Why Obama Health-Care Rule on Contraception Angers Catholic Democrats

by Michael Sean Winters Feb 10, 2012 2:24 AM EST

The president alienated Catholic voters when he tried to force religious institutions to cover contraceptives, writes Michael Sean Winters. NOTE: This piece was written before Obama announced on Friday that he will not force religious institutions to pay for birth control.

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When President Obama announced two weeks ago that he wouldn’t expand the narrow conscience exemption regarding contraceptives and abortifacients from the new health-care law’s mandates, I knew instantly that this meant I could not vote for him again. I’m not a one-issue voter, but some decisions reveal a great deal about a politician. And this revealed that there was no longer room in the Democratic Party for people like me, who had hoped Obama would make the party more friendly to those of us with religious concerns.

Pop queen Whitney Houston dies on eve of Grammys

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY | Associated Press – 1 hour 20 minutes ago

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice was ravaged by drug use and her regal image was tarnished by erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died on the eve of the Grammy Awards she once reigned. She was 48.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen said Houston was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton. "There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," Rosen said.

Pop Vocal Legend Whitney Houston Found Dead

By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Stop The Presses! – 10 hours ago

Whitney Houston WireImage/Tibrina HobsonToo many of us—myself included—are guilty of making insensitive jokes about the demise of Whitney Houston, her frail frame, loss of one of pop's purest voices, and battle with drugs.

But none of us are laughing now.

On Saturday, Houston's publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that the award-winning "I Will Always Love You" singer died. She was 48. The timing of her death, the eve of the Grammys, the biggest music event of the year, makes the horrible news even more tragic. According to CNN, Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. PT at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

WATCH Whitney Houston's music videos

The Beverly Hilton is the venue for the music industry's most prestigious pre-Grammy party hosted by veteran executive Clive Davis, who discovered Houston.