WASHINGTON - Even before the defense funding bill hit the House floor for debate Thursday, the White House threatened a veto.

There are plenty of polarizing items in the bill, including debate over its cost. But issues stemming from the repeal of "Don't ask, Don't Tell" are also surfacing.

Republican lawmakers are pushing for a measure that would protect the conscience of all armed services personnel who disagree with homosexuality.

"This is a legitimate conscience protection act," Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., said.

Akin said without such protections service members, including chaplains, could be demoted or punished for voicing their moral or religious beliefs.

A New York Times/CBS News poll released Monday night shows that President Obama's gay marriage endorsement could hurt him politically.

Most of those polled say the president's position will not impact how they vote. But 26 percent say they are now less likely to vote for Obama, and only 16 percent are more likely to vote for him.

Many voters also suspect that the president's announcement was politically motivated. Sixty four percent think the president changed his gay marriage stance for political reasons, while only 24 percent think it's because he actually thinks gay marriage is right.

Mitt Romney now has a 3-point lead on Obama in the presidential race. Experts say that in such...

The first Sunday after President Obama's decision to back same-sex marriage had pulpits and news programs buzzing.

In an apparent bid for readers, Newsweek on its cover boldly named President Obama the "first gay president." And Obama's support for same-sex marriage was on churchgoers' minds on Sunday.

"For right now, it's going to make a difference. I don't think [President Obama] is following God's words," Mary Thomas of Rising Sun Baptist Church in Baltimore said.

Her pastor, Democratic State Delegate Rev. Emmet Burns, said politics trumped Christian teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman:

"He's pretty much said that what you believe and...

Barely 24 hours after announcing his support for same-sex marriage, President Obama raked in the cash at a Hollywood fundraiser.
    
Actor George Clooney hosted last night's event and Hollywood turned out in force, showing their support by opening their pocketbooks and raising nearly $15 million.

Celebrities like Billy Crystal, Robert Downey Jr., and Salma Hayek all paid $40,000 apiece for tickets.

"I would suspect the story coming out of it is going to be a sky-high level of enthusiasm, driven as much as anything by this decision and the timing of the decision," political analyst Norm Ornstein predicted.

"The president is going to come in as a conquering hero...

Catholic businesses are challenging the contraceptive rule that requires health care coverage for birth control.

Legatus is a group of Catholic business leaders who have filed the suit in a U.S. District Court in Detroit.

The suit says the law imposes "violations of conscience on Americans who morally object to abortion and contraception."

They are suing the Obama administration to overturn the federal rule included in the president's health care overhaul.

The defendants in the suit are the Departments of Labor, U.S. Treasury, and Health and Human Services.

North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment that makes marriage between a man and a woman the only legal union the state will recognize.

More than 500,000 voters cast their ballots in the state's primary Tuesday. In the end, 61 percent voted to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman and 39 percent voted against it.

"I've read the Bible through 3 or 4 times and I think it's the thing to do," Richard Foard explained his decision to vote in support of the ban.

North Carolina is now the 31st state to ban gay marriage with a constitutional amendment. The state already has a law doing so, but this amendment effectively slams the door shut on the issue.

Hiring in the United States slowed sharply last month, with employers only adding about 115,000 jobs in April.

Now, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is using the less than expected numbers to attack President Barack Obama on the campaign trail.

With a fresh endorsement from former opponent Rep. Michele Bachmann, Romney has a chance to gain momentum with Tea Party voters.

When asked what she'd say to those who may be skeptical of voting for Romney, Bachmann said, "What I would say to them are two words: Barack Obama."

"I'm happy to get behind Mitt Romney's candidacy enthusiastically because, let's face it, if our country has a second-term of Barack Obama ... we...

Rev. Billy Graham urged North Carolina voters Wednesday to support an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage.

"Watching the moral decline of our country causes me great concern," said Graham, 93, who lives near Asheville. "I believe the home and marriage is the foundation of our society and must be protected."

His complete statement about Amendment 1 will be part of full-page ads slated to appear in 14 North Carolina newspapers throughout the weekend. The measure will be on the ballot in next Tuesday's election, May 8.

Graham's statement was issued by the Charlotte-based Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, led by Graham's son, the Rev. Franklin Graham.

Several states are suing the Obama administration for requiring religious institutions to provide contraception coverage for employees.

The Justice Department wants the legal challenge dismissed. Department lawyers say they have already agreed not to enforce the rule until August 2013. They have also promised to make changes to address the concerns of religious groups.

"With such a long time before the inception of any possible injury and the challenged regulations undergoing amendment, plaintiff cannot satisfy the imminence requirement for standing (to bring the lawsuit)," Justice Department officials said.

But state attorney's say the rule violates the First Amendment rights of groups...