I so love to say I told you so.
On Sunday, after recovering from the intial reaction to the House vote, I cautioned that the Stupak Amendment created an impossible situation for Democrats. While Democrats were still drunk with jubilation over the Great Saturday Night Victory, I saw that the Victory was not so Great, although it did take place on a Saturday Night.
Pelosi could not have obtained the votes to pass the bill without including the stringent anti-abortion wording contained in the Stupak Amendment. And if the amendment were stripped out in conference (assuming the Senate passes something), Pelosi would lose these necessary votes. No Stupak Amendment, no passage.
But, the Stupak Amendment was anathema to the liberal base of the Democratic Party, which regards women's reproductive rights (i.e., access to abortion) as a core principle. Pelosi prevailed on Democrats last Saturday night to swallow that bitter pill in order to pass the bill, through a combination of arm-twisting, and nods and winks that the Amendment would be dropped later.
In order to pass something, so that she and Obama could claim an "historic moment," Pelosi planted an abortion land mine.
That land mine has exploded. Starting with rumblings from the left-wing blogs, the liberal Democratic base has taken up arms over the Stupak Amendment. Now Democratic House members are in full revolt, with over 40 members signing on to a letter that they would not vote in favor of any post-conference bill which contained the Stupak Amendment language.
Obama, with his usual emotional and political distance, is not taking sides on the Stupak Amendment.
Rather than pass reform in small steps, starting with issues on which there was widespread agreement, Pelosi and Obama have embarked on an "historic" attempt to remake one-sixth of the economy in one fell swoop.
In so doing, Pelosi and Obama have surrounded themselves with themselves again. And it is blowing up in their political faces.
So it's time for a song about how not to play the chess game of life, again:
UPDATE: Like I said, Bart Stupak: 'There Will Be Hell To Pay' If My Amendment Is Removed
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Related Posts:
In The End: No Public Option, No Abortions, No Pelosi, No Reid
Democrats Sold Their Party's Reproductive Soul
First Take On House Passage
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Monday, November 9, 2009
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Politico is reporting that Reid plans to put a ban on abortion funding in the floor version of the Senate bill. Of course, this could be a feint to appease the pro-lifers and any such provision could come out. Still, it makes it more likely that any bill that passes the 60-vote barrier and is reported out of the Senate will have the abortion ban, as does the House bill. In that event, it will one neat trick to drop the provision in conference and a miracle to get both houses to approve the conferees' bill after being rooked on the abortion ban.
ReplyDeleteI posted this over at Redstate. It is to the point. This is all about theft and control. The left will get over the issue of abortion, knowing they'll get it later---
ReplyDelete-------
This is all show, Kabuki Theatre, the goal is not abortion on demand, or helping uninsured. The dems know where the money is.
archer52 Wednesday, November 11th at 8:31AM EST (link)
This is a dance. They know once government healthcare is in place, in a year, or two years or maybe the next day, the abortion can be added. Maybe a little at a time, but it will be added.
Watching the Dems play with the Republicans is like watching a boa twist around a rabbit. The rabbit can struggle, but sooner or later, it is dinner.