Strategery

The dust seems to be settling after President Obama's visit to Notre Dame. Cardinal Francis George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has offered praise to the President for mentioning conscience clause protections.

Here is what all of this comes down to: politics. Based on comments he made related to conscience clause protections (health care providers cannot be forced to do things that violate their consciences - perform abortions, distribute condoms/birth control, etc.), President Obama is forcing the GOP into a tough position. It appears that he is initiating dialogue by offering concessions. Should GOP leaders fail to respond, the party will be seen as far too rigid by many members. Should the GOP enter a dialogue and consider possible concessions, the far right extreme members of the party may leave. Either way, the GOP will lose some supporters. While those supporters certainly won't go the the Democratic Party, any loss of GOP members will only help the Democrats maintain control of the White House and the Capitol.

Let's see what happens.