The Big Three networks' evening newscasts have all but punted so far [1]
on the 12 lawsuits filed on Monday against the Obama administration,
challenging the abortifacient/birth control mandate which is part of
ObamaCare. However, CBS actually followed up on their exclusive
interview of New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan on the regulation on
Tuesday's CBS This Morning.
Correspondent Norah O'Donnell confronted Press Secretary Jay Carney
during the Tuesday White House press briefing over Dolan's sharp
critique of the mandate on the morning newscast: "He [Dolan] said that
it's a 'strait-jacketing' and 'handcuffing exemption.'...Is that what the President is doing...strait-jacketing and hand-cuffing religious institutions?" O'Donnell's question didn't make it on the air on Tuesday's CBS Evening News or Wednesday's CBS This Morning, even after Carney evaded directly answering her question.
CBSNews.com
did report on the White House correspondent's exchange with the press
secretary. Online producer Christine Delargy outlined in her Tuesday
evening post, "White House responds to Cardinal Dolan, says Obama's health care policy 'respects religious liberty' [2]",
that "the White House responded on Tuesday to accusations by Cardinal
Timothy M. Dolan that the Obama administration was 'handcuffing' the
Catholic church and religious institutions with its policies on health
care coverage for contraception....Though Carney would not directly comment on the merit of the suit, he said Mr. Obama is aware of the 'important role' religious institutions play in society."
The network stood out among the Big Three in covering the lawsuits, but
that's not saying much. Outside of the six-minute interview of the New
York cardinal, CBS merely gave a 19-second news brief [3] on the litigation on Monday's CBS Evening News. Earlier that day, NBC allowed a 20-second brief on Today. ABC has yet to cover it on the air.
The transcript of Norah O'Donnell's questions to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney during the Tuesday press briefing:
NORAH O'DONNELL: On contraception, as you know, Catholic institutions
are now suing the administration, and they said that the administration
is stifling religious freedom by defining who's exempt from providing
contraception. Cardinal Dolan was on CBS This Morning, and he said that
it's a 'strait-jacketing' and 'handcuffing exemption.' Any response to
Cardinal Dolan's comments? Is that what the President is doing - is
strait-jacketing and hand-cuffing religious institutions?
JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Well, Norah, the administration has worked closely with all
communities of faith, including officials from Notre Dame and other
Catholic institutions, to hear their concerns and promote the common
good, and our doors remain open to faith community leaders.
As you know, the President - the policy the President has - the policy
of the President outlines - or rather, that he has outlined, meets two
important objectives: one, it ensures that women have access to
important preventive services, including contraception; two, it respects
religious liberty. No - under this policy, no religious university or
religious organization will have to pay for or refer for contraceptive
services, and no religious institution will have to provide these
services directly.
We will continue to work to develop final rules that implement that
policy, and as we do, we'll continue to ensure that millions of American
women receive the preventative services that they need.
O'DONNELL: So do you think their suit is meritless?
CARNEY: Well, I can't comment on a specific lawsuit. I can simply tell
you what the President's policy is, and remind you that the President
has worked with leaders of religious institutions on this issue. He has
instructed his team to do that, and we'll continue to do so as we take
further steps to implementing this rule. But let's be clear: the
objective that the President outlined is twofold: one, ensure that women
across America receive these important preventive services, including
contraception; and two, respect religious liberty.
You know, the President, as he's reminded you, began his first job in
Chicago in a position that was funded, in part, by Catholic charities or
Catholic institutions. So, he is very well aware of the important role
that institutions like that play in our society; that the fact that they
can provide services that can be more helpful than any government
program, as he has said. He believes strongly in religious liberty and
the need to protect it. He also believes strongly in the need to give
women access to and provide preventive services that are essential,
including contraception. And the policy the President put in place
meets those objectives.