They were pens, I tell you; not pieces of silver!

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Mar 24, 2010

When he signed the health-care reform bill, President Obama gave commemorative pens-- the traditional gifts for people who were instrumental in securing the passage of legislation-- to 18 members of Congress and of his administration, and just 2 outsiders. They were: Vicki Kennedy, the widow of Senator Ted Kennedy, for whom health-care reform was a lifelong crusade; and Sister Carol Keehan, the president of the Catholic Health Association, whose organization undercut the US bishops' efforts to protect human life and Christian consciences.

Altogether the President passed out 20 pens. Pens, I said-- not pieces of silver.

Today President Obama signed the executive order which gave Democratic lawmakers a pretext for supporting the bill. Although meaningless in fact, this executive order was explained to the public as a measure that would allow passage of the bill while satisfying pro-life concerns. Sister Keehan was not invited to today's signing ceremony.