The Louisiana governor, a self-described pro-life Catholic, argues in a Wall Street Journal op-ed (behind the WSJ paywall) that birth control pills should be available over the counter. Here's a paragraph cited by Austin Ruse at First Things:

As a conservative Republican, I believe that we have been stupid to let Democrats demagogue the contraceptives issue and pretend, during debates about health-care insurance, that Republicans are somehow against birth control.

Jindal argues that this policy would not only help the GOP with women, but it would be a blow against Big Government and against Big Pharma. He also seems to agree, in supporting the recent recommendation for OTC birth control by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, that this policy would reduce pregnancies.The move is part of the Republicans' ongoing, very public post-election soul-searching, of which Jindal has been a big part. And he seems to be prompting others, like Austin Ruse, to ask questions about what were once thought to be settled issues for social conservatives.But will this doom Jindal with those social conservatives who have been critical to electoral success for GOP candidates? He is also beyond the Catholic pale now, at least as far as the bishops go. So no white evangelicals and no Republican Catholics. Is that a winning formula?New York's Margaret Hartmann has more.

David Gibson is the director of Fordham’s Center on Religion & Culture.

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