Divisions in White House on Obamacare

President Barack Obama’s former director of faith outreach has said that he “strongly disagreed” with the Administration’s 2012 plan to introduce a health-care mandate requiring all employers to provide birth control coverage including contraception and the “morning-after pill”.

Michael Wear, an evangelical Christian who worked on Mr Obama’s 2008 and 2012 election campaigns, also confirmed reports that the White House was divided on the issue, with Joe Biden, the vice president, and his chief of staff William Daley among those reportedly opposed.

In an interview with The Tablet, Mr Wear said the planned legislation failed to show adequate respect for religious freedom. “I will say there were some really serious disagreements internally at the White House about the mandate, especially on how it was initially approached,” he said. “I didn't think it showed the appropriate deference to religious communities; I don't think it showed proper enthusiasm behind finding the [right] kind of accommodation.”