Stupak, working with GOP, trying to sink Nelson's abortion compromise

Politico ^ | 12/19/09 1:51 PM EST | Ben Smith

[BP2]

An aide to Rep. Bart Stupak (D. Mich.) coordinated opposition to a Senate compromise on the place of abortion in health care legislation this morning with the Republican Senate leadership, the Conference Catholic Bishops, and other anti-abortion groups, according to a chain of frantic emails obtained this morning by POLITICO.

The emails show that Stupak — who has so far remained silent on language accepted by Senator Ben Nelson (D. Neb.) and faces intense pressure from the White House to accept it — is already working behind the scenes to oppose the compromise.

They also demonstrate a previously unseen degree of coordination between Stupak and the office of Republican leader Mitch McConnell.

Stupak is the leader of a group of pro-life Democrats who say they’ll oppose the sweeping legislation if it uses government money to pay for abortion, while McConnell is firmly committed to killing the legislation. The fact that the two have made common cause against the Senates health care compromise will likely further infuriate Stupak’s Democratic colleagues in the House, and demonstrates his willingness to stop any bill that doesn’t pass his test.

“Guys - when will we see your letters of opposition to the managers amendment?? We need them ASAP!” wrote Erika Smith, a Stupak aide, at 9:23 this morning, less than an hour after the amendment had become available.

The email’s recipients included key staffers for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Right to Life, the Family Research Council, as well as Autumn Fredericks Christensen, aide to a top pro-life Republican Joe Pitts, and Lanier Swann, a McConnell aide.

A minute after Smith sent out her plea, Lanier reiterated it to the list.

“Nelson is telling people in the building he will vote yes. If there was any time to weigh in against this deal —- THIS IS IT,” Swann wrote at 9:24 a.m.

As of early Saturday afternoon, the groups had not released statements on the compromise.

Stupak, too, has remained silent, and Stupak aides, including Smith, did not immediately respond to questions about the email chain.

The manager’s amendment, which emerged after hours of negotiations between Nelson and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, stops short of the total ban on health insurance plans that participate in a new exchange system offering abortion coverage. Instead, it includes a provision that allows states to prohibit abortion coverage in the exchanges.

The amendment also requires that health plans that provide abortion services separate, for accounting purposes, private premiums and federal funds, and ensure that the federal funds don't pay for abortion services, a maneuver derided in the past by anti-abortion groups as a shell game.

The compromise paved the way for a Senate vote on President Obamas top priority, but the frantic emails this morning suggest the House may remain an obstacle.

[BP2]

Hmmmm ... a planned subversion by Pro-Life forces of ObamaCare?

[bigbob]

Don’t. Hold. Your. Breath.

[Carley]

Please pray for the unborn babies.

[stevem]

Stupak is the leader of a group of pro-life Democrats who say they’ll oppose the sweeping legislation if it uses government money to pay for abortion

Does he have enough votes to get the job done?

[Balding_Eagle]

From an article about Palin supportors: ""It repeats what the left claims is a characteristic of conservative Christians (“uneducated and easily led”)

It was proven true with the Republicans support of the Stupak Amendment in the House.

Not sure what going on here, but Stupak may be playing on the "easily lead" part again.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Don’t. Hold. Your. Breath.

Agreed! Bribery and extortion will rule the day!

Pick up arms and revolt!

[BP2]

The way they will try to get around Stupak in the House is via a proposed “two checks” method:

If you're buying insurance with help from the government, and the policy you want to buy covers abortions, you have to write two checks (or authorize two credit card transactions, etc.) for your plan.

If the plan costs $1000 a month, and the insurer plans to sequester $50 to put into a pool that covers abortions, you have to make one payment of $950 and a separate payment AS AN INSURANCE RIDER of $50.

THIS IS THEIR “END GAME” around Abortion!

So far, leading pro-choice Democrats in the Senate (Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Patty Murray) say they can “live” with this.

See more here:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/one-premium-two-checks-how-abortion-will-be-paid-for-under-the-nelson-compromise.php?ref=fpb

[genxer]

You know these guys are either really stupid ...i dont know but banning abortion on a state level will be over turned using roe.

I just cannot believe how corrupt these people where.

George washington won our freedom on Christmas Eve These idiots will give it away on christmas eve.

sickening. I just can’t even express that enough

[Frantzie]

Sad that a majority of Notre Dame and Kennedy style babby killing abortion blender Catholics voted for a Muslim - ditto 78% of Jews, plenty of Protestanst and other idiots.

Hopefully Stupak has the guts to stand in the breach.

Sadly most Americans are idiots who watching TV and paying for cable or sat TV - they enpower the people who will make them serfs.

[BP2]

More from link on Post 7:

We said all along that we wanted to ensure there was a firewall between private and public funds — this compromise achieves that.

We said we would not accept language that prohibited a woman from using her own private funds for her legal reproductive health care — this compromise meets that test.

And we said we would stop Stupak — which we did. Let’s be clear — we were both much happier with the Capps language and the language in the underlying bill.

But compromise was necessary to get a health care bill for the American people, and this compromise achieves that.

[freekitty]

Exactly. They are burying this country.

[Cacique]

btt

[Faith]

I just can’t even express that enough

I so thoroughly resent the fact that these godless socialists are attempting to do all of this during the week of Christmas. At a time when we all should be focused on the Savior's birth, we are being devastated by our country's death. I find it despicable beyond measure.

[OldDeckHand]

From the article...

"...Instead, it includes a provision that allows states to prohibit abortion coverage in the exchanges."

I think you're right. Given the judiciary's recent decision forbidding the Congress from de-funding ACORN, it would seem unlikely that they would allow the states to strip coverage of abortions from the insurance plans. This is language inserted only to placate the so-called pro-life Democrats, knowing full well it will be rendered moot by the state & federal courts.

[scooby321]

Democrats who scream about a provision is just paid off by Amrican taxpayers. Nothing here.

[Cicero]

Interesting speculation—who leaked this to Politico? Who’s the traitor?

Stupak seems to be the remaining hope to kill this atrocity. They can put total abortion back in when it goes to the Senate-House committee. Then they will only need 50 Senate votes to pass it, which they can easily get.

But they’ll also need a majority in the House to go along with it, and that’s where Stupak and his band come in. I think if they all hold strong—and not just Stupak himself—they could still kill the bill.

But as I’ve said from the beginning, Obama-Pelosi-Reid have trillions in pork and bribe money—our money—to use in order to get this thing through. And as far as Obama is concerned, the more they spend, the better, since he wants to bankrupt the country anyway.

[DoughtyOne]

I've been following the abortion debate for decades.  While I've followed it, I have been intrigued by the trail of little human body parts, leading to the feet of the leftists, their leaders, politicians, and judges.  There's little arms and legs, hands and feet, heads and hearts.  Oh look, there's another one almost intact.  Oh God, is that one moving?  Aren't we proud.  I mean let's take a bow folks.  Women have the God given right to do this.  Body parts, big intelligent women.  Body parts, big intelligent women.

You know, it's just hard sometimes to deny the obvious.  Women have won out here.  They deserve our respect.  40 million dead fetuses and growing, women have proven who is the morally superior being.  Even more important, they have proven who is the more politically powerful being.  Kudos babes.

There are movies made about the planet being destroyed by the acts of humans.  They're actually a hoot when you realize how absurd they are.  I know a movie that wouldn't be absurd.  It would show the trail of little human body parts.  It would involve a person alien to this planet.  It would involve Him condeming parts of the human race for what they have participated in.  Oh wait.

It's not a movie.  God will have His vengence on this.  You mark my word.

Members of our government elite, you have given women the right to destroy human life at will.  You have acted as if this was a right gifted from on high.  Well, I think you have sold women short.  Why should this right be limited?

I call for all women to be able to end life any time they like.  Today, as of this moment on, women should have the right kill anyone they like.  They should be able to kill their children, their husbands, their other family members, their friends, their boss, and even government office holders.  It is a matter of choice, and women should have it.

Killing human life is killing human life.  I've been on the wrong side for decades.  Women deserves choice.  I agree.

Women of the human race, I bow to your superior intellect.

You fought for equal rights.  You stood your ground.  You won.  And this is what you did with it.

I am so proud of you.

Be still little ones who still writhe in pain.  Yours is such a small price to pay.  Sorry women, I didn't mean to ignore you for a moment there...

They were women.  We heard them roar.  How appropriate.

Who knew...

[Ulysse]

Why a group of american citizens couldn’t sue Congressmen and the W.H. scums for political bribery and then crime against Constitution and against the american people?
Would be a kind of Class Action

[nhwingut]

He’ll fold just like the other cheap tents - Nelson, Lieberman, Landrieu, et al.

A Blue Dog is about as real as Santa Claus.

[shield]

Interesting...we’ll see...have my doubts