Speaking to a receptive crowd at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FK) took the Obama administration to task for its new mandate that religious organizations pay for their workers’ birth control.

“You may not agree with that [religious] institution, but that’s not the point. The point is, the First Amendment still applies,” said Rubio, “This isn’t even a social issue — this is a constitutional issue. … I know what the U.S. Constitution says about it, and what it says is the federal goverenmentt does not have the power to force religious organizations to pay for things that that organization thinks is wrong.”

Rubio told the crowd that the legislation he has penned — the Religious Freedom Act of 2012 — will ensure the Catholic Church can exercise its First Amendment rights.  The bill pits Rubio, who is considered a top candidate to be the Republican Party’s vice president, against Obama as election season heats up.

Rubio said Obama has divided the country and has “pit Americans against each other.”

“The president of the United States looks like he’s a good father, looks like he’s a good husband, but he is a terrible president,” he said.

Tags | Barack Obama, Joe Manchin, marco rubio