Not only is this alleged bishops' suggestion the morally upright thing for all congressmen to do, it's also smart policy for the Republicans in particular. The misguided desires of us desperate political junkies aside, the duplicitous stratergery of voting against a good amendment to defeat a bad bill does far more long-term damage than any possible short-term benefit it may offer. Voting against a pro-life amendment would permanently alienate many values oriented voters from ever voting Republican again. Future Democrat campaign commercials would use the vote like a 26 second sledge hammer to destroy the Republican's pro-lifer support. Republicans should never risk losing their most ardent supporters by voting in favor of abortion.
“Voting against a pro-life amendment would permanently alienate many values oriented voters from ever voting Republican again.”
People who follow it enough to know they voted that way follow it enough to know why. This was a smokescreen, and deserved to be beaten.