Protests Over a Rule to Protect Health Providers

Nov 18, 2008 - By ROBERT PEAR Published: November 17, 2008 WASHINGTON — A last-minute Bush administration plan to grant sweeping new protections to health care providers who oppose abortion and other procedures on religious or moral grounds has provoked a torrent of objections, including a strenuous protest from the government agency that enforces job discrimination laws. The proposed rule would prohibit recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and other health care workers who refuse to perform or to assist in the performance of abortions or sterilization procedures because of their “religious beliefs or moral convictions.” It would also prevent hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices and drugstores from requiring employees with religious or moral objections to “assist in the performance of any part of a health service program or research activity” financed by the Department of Health and Human Services. But three officials from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including its legal counsel, whom President Bush appointed, said the proposal would overturn 40 years of civil rights law prohibiting job discrimination based on religion. - 18 Comments

McCain's Son

Apr 07, 2008 - I wonder if this will help McCain and change the peoples minds who say that McCain is just another Bush? Vocal on War, McCain Is Silent on Son’s Service Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Jimmy, Jack, Meghan and Bridget McCain on Super Tuesday By JODI KANTOR Published: April 6, 2008 One evening last July, Senator John McCain of Arizona arrived at the New Hampshire home of Erin Flanagan for sandwiches, chocolate-chip cookies and heartfelt talk about Iraq. They had met at a presidential debate, when she asked the candidates what they would do to bring home American soldiers — soldiers like her brother, who had been killed in action a few months earlier. - 13 Comments