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Birth of a Wedge Issue
Later this morning, the U.S. Senate will vote on Blunt amendment, which would allow employers -- if they have religious objections -- to not provide contraception coverage under the federal health-care law.

First Read: "This is one of those rare situations where BOTH parties are licking their political chops and are excited about creating a wedge issue. Democrats are eager to bring this legislation to the floor because they see it as infringing on women's rights. And for that reason, Democrats believe today's vote could hurt incumbent GOP senators up for re-election, like Scott Brown and Dean Heller. On the other hand, Republicans are eager to vote for this amendment because they see it as protecting religious liberty. And so they think the measure puts incumbent Democrats, such as Claire McCaskill, Sherrod Brown and Bob Casey, in a bind. And all of this is taking place over something that is hardly the top issue to American voters. It's really Washington at its cynically worst."

Meanwhile, The Note points out Mitt Romney took both sides of the issue within just a few hours.

"This won't be the last time we hear the Democrats attack Romney on the issue, but Romney may have done even more immediate damage to himself among some pockets within the conservative community who have more reason to question Romney's commitment to issues they care about."


Eric D. Schwerin
Rosemont Seneca Partners, LLC
1010 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Suite 705
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-1880
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com
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