Obama dismisses pro-life concerns about health care reform
February 26, 2010
President Barack Obama brushed aside pro-life concerns about health care reform legislation during a bipartisan summit devoted to the topic.
“The Stupak-Pitts amendment-- which reflects the will of the American people on the issue of federal funding of abortion-- is supported by a bipartisan majority in the House, but was excluded from the president's proposal,” said Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), a Catholic who serves as House minority leader.
“Pro-life Democrats in the House have already pledged to vote against this provision,” he added. “Health care reform should be an opportunity to protect human life, not end it.”
“John, you know,” the president responded, “the challenge I have here, and this has happened periodically, is every so often we have a pretty good conversation trying to get on some specifics, and then we go back to, you know, the standard talking points that the Democrats and Republicans have had for the last year. And that doesn't drive us to an agreement on issues.”
“There is no public funding of abortion in these bills,” said Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), speaker of the House and a Catholic’ said. And I don't want our listeners or viewers to get the wrong impression from what you said.”
“Every version of the health care bill has contained multiple pro-abortion mandates and federal subsidies for abortion-- except for the version that was fixed by adoption of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, over Speaker Pelosi's objections,” responded Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee.
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Further information:
- Obama Challenged on Abortion in Health Care at Summit, but Dismisses Subject (LifeSiteNews.com)
- Obama Told at White House Health Care Summit Americans Don't Want Abortion (LifeNews.com)
- Pro-life leaders say Pelosi lied, again, on federal abortion funding (Washington Examiner)
- Dems may take shortcut in passing health overhaul (Washington Post)
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Posted by: imanxufan9901 -
Feb. 27, 2010 6:59 AM ET USA
And this so called catholic pelosi continues to run her mouth. Oh I forgot she knows everything. Remember 52 % of catholics voted for the media created messiah
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Posted by: unum -
Feb. 27, 2010 12:41 AM ET USA
To add to Teachable's comments - USCCB is supporting the "health care reform" bill with the exception of the abortion and conscience clause language. So, they are supporting a bill that taxes working families starting in 2011 with no benefits until 2015 - 18 (i.e. a middle class tax increase). Further, they are supporting a bill that threatens small businesses with tax and expense increases in the middle of a recession, creating economic uncertainty and reducing job creation. Is that moral?
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Posted by: William F. Folger -
Feb. 26, 2010 9:08 PM ET USA
Feb. 24 criteria “urged” by USCCB implicitly align with Obama’s point we can’t solve “pre-existing” without enlarged “coverage” which can lead to “affordable care for all”. USCCB knows this and so it makes their pledge to “continue to work vigorously” to ensure goals which could induce financial instability and then loss of subsidiarity – DANGEROUS. They owe sheep the frank admission that in TRULY shaky times, “affordable for all” can well risk freedom for all. “H-C-at-all-costs” can be immoral!
