White House reaction to a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate regarding employers who have religious or moral qualms about offering employees insurance that covers contraception is illuminating.
Sens. Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, and Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, introduced the bill. It was to counter a plan by President Barack Obama's administration to force all employers, including those such as Roman Catholic hospitals and universities, to provide their employees with insurance that covers contraception. Catholic leaders say that would be contrary to one of the basic tenets of their faith.
Last Friday, the White House amended the plan - slightly. Now it requires insurance carriers serving employers to provide the coverage at no cost to either employees or employers.
Manchin and Rubio want a law allowing any employers to refuse to provide such coverage if it is counter to their religious or moral beliefs.
On Monday, White House press secretary Jay Carney said the bill is "dangerous and wrong."
Just like that.
The Manchin-Rubio bill, by safeguarding First Amendment rights, is "dangerous and wrong."
Indeed, the bill may need some refinement. But it says a lot about President Obama that he believes protecting religious freedom is "dangerous and wrong."