It's bad enough when it's a bunch of older men dressed up in costumes arguing about whether or not women should be allowed to have birth control. But it's even worse when it's a bunch of males dressed up in costumes that, in a number of cases, covered up for pedaphile priests. The so-called "spiritual leaders" of the catholic church are living in centuries past, and it's a disservice to their organization if you ask me.

So what it comes down to Obama is this - is he hurt more than he is helped or helped more than he is hurt by taking the stance that women should be provided with free birth control as part of their health insurance policy?

The answer to that is pretty clear. Women in large numbers are going to take Obama's side over the catholic church's side. Obama is trying to placate them a little. Considering how Obama has capitulated on important issues to the left of the democratic spectrum in the earlier years of his term, it was a pleasant surprise to me when he didn't come out and go too far in trying to placate the criticism from the catholics and the republicans over his decision to require that birth control be included as mandatory for all basic female health insurance policies that will come under his new law.

But let's get down to the heart of the issue here. Do these old, white, costume wearing males, many overweight and out of touch, really want all the unprepared, unresourced females of the world having kids that will be raised with many obstacles - financial, social, and cultural? Do these catholic bishops and cardinals think that the earth can sustain an unlimited number of people?

I'm sorry, but that is just crazy! It's irrational! The earth is a finite body and has finite limits. If someone doesn't understand that, they are living in a dream world - a bad dream world.

This is a very small step that Obama is taking. It is very unlikely that it will make a big difference in the short term. But if it is implemented and the health care bill functions anything like envisioned, it could make a difference in the U.S. at least in a medium time frame. But to act like it is some kind of crime to be concerned and want to prevent these kind of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies, with potential parents that don't have the resources or the education to make good parents is hard to understand. It's like they are wanting baby factories. Well, they can raise them if they think it's such a good idea.

The criticism that Obama has gotten over this has been dominant in the mainstream press. However, in the real world, this is going to be a political wash for Obama, if not a benefit. It helps to solidify the base, brings more women over to him, and helps to further define the differences between he and the republicans. The republicans are just digging themselves deeper and deeper into the hole of being dogmatic to the point of rejecting reasonableness. That is their downfall.