Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Michael Sean Winters is not a right-winger. Michael Sean Winters of the National Catholic Reporter rails against the Obama administration for not providing a true religious exemption in their contraception mandate and also calls it bad politics. http://is.gd/WaNb1l Even Commonweal magazine published an ed... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. There is little room for dissent with Kathleen Sebelius in charge, says WSJ columnist Bill McGurn. He gives a shout out to the new CatholicVote ad in his column. (Subscription might be required). http://is.gd/gzNO77 Too soon to call it a comeback, but Rick Perry climbs up to 13% in the latest Iowa poll. Per... More

My, how the times change. Who would have believed even a couple months ago that Newt Gingrich would sweep CatholicVote’s Thanksgiving straw poll by a whopping 44%?! What’s propelling the Newt surge? My take is that many GOP primary voters are looking for someone who understands how the heck Washington works (or doesn’t) and who can explain to them in a believable way how he plans... More

During that aforementioned forum in Iowa, someone put out a water pitcher and glasses for the candidates. So as they were sitting down, Rep. Michele Bachmann took it upon herself to pour the water for everyone. When Frank Luntz, who was moderating, pointed this out, she replied: “I’m used to it, Frank. I’ve poured a lot of water in my time.” It is such a small, unimportant... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Newt Gingrich calls for a ‘humane’ policy on immigration, says he’s prepared to take the heat for his stance. (I agree with him on this.) http://cvote.to/8n Unfortunately for him, Newt won’t be on the ballot in Missouri. His campaign did not file the paperwork and pay the fee required in t... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Two major changes are coming to the British throne. The one getting the most attention is that sons and daughters of British monarchs will have an equal right to the throne. If approved, a first-born girl would now precedence over a younger brother. The other change would repeal the Act of Settlement of 1701... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. The National Journal, a political news magazine that is not conservative, noted that the Tea Party has infused the Grand Old Party with lots of minority candidates like Marco Rubio, Allen West, and Herman Cain. But the Journal noted: “The biggest roadblocks to these challengers often were within their own... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. The latest poll by McClatchy/Marist looks bad for President Obama’s re-election efforts. “By a margin of 49 percent to 36 percent, voters said they definitely plan to vote against Obama, according to the poll. Independents by 53 percent to 28 percent said they definitely plan to vote against him… Even... More

Anecdotal, perhaps, but here’s a story that illuminates something of the story behind the kerfuffle. Until you’ve seen a special photograph, Craig Wilson says you don’t know the whole story of Rick Perry’s HPV vaccine decision. “She’s happy as hell. I mean, she is just unbelievably ecstatic,” Wilson said. “Here she is on a beautiful ranch somewhere, ... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. It’s been 88 years since a non-Democrat won New York’s 9th Congressional District, held recently by scandal-tarnished Anthony Weiner. The New York City district covers portions of Queens and Brooklyn. But yesterday, pro-life and pro-family Catholic Bob Turner won the seat by a large margin, 54% to 46%. M... More