You’d think the GOP’s ongoing, dogged push to allow any employer to deny female employees contraceptive coverage is an indication that Republicans take a strong stance on the issue.
But it’s not. On Tuesday afternoon, I asked Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) whether he could support a Republican presidential candidate who had required religious institutions to provide female employees with contraceptive coverage.
“I can’t imagine that being the only litmus test that I would want to put on a candidate,” he said.
The significance here is implicit. As Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney — arguably the GOP presidential primary frontrunner — signed off on the very same type of requirement that Republicans are attacking President Obama for pushing nation-wide. So while they’re trying to undo his regulation, they also know they can’t turn this into a black and white issue in the coming election. Because, of course, their own guy will have a hard time explaining away his own past views and actions.
