I’m with Tom Wright (comment #34). As such, what Coakley said wasn’t really wrong, per se… although it WAS a stupid thing for her to say.

(Rephrased: if a person has religious beliefs that prevent them from doing, in an emergency room, some of the things that need to be done in an emergency room, then that person is probably in the wrong job.)

The point is, however, that Coakley didn’t leave the choice with the individual. She didn’t say that such a person could make a smart choice and find a job more suited to them. She said that they “probably shouldn’t work in an emergency room”. She’s not just a private citizen with no power, expressing an opinion; she’s an Attorney General, and she’s campaigning to be a United States Senator. So when she says that, the implication is that she’d approve of passing legislation to that effect… and that IS wrong.

As I said at the beginning: it was a stupid thing for her to say. I don’t think she wants to close down Catholic hospitals. I do think, however, that she runs off her mouth too much.

respectfully,
Daniel in Brookline