CPAC: Huckabee "thanks" Obama for birth control firestorm

WASHINGTON - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Friday "thanked" President Obama for creating a conservative firestorm over a new rule requiring employers to offer health care coverage to women that covers the full cost of birth control.

"You have done more than any person in the entire GOP field, any candidate, has done to bring this party to unity and energize this party as a result of your attack on religious liberty," Huckabee said on the second day of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.

While polls show the public mostly supports the policy requiring birth control coverage, the Catholic Church has led a fierce opposition effort that anti-abortion rights politicians have joined. This weekend, millions of Cathoics in the Chicago area will hear a letter penned by the head of the Catholic church in the Chicago region, which says church-affiliated employers "will not" comply with the new policy.

"In many ways, thanks to President Obama, we are all Catholics now," Huckabee said.

As first reported on CBS This Morning, President Obama is will make an announcement later today on the policy. Sources tell CBS News the White House will not back off the administration goal to provide increased access to birth control for women, but it will provide religious institutions additional details on how to comply with the law.

The rule is part of a broader rule enacted under Mr. Obama's signature health care overhaul requiring full coverage for preventive services for women. Houses of worship are exempt from the rule, and church-affiliated nonprofits, such as Catholic hospitals would have an extra year to comply under the original ruling.

Huckabee said Friday that the controversy over the ruling proved that the 2012 election will be about more than just the economy.

"One of the things the actions of the president... has shown us is that morality matters even more than money does," he said. "Where there is a nation that has lost its morals... we will certainly give up what's in our pockets."

Huckabee also slammed Mr. Obama for not giving enough of his income to charity.

"All respect due, he reported giving 1 percent of income to charity, and he wants to lecture me about being responsible as a steward of my resources?" he said, referring to Mr. Obama's statements calling on the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes.

"It is the job not of the government but of Christian believers" to help those in need, Huckabee said. "I'd rather give that money out of my own pocket than have anyone in Congress reach into my pocket."

[boondoggles]

The comments on this are unbelievable. The first amendment protects freedom of religion and I agree with it wholeheartedly. The government has no business forcing their ungodly beliefs on the rest of the country. Forcing the morning after pill or even forcing taxpayers to pay for people that use the morning after pill goes against my beliefs and the beliefs of many religious denominations. I see that there are many that side with this unGodly president but there are plnty that will vote against him come November. If he were not afraid of that he woulod have not told the miliatary chaplins to not speak about what his adminstration is doing. He apparently thinks he can play both ends against the middle. Coming from a president that should have been impeached long ere this. The man is becoming more and more like a dictator everyday. Ignoring the constitution. He needs to go back to school and take courses on what our constitution says and take tests to pass it.

[Jim-PA]

First off, why are we listening to the concerns of a church that knowingly aided and abetted a bunch of child molesters within their very ranks? Perhaps that is a bigger issue than the church's fear that contraception will lead to a shortage of altar boys. Let the GOP talk about that one if they need an issue.

Obama always seems to be one step ahead of the right-wing crazy train. every time it barrels towards them, he simply steps out of the way and watches as it goes over the cliff. They are still harping on this non-issue while he has moved on to things the rest of us actually care about.

I will say that the president has no bigger allies than the idiots, lunatics, and mustache twirling cartoon villains that make up today's GOP. Their incompetence is only equaled by their blind stupidity. They actually think that all they have to do is blow the racial dog whistle and undermine the country to win. The irony is that if Obama was the "usurper" they say he is, they would all have been executed for treason and sedition by now, and rightly so.

I can only hope that they keep it up as so far they are on track to put Obama back in the White House. No doubt they will be shocked to find that most Americans are not stupid, racist, taliban wannabes, but decent people. Real Americans will have their say in November and they WILL be taking out the trash. I just want to be there when Pelosi takes her gavel back. Do you think Boehner will cry like a little girl?

[noloyalisti]

I think that the government should require all Republicons to use birth control. It's so much cheaper than mass sterilization or lobotomies.

[Lindag10]

The Huckster has spoken: Birth Control (or lack of it in this case) is MORE important that anything else in the upcoming election. Wow!!!

[noloyalisti]

Since the Republicons couldn't even cause the country to fail when they tried they have to go back to wedge issues to have any chance.

Republicons can't even eff up right.

[antoniof123]

So it is okay for the priest to play with little boys but for the woman to get birth control.

Glad I left that crazy religion a long time ago.

[nazcalito]

I have this to say to Huckabee: Huckpatooie!

[2kids2dogs]

So, there's no objection to providing coverage for Viagra for the boys, but no contraception for women, and employment/insurance regulations apply to every employer in the country except for those that are religiously affiliated. GOP Sharia Law at its best!

[2kids2dogs]

So, there's no objection to providing coverage for Viagra for the boys, but no contraception for women, and employment/insurance regulations apply to every employer in the country except for those that are religiously affiliated. GOP Sharia Law at its best!

[mjlewis6]

Dear Huckabee:

You are the ideal VP candidate for whatever emerges from the GOP Primary.

Twist the truth if you can, but never fear the ultimate debate is the one you preach about...and you can second-guess answers into the middle of the night and get paid by MISINFORM POX NETWORK to stir up emotions of citizens 'less gifted' in the art of bias building.

YOUR stab in the back approach in politics is appropriate to the Republican Party and you deserve the minions and company of the likes of Herman Caine and Sarah Palin, not to mention the Governor of Arizona.

Please keep spouting about something you know about: the politics of lying.

As to the US Council of Bishops, embarking on saving the Republican Party on such a narrow shelf of political accomodation, they will vacate support shortly due to money, the very thing the Republican Budget Plan insures will not 'trickle down' to the poor and middle class for disposable income and giving to the church.

[polyrad]

Republicans do nothing but complain.