Mar 1, 2012 12:21pm

Fact Check: Obama Campaign Suggests GOP Wants Employers to Sign Off on Birth Control for Women

President Obama’s reelection campaign is circulating a new and not entirely accurate visual to illustrate what’s at stake in the Senate vote today.

It is an “Employer Authorization for Contraception” that is prefaced with the text, “”If Mitt Romney and a few Republican senators get their way, employers could be making women’s health care decisions for them.”

Take a look:

ht employer authorization contraception nt 120301 wblog Fact Check: Obama Campaign Suggests GOP Wants Employers to Sign Off on Birth Control for Women

The Obama Campaign

The visual is not entirely accurate. Senators today shot down the senate proposal that would have given all employers the right to a conscientious objection to offering coverage of birth control on religious grounds.

Democrats have said the proposal, authored by Sen. Roy Blunt, is an overreach and would give employers a new right. But there is no indication or requirement that employers would have to sign off on birth control coverage, as President Obama’s website suggests.

ABC pointed out to Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt that women can and do obviously access birth control with or without their employer’s permission. The amendment in question doesn’t “make decisions for them” anymore than employers already do.

“Not if they can’t afford it,” This puts decision in hands of employers who can decide not to cover it,” said LaBolt.

But Blunt said the Obama campaign graphic was inaccurate and no such employer authorization would required by his amendment.

“These blatant attempts to frighten and mislead Americans about this bipartisan provision are simply shameful. This bill includes the same conscience protection language that has been part of our law for almost 40 years, and it simply preserves and protects the fundamental religious freedom that Americans have enjoyed for more than 220 years,” said Blunt in a statement. “Any attempts to argue otherwise are simply aimed at scaring Americans.”

User Comments

the apology to the taliban over a book and building soccer fields for terrorists says it all.evrything thing this guys does flys in the face of logic. even bill clinton thinks your wrong about the pipeline.

Posted by: catman | March 1, 2012, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm

even bill clinton thinks your wrong about the pipeline.

Posted by: catman | March 1, 2012, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm

Not true. Clinton, Obama and the Republican governor of Nebraska ALL agreed the route laid out in the pipeline proposal was unacceptable.

Posted by: Jamie | March 1, 2012, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm

bill clinton said to embrace the pipeline. why cant liberals tell the truth?

Posted by: catman | March 1, 2012, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm

If this authorization is not true, then why print it. Democrats lIE, plain and simple, it’s in their DNA.

Posted by: Lizzie | March 1, 2012, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm

bill clinton said to embrace the pipeline. why cant liberals tell the truth?

Posted by: catman | March 1, 2012, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm

No, Bill Clinton said to embrace the pipeline once a decent proposal for an alternative route around the Nebraska aquifer has been submitted.

The proposed pipeline route was opposed by the Republican governor of Nebraska because of the route through the aquifer.

It’s simple to do the research catman.

Posted by: Jamie | March 1, 2012, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm

If this authorization is not true, then why print it. Democrats lIE, plain and simple, it’s in their DNA.

Posted by: Lizzie | March 1, 2012, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm

Because it’s what some Republican senators have been trying to do. They were unsuccessful, but they were trying. Time to vote Republicans out of Congress!

Posted by: Gillian | March 1, 2012, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm

jamie why did hilary publicly disagree with her husband over this yesterday. do your research. your research not obbable talking points.

Posted by: catman | March 1, 2012, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm

GILLIAN, none of it is true, you know it and I know it.

Posted by: Lizzie | March 1, 2012, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm

abc come on where have you buried the oil and gas price stories?? Ar you protecting Obama the god again? Wow left you really get the news don’t you.

Posted by: Jim Rod | March 1, 2012, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm

1. Why isn’t the press asking Obama about his statement, “If you like your healthcare, you can keep it.”
2. Obama made the statement, “His apology calmed things in Afganistan.” Why hasn’t the press shown us what is going on in the streets there? Are they suppressing coverage at Obama’s request? 2 MORE were killed today.

Posted by: wheresmymoney | March 1, 2012, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm

Posted by: catman | March 1, 2012, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm

I’m still waiting for Media Matters to send me an update.

Posted by: Jackie | March 1, 2012, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm

Democrats lied. Liberty died. What else is new? Vote these bums out in November!

Posted by: Jason | March 1, 2012, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm

jamie why did hilary publicly disagree with her husband over this yesterday.

Posted by: catman | March 1, 2012, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm

She didn’t.

Bill Clinton said to embrace the pipeline once a decent proposal for an alternative route around the Nebraska aquifer has been submitted. That is very likely what will happen.

The proposed pipeline route was opposed by the Republican governor of Nebraska because of the route through the aquifer, and the proposal was rejected.

A proposal for a new pipe route that doesn’t cross the major aquifer is being prepared by the pipeline company.

Bill Clinton was stunned the pipeline company was out of touch enough to put in a proposal with the pipeline going through a major aquifer.

It’s simple to do the research catman.

Posted by: Jamie | March 1, 2012, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm

Gas prices are necessarily rising due to oBama’s energy policy… who knew oBama was in such cahoots with the oil companies. So to distract anyone from noticing, lets start a fight over getting everyone to pay for contraception.

Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | March 1, 2012, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm

“The visual is not entirely accurate”

Priceless.

Posted by: Lee Moore | March 2, 2012, 2:01 am 2:01 am

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