'They totally caved [on Stupak] because they couldn’t find the votes for their bill.'

Saturday, November 07, 2009

BARACK OBAMA

Those better versed in the details of abortion policy will be able to offer a better assessment of whether the Stupak amendment really represents something significant to the pro-life community, or whether it represents a fig leaf or has loopholes. But to certain pro-choice Democrats, it represents unconditional surrender: Rep. Diana DeGette, Colorado Democrat, told the Post, "There will be no abortion, not just with public funds, but with private funds under the public option, and that's not acceptable."

Over at FireDogLake, they observe that pro-choice Democrats are likely to accept it rather than hold up the entire bill over it:

They totally caved because they couldn’t find the votes for their bill. Now they’ll try to jam it down the throats of pro-choice Dems. And they’ll probably succeed. A case in point: in discussing the Stupak Amendment in committee, Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) said it would lead to back-alley abortions with coathangers and said if it passed, he would “have a lot of trouble” voting for the bill. But when it came time to vote on the final rule, Hastings said “I am voting with history, I vote yes.” He’ll say the same thing when he votes to ban abortion coverage in the private individual and small group market by passing the bill tomorrow.

11/07 11:57 AM Share