Reply #17: Rob Boston at Talk2Action has more on the faith-based hiring and firing.

[madfloridian]

Backlash To Bias: Obama Inaction On Hiring Discrimination Gaining Attention

President Barack Obama's reluctance to overturn a Bush-era executive order permitting religious bias in federally funded "faith-based" programs is not going unnoticed.

The Los Angeles Times was quick to blast the president's inaction in a Feb. 9 editorial cleverly headlined "Thou may not discriminate." The newspaper labeled Obama's decision not to revoke the order an "unpleasant" surprise and called for quick corrective action.

"In exchange for government funds, faith-based programs must not impose a religious test on either those they serve or those they hire," asserted the paper. "Catholic Charities, for example, informs prospective employees that they will be considered without regard to religion. Obama needs to make it clear that other beneficiaries of federal funds will make the same commitment."

Yesterday The New York Times sounded a similar note. The newspaper even opined that Obama might not be "particularly proud of this omission," noting that he signed the executive order "away from the view of television cameras or an audience"