Inside Politics: Obama stays with Scouts despite group’s stance on gays

NEW YORK — When it comes to gays and the Boy Scouts, President Obama and the youth organization he serves as honorary president have agreed to disagree.

The White House said Wednesday that Mr. Obama opposes the youth organization’s recently reaffirmed policy of excluding gays as members and adult leaders. He has no plans to resign as honorary president, White House spokesman Shin Inouye said.

The Scouts said in a statement that they respect Mr. Obama’s opinion and think “good people” can disagree on the subject and still work together to “accomplish the common good.”

American presidents have been honorary presidents of the Boy Scouts for a century. Mr. Obama became the Scouts’ honorary president in March 2009, shortly after taking office

Last month, after a confidential two-year review, the Scouts reaffirmed their long-standing policy, which has been the target of numerous protest campaigns. The White House didn’t comment on the Scouts’ decision for three weeks. On Wednesday, the press office issued an email to the Associated Press on the subject.

“The president believes the Boy Scouts is a valuable organization that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century,” the White House statement said. “He also opposes discrimination in all forms.”

NEW JERSEY

Romney crashes wedding site, poses for pictures

LAKEWOOD — Mitt Romney crashed a New Jersey wedding.

The Republican presidential contender’s motorcade rolled into a fundraiser Wednesday evening as a bride and groom were posing for pictures in the parking lot outside the hall in Lakewood. Several guests in yarmulkes who were standing around turned their cameras away from the couple, and a few chased the motorcade around the corner.

A Romney aide said Mr. Romney met the bride and groom and took pictures with them before his fundraiser, which raised $1.5 million. Guests to Mr. Romney’s event were advised that they needed to leave promptly. The wedding was set to start at 6 p.m.

NEW YORK

Romney aide: His plan would have covered woman

NEW YORK — Mitt Romney’s spokeswoman said a cancer-stricken woman discussed in a Democratic TV ad would have had health care under the Republican presidential candidate’s health plan in Massachusetts.

During a Fox News interview Wednesday, spokeswoman Andrea Saul said Mr. Romney’s Massachusetts plan would have covered a woman who lost her health insurance after her husband was laid off from a company taken over by the private equity firm Mr. Romney once led.

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