Ron Paul blasts Obama, GOP rivals on contraception mandates

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) denounced President Obama's decision to mandate religious-affiliated employers who provide health insurance to cover contraception Thursday, arguing the decision was a "direct assault on the First Amendment" and painting his GOP race rivals as prior supporters of "government health care mandates."

“Forcing private religious institutions to pay for contraception and sterilization as part of their health care plans is a direct assault on the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty," Paul said in a statement. "On my first day as President, I will reverse this policy. Repealing the unconstitutional monstrosity known as ObamaCare is a major part of my Plan to Restore America."

Obama's decision has drawn outcries from Republicans, who argue the ruling would force religious businesses to violate their faith in some instances by providing funding for contraceptives. House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday that he would try to block the new regulation legislatively.

But Paul also argued that his opponents in the GOP presidential race had each, at times, promoted government healthcare mandates or funding for contraception.

“I am the only GOP presidential candidate who has consistently opposed the federal promotion, funding, and mandating of contraception and abortion.  Unlike Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, I never voted to provide taxpayer funding to Planned Parenthood. And unlike Mitt Romney, whose Massachusetts health care plan contained a contraceptive mandate similar to the one contained in ObamaCare, I have never supported any government health care mandates," Paul said. “When one compares my record with that of my opponents, it is clear that I am the only choice for Americans seeking a candidate they can trust to reverse the Obama administration's assault on their religious and other liberties.”

Romney's campaign has argued that the criticism leveled by Paul and other GOP candidates was unfair considering that Romney vetoed the requirement to force hospitals to carry the contraception while serving as governor only to have the state legislature override that veto.

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