Democrats would nix healthcare over abortion

Reuters ^ | 3/4/2010 | Reuters

[mdittmar]

A dozen House of Representatives Democrats opposed to abortion are willing to kill President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plan unless it satisfies their demand for language barring the procedure, Representative Bart Stupak said on Thursday.

"Yes. We're prepared to take responsibility," Stupak said on ABC's "Good Morning America" when asked if he and his 11 Democratic allies were willing to accept the consequences for bringing down healthcare reform over abortion.

"Let's face it. I want to see healthcare. But we're not going to bypass the principles of belief that we feel strongly about," he said.

The Michigan Democrat held up House legislation last year until he was satisfied that its language prevented federal tax dollars from being used to fund abortions.

No specific legislation has yet surfaced. But Obama began a final push for reform on Wednesday, urging Congress to vote on the plan in the next few weeks even if it means passing the measure with a narrow Democratic majority and no Republican support.

[mdittmar]

Pelosi says she is confident concerns by fellow Democrats about a Senate-passed healthcare bill can be satisfied.

We shall see,money talks,and it's our money.

[Man50D]

The content for any federal version of health care is irrelevant. Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution does not specifically list regulating health care as a power granted to Congress. Therefore any federal version is Unconstitutional. The people are not bound to comply with any unconstitutional act of Congress. This is the point people need to drive home with their Congress critters!

[American Quilter]

Excellent. I support ANYTHING that will stop this government monstrosity.

[Chet 99]

The question is how far the pro-abortleft will bend in order to give Obama his “glorious” victory because it looks like the anti-abortion left is not going to yield.

[envisio]

As I said before, the bluedogs like their jobs and want to keep them.

[Uncle Miltie]

Democrats prioritize Death over Enslavement!

[OldArmy52]

The Dem “BlueDogs” have so little spine they make the Repubs look like supermen.

[Mr. K]

So it’s not the CREEPING SOCIALISM they object to?

[Mr. K]

Hey Democrats!! If you want to keep your seat switch parties and vote against this monstrosity!!!

[pburgh01]

And get this gem, Reid has already put down a marker that no matter what is promised no Hyde Amendment is on the table for ObamaCare period. It's why Pelosi this AM is whining in the MSM..."Let me be clear there is no federal funding of abortion". If she was sure she could roll Stupak she woud have said something like ..."Well we are working with the valuable and thoughful Congressman Bart Stupak..". Pelosi is going to make the call soon to the KosKids and MadiaMatters types to begin the blackmail of these wayard socialists. There is no way, no how she will allow a vote unless she has it in the bag. She schedules a vote and be very worried. Pelosi is going to hang out Harry to dry how so....

1. A few weeks go by and the votes are not there for the Senate version
2. Word leaks out that Nancy is looking at the conference committe route, to merge the bills.
3. Harry R finds out and is pissed, he knows 60 votes aren't there, but has no choice.
4. The bill is fasttracked and merged, the House approves the merged bill.
5. May it goes over to the Senate, 2-6 weeks goes by and it dies...game over OBamaCare v1.0

[Toaster tank]

Try Rapidly Metastasizing Socialism.

“So it’s not the CREEPING SOCIALISM they object to?”

[rlbedfor]

I was just thinking. Hopefully we are watching the death dance of the house leader and senate leader. Maybe the bill is alreayd dead and they are trying to set them blame at each other’s feet?

[yeetch!]

Good analysis. I have been trying to mentally reconcile the fake Obama proposals for healthcare which have surfaced during the last two weeks with the fact that there is no legislative vehicle for them under reconciliation. Going to conference would give a vehicle, but we assume if it goes back to the senate for approval that way it dies 59-41.

[Toaster tank]

Stupak (my congressman) will cave. He’s a progressive/socialist on everything except abortion & he’ll gleefully take a payoff.

[pburgh01]

I was just thinking. Hopefully we are watching the death dance of the house leader and senate leader. Maybe the bill is alreayd dead and they are trying to set them blame at each other’s feet?

Exactly! I have to admire the Weekend at Bernie's thing they have done with it, got alot of mileage out of it. See it's about politics, duh right, this whole Kabuki theatre, the whole calculus has been to shore up the kook base, the center is gone. Once Joe SixPack sees his $515 dollar paycheck go down to $456 next year after ObamaCare and the taxes and the Bush tax cuts expiring, they are dead, it's over. Add in the radical left leaving and it could be a total wipe out and super majority for the Pubbies and an Obama impeachment.

[fortheDeclaration]

The Senate Bill cannot be changed, so nothing can be added.

And the Democrat Senators are not going to put in anti-abortion language, they defeated that attempt in the Senate.

[AmishDude]

Unless Stupak is Bad Cop.

I do think that Obama would rather have the proposal actually fail to pass than have it die.

Usually, you don’t want to bring a bill up for a vote and have it lose, but I don’t think Obama cares. He knows his presidency will be a failure and all he wants is something. In this case, health care.

On the other hand, I get the feeling from the progressive caucus that they are tired of Obama’s nonsense and won’t go down with him. Plus, this bill is so bad (even to them) that they would rather blame the Republicans (and those wascally pro-lifers) and use the issue as a fundraising tool.

[chris_bdba]

They will tell them they will take it out and then put it back in before the Senate votes. Don’t be duped bluedogs if it is there it will stay in!

[rlbedfor]

Wishfull thinking maybe, but assume Pelosi does not have the votes. She floats the idea of recon out there to but the pressure on Reid to get the bill to a point where she might have the votes. Reid knows this will not work as he really never brought it up. He appears to always be sort of like he just thought of having sex with Pelosi when it is mentioned. This gives her an out. Now, what is the end game. I am not sure. Maybe someone can help out there.