. It's the HIGHEST it's ever been, for this time of year, and going higher. 2011 was the WORST year in History for the Housing Market. The Muslim's Labour Department puts out Make Believe Numbers, whereby, 1,000,000 LESS JOBS in January, than there were in December, equals MORE JOBS, and a LOWER Unemployment Rate. Did I mention his Attorney General's LIES to Congress, and his continued OBSTRUCION OF JUSTICE tactics, in regards to Fast and Furious?

Every one of those would be a Media FEEDING FRENZY, if this was a Republican Administration. It would be as if a severely bleeding Chris Christie had fallen in to a Shark Tank at Sea World. Every Day, and Night, these stories would rage, with DEMANDS for Resignations, Special Prosecutors and IMPEACHMENT.

I have often wondered how the Great Empires met their fate. I wonder how they could be OMNIPOTENT one day, and GONE the next. ROME comes to mind.

Look out the window. FORECLOSED. For Sale. Going Out Of Business. Or, just Abandoned. I bought some Used Tires, yesterday. 4 of the 5 Tire Places I called, told me that their selection was not what it used to be. It seems that (as they told me) with things the way they are, everybody's looking for Used Tires. The DOLLAR STORES have overtaken Wal Mart. The MALL where I live, has more Vacant Stores, every time we go there. Apparently, the only people not affected by the World's latest foray in to MARX and ENGELS, is the Obamas, who are on their 16th Vacation, in 3 years. Aspen. The Winter home of the Rich and Famous. The Millionaires and Billionaires. All of the people that we are encouraged, by THE MUSLIM, to despise. How he must laugh to himself, as he gives another of his "HATE THE RICH" diatribes to the Barking Seals at his Campaign Stops, knowing that the only people that he does ANYTHING with are the Millionaires and Billionaires of which he speaks. What FOOLS he must think they are.

It's Show Time, people. Now or never. 2012 or Bust.

I wonder if that's what the ROMANS were thinking, just before the fall?

SUBVET| 2.22.12 @ 10:36AM

A quote from the movie THE RUM DIARY....."a liberal is a commie with a college education thinking negro thoughts".

Purp| 2.22.12 @ 1:22PM

All Corporate owned media - you don't know what you're talking about.
Once again, Timmy, you spout 1/2 truths or lies that you pull out of your a*, as if these are well known facts that no one could deny.
How much time do you spend getting your talking points from Eric Cankersore?

vtwin| 2.22.12 @ 3:27PM

Don't worry John Boehner promised jobs would be the top priority of the House when he became Speaker and I'm sure he'll get to it. He has 11 more months.

TrueBlue| 2.22.12 @ 6:57PM

You must have missed all of the Bills the House has passed that get repeatedly tabled by the DEMOCRAT controlled Senate. Even the things they manage to convince the Senate to pass get vetoed by Obama and never even mentioned in the news. Obama's ideas are so horrible that even the Dems in the Senate won't touch most of them.

As weak as Boehner is, the House is only 1/3 of the process to pass laws.

rnd| 2.22.12 @ 11:18PM

TrueBlue, you're either a dolt of not thinking. Tip O'Neil (half sober on his best days) could show Boehner tricks in his sleep.

Give me the positions that Boehner and Eric Cantor have and the mojo the American public offered up in an unprecedented mid-term election in American history and I'd have Pelosi, Reid, Hoyer, Durban screaming for their mamma's and doing the, "I'm stepping down now, leaving office immediately....um, for, um, for, uh, personal reasons."

Goodness, the current youngish, boyish leader of the national College Republicans could pull this off, thereby arranging that nearly every issue, every vote in BOTH houses of Congress goes the Conservative way.

Boehner and Cantor are without excuse.

The American people gave the U.S. House of Representatives for ACTION. And we're seeing precious little of it.

Boehner, Cantor, et al. are fully in our crosshairs.

capatolistmom| 2.23.12 @ 5:54PM

Boehner, Cantor and McC onnell!!!! Replace with Bachman, Rubio, Paul, all would be great in leadership positions.!!!!!! 2012!!!

spike59| 2.23.12 @ 1:27PM

you mean, like how Bungling Barry had control of the House AND Senate for 2 years and let the unemployment rate jump to nearly 10%???? and increased the deficit more in those 2 years than Bush did in 8? like that????

capatolistmom| 2.23.12 @ 5:58PM

Very well said!!!!

If EVERYONE would stop watching, reading and/or listening to the MSM they would loose their platform. There aren't enough liberals who actually listen, read or think to keep them in business. If we stop quoting, and watching they will go away or change!!! No more debates moderated by them either!!

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 2:36PM

"I suppose that we will find out come November."

Yes, your lapdog will lose to Obama.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 3:03PM

"AP: Indiana Republican says Girl Scouts promote abortion"

the Girl Scouts sell heroin, too. And they ruined my daughter's wedding in 1992...
They're comink to take me away, HaHa.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 3:05PM

.... plus, the Girl Scouts planned controlled demolition at WTC, and they shot JFK from behind the grassy knoll....

TrueBlue| 2.22.12 @ 6:59PM

Given that the Girl Scouts are open about their connection to Planned Parenthood, it's really not much of a stretch to say they promote abortion... I wouldn't be surprised if most of the GS troop leaders didn't even realize their leadership's connection to Planned Parenthood though.

Appleby| 2.22.12 @ 7:01AM

Liberalism is all about forcing the unwilling to conform to "mandates" and the more they object to those "mandates", the more liberalism believes that they must be forced to conform. This is exactly backwards to their own "You're Not The Boss of Me" screams, and my own opinion of the reasons behind this is that liberals believe that if they can say "everybody's doing it!" this will make their own Mother and Father voices go away and stop reminding them that what they are doing is wrong. If we could cast this argument into the mold of Adults and Children, it would be perfectly clear that the liberals are the Children screaming that "it's not fair!" that they can't do what "everybody else does" even if everybody else in fact believes what you want to do is WRONG.

Von Mises Jr.| 2.22.12 @ 8:22AM

Appleby, this is the vision of Jean Jacques Rousseau in his "Social contract" from 1762. It got him ejected from Geneva and unwelcome back in his native France. It goes like this:
"If one refuses to BEND to the GENERAL WILL, then he must be FORCED TO BE FREE."

Purp| 2.22.12 @ 1:24PM

Liberalism? How about an unnecessary vaginal probe mandated by the State of Virginia before an abortion can be performed? That is State sanctioned RAPE and you're okay with that Conservativism?

Von Mises Jr.| 2.22.12 @ 2:11PM

Perp, I have no idea what you are talking about. You are the King of obscure non sequiturs.

ATB2| 2.22.12 @ 3:14PM

Purp - your talking points are obsolete. Planned Parenthood uses the same procedure as part of its abortion process. Also, VA law did NOT mandate type of procedure: it can be done abdominally or vaginally. And you get paid for these comments? Good example of the quality of subsidized work. Maybe you can get Media Matters and White House to update you more frequently.

spike59| 2.23.12 @ 1:30PM

check your 'news sources', Harriet Hyperbole...and the 'State sanctioned RAPE' is somehow OK when Planned Parenthood does it, seeing as how it accompanies the slaughter of an innocent baby?

rnd| 2.22.12 @ 7:16AM

Mr. Ferrara, thank you. Very well put. Throughout.

I cannot believe that we still have George Stephyanopolitis involved in anything today. I would call him a snake, but that would be a put-down to snakes. A viper then.

The problem is that the next little chapter in liberal media bias and collusion with the Demoncrats is...tonight on CNN -- the next Republican debate. Why has CNN hosted so often? Why can't local FOX affiliates or some independent station host?

I guess we should listen closely tonight as once more we'll have some liberal, idiot self-promoting panel questioners work their biases into shaping the national debate/discussions on their liberal topics de jour.

Appleby| 2.22.12 @ 7:34AM

Why are they debating on Ash Wednesday? To make sure that Catholics arent' watching?

rnd| 2.22.12 @ 7:42AM

As another reader pointed out several weeks ago, the frequent choice of Wednesday evenings for presidential debates has also kept many Protestant and Evangelical citizens in the nation from being able to view "live." As any churchgoer in many denominations can tell you, Wednesday evening is almost always the default evening of choice in the weekly church schedule for Bible studies, prayer meetings, seniors groups, various mid-week teen programs, even potluck outreaches to the less fortunate in the community. If is as if our secular leaders have no idea that Wednesday nights are church nights for the heartland people of America. We KNOW that the media is unaware of this fact. I guess this forces us all to have to learn to DVR.

Teaghan| 2.22.12 @ 8:22AM

We Presbyterians will be at service tonight as well as the Catholics, but should be home 9pm.
I'm assuming that's when the debate begins.

Mr ED| 2.22.12 @ 8:19AM

The intentional deceptions of the MSM (and now RINOmedia has adopted the same tactics unfortunately) are to be found in almost every "report" you might read or hear. Focusing any discussion exclusively on one or more facets favorable to just one side is a favorite tactic of the Libscum and is most effective is large doses. Remember Gabby Giffords? The only evidence of any involvement by conservatives or Tea Party types was entirely in the minds of the Libscum and it is a classic example of how the Libscum operate. The MSM "Journalistas" are willing accomplices in all of this, and they know exactly what they are doing. How many conservative journalists have traveled from the white house to the media? The Libscum like 'ol Stephie will never have their credentials or intentions challenged by anyone else in the MSM because he is a member in good standing of the Big Progressive Club of Narcissists.

Von Mises Jr.| 2.22.12 @ 8:36AM

Kudos, Peter. I met you at a TEA Party event and I was amazed at your ability to recall data. But you also have vision.
My hero, Ludwig; would agree with you 100% as chronicled in his tome "Socialism." Fascism is called the "Third Way." But it is really the same way, socialism. The need was to change the name since earlier attempts had failed and Soviet style socialism was so unbecoming.
So the socialist created a foil and a difference without a distinction. By simply claiming that it was not communism/Marxism where there is "public ownership of the means of production," and instead simply government planning; they achieved both deception and a "Bokonon" devil.
Property rights are defined by the ability to use and dispose of an asset as one pleases. But if Hitler, Mussolini, Franco or DC Democrats tell companies what to make, what to charge, how much profit they are allowed and that they cannot sell the company; they do not own it.
And the neat trick is that when they give the people goodies, they take credit. But when everything craps the bed due to their central planning, they blame the "fat cats."
Well if people don't get it now, then their future is a "dead cat bounce."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_cat_bounce

Purp| 2.22.12 @ 1:26PM

Yep, Hitler is back and out to get you ... sad, very sad.

Mike Hawk | 2.22.12 @ 3:49PM

Hitler was a Socialist, Purp. When you grow up maybe you will learn some history some day. Maybe, but not likely.

Von Mises Jr.| 2.22.12 @ 7:36PM

That's why they called it National Socialist Party. But Perp just burps propaganda without thinking.

POST American| 2.22.12 @ 8:57AM

---Surely 'BAR-Rockefeller' Obama
is simply following the capstone age-enda
for the eventual creation of a world society
grounded in -------TOTAL EUGENICS--------
and managed by actuarial PSYCHOPATHY.

----Gingrich and 'SUB-Mitt' 'ROME--knee' exactly the same.

Whenever you're ready for that FIRST
article taking on the MAMMOTH role
of capstone EUGENICS as engineered,
funded, directed and promoted through
the ultra-rich, TAX FREE, 'chair--'IT'--Abel' societies
------------------------we'll be waiting.

Claude| 2.22.12 @ 2:51PM

Would you please stop. You are such a bore and seeem to be here every day.

Stormy| 2.22.12 @ 9:37AM

The problem here is that they want the insurance companies to go out of business. Then, health care really truly be taken over by government. That is the end game of Obamacare.

vtwin| 2.22.12 @ 12:06PM

Bingo!!!!!!!

Louis Jenkins| 2.22.12 @ 9:37AM

Deception in mass. I no longer take Georgie pooh or Chrissy seriously. Those two are liars, and the truth ain't in them. They go hand in hand with the liar and chief. When does George start lying? The moment his mouth moves.

Peppermint Tea| 2.22.12 @ 9:55AM

Peter, yes they hate the Catholic Church, but that is only half right. They hate all religions except their own. They view Obama as a king and prophet--why else would no democrat dare criticize him, or have the audacity to run against him? They are blind lemmings all wanting a piece of the action that the mob boss will throw their way. WAKE UP America!

Bob| 2.22.12 @ 9:58AM

I've read some comments here, where people say they have a friend who won't vote Santorum because Santorum wants to ban contraceptives, or they have a wife or they themselves believe that. If you're reading this, you must expose them for the fools that they are (yes, even your wife). They fell victim to calculated deception by the Democrat Party. If you allow yourself or anyone you know to believe that Santorum or any other Republican candidate wants to ban contraceptives, you are complicit in the downfall of the US as we know it. It's that important people, and we can't allow deception to undo us.

vtwin| 2.22.12 @ 12:21PM

Sorry Bob, banning contraception is exactly what Santorum wants as the Republicans in Colorado, Mississippi tried to.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/po.....raception/

Stan Redmond| 2.22.12 @ 1:22PM

That is simply wrong. No where does Santorum say "I want to ban contraceptives." It sounds to me like he's a believer in state's rights as defined by the 10th amendment.

But hey, Barry Soetero of destroying the economy and farcing unconstitutional dictates what "the secretery shall decide" as if he were a king. Let's focus on something Santorum said that has been so completely taken out of context it's laughable.

vtwin| 2.22.12 @ 2:56PM

What about the 14th amendment, equal protection? Remember the Civil War? Beliefs got-nothing-to-do-with-it!

No State or organization, religious or otherwise, can deny ANYONE their constitutional rights.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 4:06PM

Since under the 14th amendment equal protection is the law, how is it we have a tax structure which treats one persons money and income differently than anothers simply based on its source or quantity?

spike59| 2.23.12 @ 1:33PM

unless ANYONE is a fetus...then whoever wields the forceps/suction tube/scalpel can deny ALL of their Constitutional rights

vtwin| 2.22.12 @ 3:00PM

"One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country.... Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that's okay, contraception is okay. It's not okay. It's a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be." --Rich Santorum

brad| 2.22.12 @ 6:24PM

"Talk" about it. Ain't the same as banning it. Idiot!

W| 2.22.12 @ 10:04AM

Griswald was a "phoney" or a set-up case done to establish the principle of privacy that was used later for the abortion cases starting with Roe. A pharmacist, I believe, agreed to get arrested or charged with the crime of giving condoms or other birth control to a married couple. The case was then taken to the US Supreme Court. The criminal case should have been thrown at or never prosecuted because such cases were never really prosecuted. The case was set up to make a point, and we are still living with its consequences. They proponents of the birth control could have easily gone to the Connecticut legislature to abolish or clarify the law, but preferred the judicial system for the publicity and precedent value of the decision.

1ConservativeUSA| 2.22.12 @ 10:05AM

Well done, Mr. Ferrara, on a fine piece that will be read by too few.

Marc Jeric| 2.22.12 @ 10:15AM

Our MSM have become the Agit-Prop Office of our communist government led by Mullah Obama, the marxist Muslim President from Kenya.

George S| 2.22.12 @ 10:34AM

This is not about a political campaign, it is about statism. The arguments against abortion were twofold: the Supreme Court's authority to invoke a right to privacy to make it a federal issue and whether only the states, instead, should be free to make laws regarding abortion. If the validity of Roe was argued, it was answered with you support coat hangers in back alleys. But arguing that it's a state matter presented problems for the statist. The only way to counter that was fear supported by ignorance. That's why Republicans were asked -- and avoided questions -- about state's rights. Remember how that was a pejorative term?

The same thing is now happening with contraception. It is being cemented to ObamaCare, to associate an attack against the law as an attack on contraception. That's why ABC asked about contraception vis-a-vis state's rights. So now if a Republican gets into constitutional philosophy about the mandate or getting government into your health care decisions, it is met with banning contraception. Brilliant. ObamaCare is being taken off the table so Santorum -- who has the most credentials for repealing it -- is left to defend the lie that he wants to ban contraception. It is Bork all over again.

vtwin| 2.22.12 @ 3:15PM

It is not a "lie." Santorum wants to ban contraception.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 10:51AM

All thes manipulations contained in the administration proposal are a trojan horse designed to put religious hospitals, clinics and other agencies out of the business. It is not only Catholics, but Baptists, Mormons and even Moslems, who operate charities and health care facilities. By mandating actions they will not take, the government forces them from the field to be replaced by government operated and psid for facilities. Such actions are unconscienable and machiavellian in the extreme. Beware the hidden motive and of course the unintended consequences as well.

W| 2.22.12 @ 10:58AM

Al Adab
I agree. The end game of Obamacare is a single payor system. In addition to what you wrote, the excessive regulations will force private insurers out of the market, and many employers may decide it is cheaper to pay a fine rather than provide the coverage demanded by Obamacare. It will basically crowd out the private market. Obamacare, with its regulations, will be a state run, single payor system.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 12:01PM

...and that W is, I believe, the plan.

W| 2.22.12 @ 1:02PM

Al Adab
The key is the individual mandate. If the Supreme Court upholds the mandate, and Obama is re-elected then it is over. With the mandate you will be required to join the government plan just like you are required to enroll and pay for Medicare A.

They could have easily passed an individual mandate without the Obamacare to require health insurance, and then you could have purchased insurance like you purchase auto. They try to distinguish auto insurance, which is mandatory by the states, by saying driving is a privilige and not a right. This is a silly argument because you have to drive , or someone has to drive you, to work, shop, and live.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 1:54PM

Makes me wonder. What if the National Health Care Board, or whatever it will ultimately be named, were to define Conservatism as a mental disorder? We could all be treated in nice health spas or facilities.

Mimi| 2.22.12 @ 4:42PM

Would it not be easier for the people who want to give "GRANNY " a pill for comfort rather than spend the Money to TREAT her if the Religious entity went out of the Health care business completely.?
I am one who is suspicious of their real intentions.
To have Catholic, Baptist , Mormon and other religious caring for Granny ....her and her families, would have the assurance she would not be 'LET GO" to save the HHS budget. Therein lies the real problem Government Health care will never be trusted to always do what is right.....and we would be one despot away from a HOLOCAUST !

Purp| 2.22.12 @ 1:12PM

I sure hope so. If we keep letting the so-called "free market" with their powerful lobbies set our healthcare policies and rates, we're all doomed.
At least we could change the government with elections - you can do nothing to the CEO of Blue Cross or Aetna if you don't like their policies.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 1:46PM

Seems to me Purp that a visit to the Dr. is like a visit to any other store or service. Pay your own way, right? Lots of options.

Mimi| 2.22.12 @ 4:47PM

A pay as you go PLAN would immediately lower cost.... because we would shop around and the free market would kick in. !

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 6:45PM

Mimi:
My former Doctor would not accept Medicare and had his patients sign an affidavit no9t to bill Medicare. Kept his costs down. He has recently retired due to the impending arrival of Obamacare.

W| 2.22.12 @ 2:54PM

Purp,
For someone who claims to be a consultant to a Fortune 10 company, you know less about the economy than you know about our government.
Rates are set by what it costs to provide medical care based on the proifles of the insured and gthe group . You think the CEO just makes up rates and coverage? You are confusing the CEO with Obama.
You should be able to purchase a health policy with the type of coverage you want, but you have to take coverage because the government requires that polilcies all contain certain coverage.
You seem to like a dictator making choices for you.

Warrior| 2.22.12 @ 12:34PM

As long as every one keeps talking about rubbers, abortion and gay "rights," they won't be talking about the size of the government, state of the economy, lack of energy production and total mess the Marxist has made of foreign affairs.

Purp| 2.22.12 @ 1:14PM

Marxist? You're funny... you don't have a clue what a Marxist really would do.

ATB2| 2.22.12 @ 3:31PM

Do? Like identify and demonize a parasite class (e.g., the 1%); disparage traditional rights and history of the nation and advocate for international identity and positive rights; nationalize or quasi-nationalize whole segments of the economy (e.g healthcare) and dominate others via executive order regulations in the name of the general welfare? Attack efforts to reform deficit spending as extreme and dangerous? Unleash the executive enforcement apparatus (Justice Dept) on political opponents and efforts to prevent voting fraud? Sound Familiar?

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 3:47PM

And of course "spread the wealth around". Obama is not stupid enough to say he is a Marxist, but he lets you know his Marxists ways by his words and his deeds.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 6:46PM

"To tax one person, group or class to enrich another person, group or class is theft."

John W. Davis Democrat presidential candidate 1924.

Mimi| 2.22.12 @ 10:55AM

Thanks again Peter.....CALCULATED DECEPTION.....So true. I think their acting like America is dumb as a ROCK will get them in trouble. Most of the country is wise to them...the MEDIA has always been favorable to the Dems...But the present crew is worse than ever its as if they had no instruction as to the benefits of TRUTH and HONOR....You,outed them as good as anyone could. Heads should roll at their being caught in the Media Matters scandel.
On to tonights debate...I would hope our candidates ALL read your article today!

vtwin| 2.22.12 @ 12:05PM

This is not about Stephanopoulos or the News Media its about the State rights versus the individual rights. When Santorum is asked about banning contraception Santorum replies “The state has a right to do that." Santorum is clearly a big government conservative.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/po.....raception/

brad| 2.22.12 @ 6:34PM

did you read the quotation? he was talking about the judicial branch overstepping its authority. judges, particularly those on SCOTUS, often confuse their role -- i.e. the name 'activist judges' legislating from the bench. he was NOT advocating any state banning contraception. wake up! moron.

ABNCP| 2.22.12 @ 12:07PM

Everything that comes out of Obama's mouth that has anything to do with politics or himself is misinformation, disinformation, half truths or damm lies. If by now the majority of the American voting public does not comprehend what Obama has done with his first term as President is all part of an agenda crafted prior to his election and set up by the Soros cabal who searched for someone like him, recruited him, sponsored him, financed him, and now tells him how to structure his Presidency, then we are going to lose traditional America. The concern as expressed by Mr. Ferrara is the battle to defeat this disaster of a President is going to have to be fought against very difficult odds. The generation who fought WW II is rightly called the greatest generation. However, if our current generation can defeat the evil that is in the White House now and return America to being the Fortress of Freedom it was created to be, maybe this generation can honorably share that title. God bless America.

Purp| 2.22.12 @ 1:18PM

I sure hope so - the America of Reagan and the Bushes is a heartless, greedy place. "Fortress of Freedom" - what fairy tale did you pick that from. Now Franklin Roosevelt called America the "Arsenal of Democracy" and he was right. Democracy and Freedom are not the same thing.
I do agree with you on one thing - God Bless America.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 5:22PM

Heartless and Greedy? Hardly. More like prosperous and charitable.

No Democracy and Freedom are not synonymous. In fact Democracy often violates the freedoms of its people - as our founders well knew.

Which leaves "God Bless America". Let us all pray that we have not yet been weighed in the balance and found wanting for our idolotry.

Slacker| 2.22.12 @ 12:17PM

“The Obama administration, the Democrats, and their media allies are really attacking the Church as an outdated institution with retrograde beliefs unacceptable in modern society.”

Catholics should proudly accept that characterization. An outdated retrograde is better than a postmodern dupe.

Nottellin1| 2.22.12 @ 12:25PM

Here is my homage to Martin Niemoller…written last week

Here is a new version of Martin Niemoller piece 'When they came for the trade unionists..

When the government told us there would be a mandate to buy health insurance, I didn’t care because I mine health insurance is employer assisted.

When the government told us that pregnancy was a disease that required free preventive care, I didn’t care because I cannot become pregnant.

When the government told me health plans had to include free preventive care including contraceptives, I didn’t care because I don’t use them.

When the government told us that our churches had to pay for contraceptives, then the insurance companies had to provide for free, I started to care because we all know that nothing an insurance company does is ‘free’.

When the government told us we needed to eat healthy food, I didn’t care until they started replacing the lunches I had packed for my child and fining me for what I chose for my child to eat.

When the government closed down my church because it didn’t like my religion, took my gun so that I could not defend myself, and threw me in jail for speaking out against them.

I wished I’d cared when the government mandated that we had to buy health insurance.

Purp| 2.22.12 @ 1:10PM

Once again a Ferrara article is filled with 1/2 truths or downright lies. He cites Rush and Dick Morris, hardly middle-of-the-roaders to criticize everyone else. Mississippi just tried to ban contraception through their "personhood" law, and were roundly trounced 2:1 against the law and it was NOT enacted. But they did try.
Now, Virginia is about to enact the "Vaginal Probe" law where a woman is subjected, by law, to an intra-vaginal penetration of a probe during an ultrasound procedure before she is allowed to have an abortion. It is not medically necessary and doctors are mandated to do this. This is state sanctioned RAPE! Moreover, the personhood law sits on the Governors desk for signature, which bans contraception as well. 8 states have ultrasound laws already, unnecessary medical procedures removing any choice from a woman. Is it any wonder women see this as a war on their pursuit of health?
I thought Republicants believed in a small, "leave me alone " government. Apparently, that's a lie too.
And don't throw religion at this. The functioning of the State has nothing to do with religion and vice versa - anything else is a violation of Church and State, regardless of how fervently you believe in something taught by your faith, period. There is no wiggle room and Christians that push the government to do anything should be ashamed of themselves and beg God's forgiveness that use Him for their own political ends.

ATB2| 2.22.12 @ 3:37PM

Purp - you really should return your pay to Media Matters; you are not even up to date on their latest talking points.

Mimi| 2.22.12 @ 5:01PM

Talk about lies....lived thru many ultrasounds...no such thing as a vaginal probe IDIOT!.....Did you ever have one? Seen one?
Clearly shows the baby small yes but the features in the face look like the Parents! Saw prenatal pictures of many of my 23 GRAND CHILDREN!
The BEAUTY of LIFE so small, so tiny but astonishingly BEAUTIFUL ! Examine the other side PURP!

abncp| 2.22.12 @ 2:38PM

Dear Purp or should that be Blue. I'm sorry the term "Fortress of Freedom" and calling Obama's adminiustration Marxist offends you. However when and if you read any of Marx's words, Obama is pretty much following his ideas of how to set up a dictatorship of the proletariat along with a large dose of Soros's current version of how to do the same. You need to buy a dog and call him clue because you sure don't have any.

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 3:50PM

And Trotsky's alliance with the Intellectual Elite and the Unions. He used that to create the demand to take away the land of all the "rich" farmers. Obama has the same alliance and his 1% to steal from.

Controse| 2.22.12 @ 2:51PM

Great piece about the state of our media and the peril to our democracy. I assume therefore you will soon be calling for articles of impeachment to be drawn up. How about a whole article the nuts and bolts of impeachment. Of course Reid won't convict. So what? I much prefer impeachment in the headlines 24/7 to phony Democrat party generated "issues." Impeach relentlessly until election day. How about it Mr. Ferrara?

SherryPeyton| 2.22.12 @ 4:53PM

The Right continues to whine about the media being left wing. Of course all are owned by huge corporate interests who are anything but liberal. It begs the question. Have you NO ideas that entice them? The same goes for Academia. It seems odd, that the GOP with all the answers can convince no one. Interesting site. Is this what passes for fair journalism? Calling the president Il Duce? That's class.

spike59| 2.23.12 @ 1:35PM

send George Soros or Ted Turner e-mails reminding them that they're anything but liberal....

Debbie| 3.2.12 @ 3:24PM

Sorry, Sherry, there is a reason that the alphabet media including MSM, CNN, ABC, CBS, et al have lost share. Fox News is the least biased of these, they at least have some commentators from the left although they tend to be right leaning, and they clean the clocks in rating of the other "news" channels. People are not stupid, (well, at least some), so they can convince "no one"? Even with all the negative ads that are hitting with the Republican debates, and Obama not having to run against another Democrat, the polls stilll show that it won't be a cake walk for him. You would think with the Republicans taking heavy shots, and Obama being pretty much out of the fight, and the liberal media protecting him like they do, his numbers would be higher than they are. Could it be that people are waking up? I sure hope so.

Gretchen| 2.22.12 @ 7:23PM

A "further limit beyond legal and economic ones. . . . 2+2=4 even under Obama the Magnificent . . . . that [e]ven the All-Powerful Sebelius doesn't have the power to change??? I'd like to call your attention to a book entitled "Brave New World" -- you might have heard of it.

Gretchen| 2.24.12 @ 3:44PM

OOPS!!!!

I meant "1984" in which the protagonist, Winston Smith, after several sessions with Big Brother's minions, traces 2+2=3

Joe Nuts| 2.22.12 @ 9:16PM

If there was an amendment to the US Constitution to automatically impeach any politician or spokesliar for a politician from LYING, what would George Syphilitipuss (or is is Sh$tOnAllofUs?) do for a living? Be a test dummy for a wood chipper manufacturer.

How would we know 'automatically' that a politician rat is lying? Video/audio recording A versus B where A and B are in direct conflict.. i.e., about 99% of what Clinton and Bongo Boy have uttered in the entire lives.

Gretchen| 2.24.12 @ 3:45PM

How about George "Steponallofus"?

Should Have Impeached| 2.22.12 @ 9:32PM

Peter,... You wrote that so well. All I can do is sit here and shake my head as if to say, "Ain't that the truth."

I'm such an intellectual lightweight, and I'm not by any means rich, and I can't believe how ANYBODY can be fooled by this dictator. It just amazes me the people who think he's such a nice guy, and conservatives are just protecting the interests of "the rich."

Thanks for your article.

Flee| 2.23.12 @ 10:44PM

I am already sick of the internet ads on sidebars of pages saying "Don't let them take away my contraceptives". Sorry sister (all of them Black in the ads by the way) no one is taking it away. You can go buy it to your heart's content. Just don't try to buy a gun to protect yourself or maybe try to school your child at home. Then the govt will come after you but you can purchase all the pills you will ever need. Why do you expect all the rest of us to pay for them for you? That is what you should be asking yourself.