Michael Gerson at the Washington Post responds to Andrew Sullivan's assertion that the Obama-Sebelius "contraceptives" mandate may have been an ingenious political trap that Mr. Obama set for religious conservatives: "Consider the implications of this praise. It means that Obama assaulted the core beliefs of some of his fellow citizens in order to lure them into politically self-destructive behavior." But Gerson does not think the mandate is the creation of "a Machiavellian monster, undeserving of high office."  The decision has resulted in negative political ramifications for the Obama administration from members of the president's own party and from high-profile religious leaders who formerly expressed their admiration or support for him.