Even Chris Matthews Questions Obama's 'Frightening,' Birth Control Decision
Even Chris Matthews, who famously gushed about the "thrill" Barack Obama gave his leg, is troubled by the President's "frightening" decision to force Catholic charities to provide birth control through health care. Discussing the issue on Tuesday's Hardball, the host sputtered, "...How can you make the [religious] teacher pay for birth control without losing their authority, their moral authority?"
Matthews didn't seem sure how to broach the subject. Talking to E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post and Susan Milligan of U.S. News and World Reports, he warned, "It gets to that interesting point to me, which is frightening, when the state tells the church what to do." (Interesting?)
Matthews took the Obama administration's decision to its logical conclusion: "If they start financing, under the law, what they are called to do, do they have any more credibility on the issue of birth control or anything else?"
He added, "It's a political issue. I agree. If you can make them do it, they can't teach it anymore. I'm just asking."
A transcript of Matthews' February 7 Hardball comment can be found below:
5:07
[Clip of George Weigel]
GEORGE WEIGEL: This has struck a kind of tribal nerve in Catholicism. Catholic Church has been beaten up for the last ten or 11 years and I think Catholics are tired of the government and others beating up on the church. That's, in my view, one of the political facts behind this rather extraordinary reaction across the Catholic spectrum.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: See, to me, I mean, certainly every woman I know has a view on this strongly, because women should have a right to make decisions, obviously. Men make them. Women should make them with equal power and equal rights. Obviously, that's not the issue. If I thought that was the issue, I wouldn't be, sort of, concerned about the way this has developed. I think it's a question of the church. Here's- I guess I grew up watching movies like Becket and A Man for All Seasons and seeing the church and state go to war with each other and being told stories from the Old Testament about the Maccabees, about people, families being told you got to eat pork. The state requires you to do it. It gets to that interesting point to me, which is frightening, when the state tells the church what to do. And then the church can no longer teach. If the church teaches it's morally wrong to use birth control, how can you make the teacher pay for birth control without losing their authority, their moral authority? That's what the church is afraid of. If they start financing, under the law, what they are called to do, do they have any more credibility on the issue of birth control or anything else? That's what I think is the concern here. It's a political issue. I agree. If you can make them do it, they can't teach it anymore. I'm just asking.
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Comments
go ahead...Make his day
Submitted by MidAmerica on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 7:23pm.
obama has really set up a poker game here.
There will either be a Catholic Church in America or obama. There can't be both.
he came to a fight and pulled
Submitted by jkwtrading on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:03pm.
he came to a fight and pulled a knife out , but left this gun at home. He has kicked up war words.
He will lose.
Submitted by Soldat44 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:05pm.
He will lose.
No, 44, he won't lose.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 8:20am.
He will "walk the decision back" as they so artfully say on the MSM, but if he gets reelected, he will do this and more. It is the "and more" part that should really scare the hell out of all Catholics and everyone else in this country.
If he reverses this, or does a better job of "delaying" it (he almost slid it by unnoticed), the Catholics will vote for his reelection, or at least enough of them will to put his sorry ass back in office. The Jews will do the same if he can hold off the showdown with Iran until after the election.
It's AFTER he is reelected that he will truly emerge as America's first Fascist president. That will be too late.
Stop him now, or we lose ... big!
Proposed edit to your comment.
Submitted by Morganfrost on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 9:50am.
Take out the words "a Catholic Church in."
why...
Submitted by MidAmerica on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 7:32pm.
..its.... its.. almost as if Mathews doesn't want to see his church destroyed. There may be some redeaming qualities in him yet.
He needs to choose. His
Submitted by Soldat44 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:10pm.
He needs to choose.
His Church or Obama. His salvation depends on it.
But....
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:31pm.
It's obvious that Matthew's salivation is reserved for Obama.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Kingfish---
Submitted by matthewdean on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:39pm.
:o)
MD
Now let Obama do this:
Submitted by daddysyk on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 7:49pm.
Force Hindu restaurant owners to OFFER beef. They don't have to consume it themselves, just offer it. And then require Muslim butchers to OFFER pork. They don't have to consume it themselves, just offer it. Then lets see if all the libs fall over themselves claiming this is not about religious beliefs.
I think this whole contraception thing
Submitted by bkeyser on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:00pm.
is a result of the progressive belief that religion is "quaint". No one really believes, you see, it's just a way to get family and friends together for a big meal and gifts. Yeah, there's some morality-based themes behind it, but morality is flexible and adjusted for the time and situation, and it certainly doesn't come from God. No, religion isn't a deeply held belief among people like raising taxes on the rich or eliminating "fossil fuels". THATS real religion folks; Catholicism and Judaism and Christianity are just for fun.
I can almost guarantee you
Submitted by Soldat44 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:12pm.
I can almost guarantee you that this is exactly how Obama looks at religion. He has none of his own, that we know of, if he does it's that New Age BS that seems to attract people.
Well, we know what Obama believes.
Submitted by Mike Bratton on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 12:19pm.
He told the Chicago Sun-Times, and has never walked it back, artfully or otherwise.
In a 2004 interview with Cathleen Falsani of the Sun-Times, Obama made it clear that his orientation learns to New Age, and is not at all Christian. Quoting him thusly, and like so: "I believe that there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people."
That's as devoid of Christianity as a worldview can possibly be.
--Mike
Good morning Mike
Submitted by cocodrie on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 12:36pm.
I bet you even cling to your guns. Obabble wants you to go hug a tree instead of that bible of yours. And when you're finished with that tree go buy a volt.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Progress to totalitarianism!
Submitted by Fredy on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:31pm.
Obamacare can be eliminated in one day by the next president.
All that president needs to do is to dictate that all insurance policies must carry free abortion coverage! Then the president should force all hospitals and clinics to NOT perform any abortions due to the costs!
In parallel, the president should go on tv and demand a bill to end Obamacare so that this kind of unreasonable activity can never happen again!
How long until Boehner, Reid, Pelosi, and McConnell produce a bill to end Obamacare?
- - - - - - - -
Totalitarian boots fit all throats!
Well Chrissy, you and your
Submitted by Dan Diego on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:39pm.
Well Chrissy, you and your MSM comrades have given him control of the press, destroying non-moslem religion is his next pillar to erase individual liberty and "fundamentally transform the United States of America".
Well, I guess we're going to find out:
Submitted by Rycher660 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:47pm.
Where Religion stands in this country. If Obama gets re-elected... than Religion is pretty much dead. If Religion goes... than what's next? McDonald's has to start selling Tofu?
There wont be any Tofu
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 9:03pm.
Or Mc'Ds
This is a ruse, people.
Submitted by djwolf12 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:55pm.
Good 'Ole Pap Matthews (Full of Smear) is playing up to the people he only plays to in an election year......Pennsylvania Democrats. He is playing the concerned card to get some attention from them, then hook them into thinking that it is still ok to surrender all religious beliefs and vote for his lord and Savior Barack Obama in the end. Don't doubt me, people!
~Huh
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 9:07pm.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: See, to me, I mean, certainly every woman I know has a view on this strongly, because women should have a right to make decisions, obviously. Men make them.
Really? So...if a woman gets pregnant and she wants an abortion, and the father wants to keep the child, he has a right to save his child from being killed? News to me. Not that you see many trying, but still.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/the-curse-of-adams-silence-a-mans-post-...
Sheesh.
Submitted by johnsonl on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 9:15pm.
Is there any voting bloc that this idiot Obamao won't alienate?
Nope.
Submitted by djwolf12 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 9:39pm.
He stated at a rally in 2008 that "He was no doubt a Progressive". Therefore, he hates everything that America stands for. If that labels me as demonizing one political party, then so be it. I have NEVER heard someone that labels themselves as a Progressive say that they are proud of America. They always say it sucks and it needs to be changed. Well, the "State" is injecting themselves into the Catholic Church with applause from the Media while the "State" is banning all things religious, with applause from the media.
Finally, the American sheeple pull their heads out of their bums
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 9:24pm.
...(well, at least some of them, anyway) when it comes to the true nature of this Christian-hating Kenyan Muslim commie fraud of a POTUS.
It's just too bad it's probably too friggin' late.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
⇒ Another Stupak Moment?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 9:42pm.
Bart Stupak folded on ObamaCare after making himself the standard bearer for Right To Life.
This President is capable of much more than we can imagine. He may appear to back off for awhile, but he'll be back with an offer that tickles the right ears.
Hide and watch.
Stupak
Submitted by djwolf12 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:09pm.
Stupak is what Stupak does......fold like a Walmart Tent and sell out the American People to a 2,000 page sack of lies that we didn't want in the first place. Well Mr. Stupak, I certainly hope that King Hussein paid you off with a nice little gift from the US Taxpayers against OUR WILL. Thanks, Douchebag.
The Face Of Obama Is Peeling Off
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:04pm.
He has no religion.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
⇒ He doesn't have a religion
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:14pm.
He IS a religion.
Reverend Wright
Submitted by djwolf12 on Sun, 02/12/2012 - 6:50pm.
Oh, he has a religion all right........ and it is the RELIGION OF HATRED, you know.......the one that this pee stream media protected Obama from all criticism in the 2008 election.
Chris has aided and abetted these authoritarian swine.
Submitted by Thalpy on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:06pm.
Chris has aided and abetted these authoritarian swine from the beginning, so why should this come as a surprise to him? Useful idiots have come to Jesus moments too.
Just imagine
Submitted by Ashrak on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:27pm.
what Barry would as a lame duck in a second term when he will do this in an election year!
but wait.....
He is doing this now so he can "backtrack" a bit and come out looking like he "compromised'.
The most transparent administration in history.
Indeed. See right through 'em.
Chris Matthews
Submitted by bobsmom on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 11:14pm.
should see "danger" every time he passes a mirror.
Oh!, please don't fling me in the briar patch
Submitted by thestalkinghorse on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 8:43am.
President Obama will lose in court (it's a slam dunk), but only after winning at the ballot box with the 97% of Catholic women who use birth control. Very cynical, calculated from the very beginning. He now has Romney, Gringrich, Santorum and Ron Paul working for his campaign.
Chris Matthews and his ilk will give this issue all kinds of coverage, it is practically a free campaign commercial for Presidnt Obama. They are going to do everything to keep the issue before the American people, including delaying implementation for a year, they will debate and give ground etc. Oh, then they will write a book, when its over, about how to win an election when you have NOTHING good to run on. Wake me when it's over!
"True Grit" - It Is Time For ALL Conservatives To Unite Behind
Submitted by im41 on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 12:59am.
Santorum -- Him on abortion... (birth control)
Christy
Submitted by John21 on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 11:36am.
Immediately went to his dressing room for a good cry, that he had said anything not supportive of his hero. He will then get drunk, and find someone not liberal to blame for this terrible crisis of conscience that he is undergoing.
His next broadcast will be back to 100% support and the blame will be on some conservative for this disaster.
How racist is that?
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 2:47pm.
"This has struck a kind of tribal nerve in Catholicism. "
Tribal nerve, really? That's not something we're supposed to be saying in this "post racial" era.
Thanks, E.J., for delegating the religious believes MILLIONS of people to nothing more than primitive tribalism, you elitist asshat!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Matthews Questions Obama's 'Frightening,' Birth Control Decision
Submitted by OldLeprechaun on Wed, 02/08/2012 - 3:50pm.
"It gets to that interesting point to me, which is frightening, when the state tells the church what to do." (Interesting?)
History has already shown us what happens "when the state tells the church what to do." In the late 1930's, an Archbishop who would later become Pope Pius Xll signed an agreement with the Third Reich. Although there were a few Roman Catholics who resisted Hitler - and paid with their lives - sadly, the majority went quietly along and neither said nor did anything to stand for their beliefs.