Pro-life Dem Stupak: “It would be easier to fit a camel through the eye of a needle than to pass this bill.”
The Dem din is growing louder on the topic of abortion. Some good quotes in this CNN story tonight:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking at a news conference with advocates for health care reform, said… the House Democratic leadership has the votes to pass a health care bill – a claim that was immediately challenged by an anti-abortion caucus that fears the House bill will create a government-run insurance plan that covers abortion services.
“It would be easier to fit a camel through the eye of a needle than to pass this bill,” Rep. Bart Stupak of MI said. He claimed the abortion issue would cost Pelosi too many Democratic defectors to get the bill through.…
Stupak said he doesn’t want to block the bill, but wants to add language specifying the exclusion of abortion mandates before it comes to the House floor.
“Without an explicit exclusion, abortion will [eventually] be determined to be included in [the] benefits standards” by either Congress or the courts, predicted Rep. Joseph Pitts, R-PA.
Abortion rights advocates brushed aside the legislators’ concerns, saying that the issue of whether to cover abortion services would, in the end, be decided by individual providers.
“Reps. [Bart] Stupak and Pitts are obsessed with abortion, even though the health care bills don’t reference abortion at all,” said Ted Miller, a spokesman for the National Abortion Rights Action League.
Oh, really? Then what’s the problem with adding language to the healthcare package explicitly excluding tax-funded and mandated abortion coverage?
And Pelosi has the votes? Here’s a great response, a simple headline from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Bart Stupak is an emerging hero, taking a brave lead on the abortion issue in the face of hostile Democrat leadership. From CBS News tonight:
Stupak told CBS News that he feels confident that “a minimum of 39” democrats would join him in opposing the legislation proposed by House leaders should the abortion language not be written in….
[Attribution for photo of Pelosi at press conference today: Associated Press]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
“Democrat Stupak: “It would be easier to fit a camel through the eye of a needle than to pass this bill.”
Abortion is just the tip of the iceberg on this healthcare bill. Not to diminish the abortion issue, but, (as someone mentioned on another thread), let’s make sure Congress won’t cave in (and vote for this bill) once concessions are made for abortion. It would still be a disaster.
I hate American press. I really do. “Abortion rights advocates…” versus “those who oppose abortion rights.” If it were a right, then I wouldn’t oppose it. But seeing as how abortion is not a right but living without the hostile stares of the bigots who say, “I wish that you had never been born; you’re nothing but punks and the world doesn’t need anymore of you clogging things up.”
Stupid media. Stupid, stupid media.
Abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, infanticide it is all coming with this bill. We must stop it in its tracks NOW. I hope everyone signs up for the conference call tonight. We must not remain silent.
On another note, Jill. Excellent column. They are all good but your comparison to Neda was spot on and your wording took us right there. I hope you will be a part of the conference call tonight.
Let us all think of what we can do in our sphere of influence. Jill was nursing and minding her own business when she stood up for life. What if we all just took a stand and did not budge. I do get discouraged at times but I feel invigerated again.
Maria, thanks for kind words on column. You’re right. We all have a sphere of influence right where we’re at. I’m glad you’re invigorated. Me, too. Everyone is banding together. It’s so good.
Wait, I thought only The One was allowed to take unattributed Biblical references and make it sound like they are about himself? Isn’t it intolerant when others quote the Bible?
I think if nothing is done, we might face not only government-funded abortion but coerced abortion.
Your baby failed the mandatory amnio and has Down’s Syndrome? Well, we will pay for an abortion, but not for a birth. Your seventh child? No, you can’t add him to your insurance. We won’t pay a dime for his health care. But we will pay for an abortion. You don’t get your teenaged daughters their anti-pregnancy and anti-cervical-cancer vaccines? Well, until you do, you aren’t fit to have more children. We won’t pay for your prenatal care, including the shot you need to keep your baby alive. Here’s the number for Carhart, the nearest preferred provider of late terminations.