Gay Group Raps White House on Discrimination Order

The nation's largest gay rights group is criticizing the White House for saying that an executive order barring discrimination against federal contractors would be redundant if Congress passes a White House-supported bill.

The Human Rights Campaign generally supports President Barack Obama and endorsed his campaign. But the group says it "couldn't disagree more" with comments this week from Obama's press secretary, Jay Carney.

Gay rights advocates want Obama to sign an executive order granting employment discrimination protections to gays and lesbians working for federal contractors. The White House wants the House to approve a Senate-passed bill extending those protections to all Americans.

Carney said if that bill passed, it would make an executive order redundant. But the Human Rights Campaign says unique protections for federal contractors would still be needed.