First Read - obama-administration

Feb

2012

8:51pm, EST

Gingrich criticizes Obama's apology to Afghans over Quran burning

By NBC’s Alex Moe

SPOKANE, Wash. – Newt Gingrich criticized the Obama administration for apologizing to Afghan leaders after Qurans were burned at a military base.

“The president apologized for the burning, but I haven't seen the president demand that the government of Afghanistan apologize for the killing of two young Americans,” Gingrich told roughly 500 people at the Bing Crosby Theater here Thursday.

The Afghans, Gingrich believes, "do not deserve the apology of the United States” after an Afghan soldier shot two American troops at a protest that followed the desecration of the holy books.

“If Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, doesn't feel like apologizing, then we should say ‘goodbye and good luck.’ We don't need to be here risking our lives and wasting our money on somebody who doesn't care,” the former House speaker said.

Karzai’s office said Thursday that it wants NATO to put on trial those who burned the holy books.

The demonstrations began three days ago after people witnessed copies of the Muslim holy book being burned in a garbage pile at Bagram Air Field. Military officials said the burning was a mistake. The apology from the Obama administration came after the two Americans were killed.

Gingrich has been unrelenting in criticizing Barack Obama’s foreign policies. At his campaign event in Spokane, Gingrich called him “the greatest national security disaster that we've had in my lifetime."

Jan

2012

5:44pm, EST

Catholic bishops criticize Obama admin. rules on contraception

By NBC's Shawna Thomas

Follow @ShawnaNBCNews

The Obama administration announced today that a rule requiring “non-profit religious employers” to comply with the federal health-care law and fully cover contraception would stand -- albeit with a reprieve.

“Non-profit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, will be provided an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement released today.

This rule does not apply to churches or other places of worship. However, it does affect employers like religiously affiliated hospitals and universities that in the past have not included contraception as part of their health coverage. Such institutions were hoping for an exemption to this rule -- with groups like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lobbying the Obama administration forcefully on their behalf.

The Bishops released a scathing statement that said in part:

“The Catholic bishops of the United States called ‘literally unconscionable’ a decision by the Obama administration to continue to demand that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans.”

And Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York was quoted as saying: “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences.”

Sebelius said that the concerns of religious organizations were taken into account in the decision, and that the rule has no impact on existing conscience clauses.

“This decision was made after very careful consideration, including the important concerns some have raised about religious liberty,” said the Health and Human Services Secretary.

She continued, “I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services.”

Non-religious employers are required to fully cover contraception in their health insurance plans by August of this year.