President Obama torn between promises to abortion foes and supporters on health care

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President Barack Obama

Washington D.C., Nov 10, 2009 / 09:18 pm (CNA).- President Obama’s statement that more work is needed on the place of abortion in the health care bill has caused concern that he intends to undermine the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which bars federal funding of abortion from the bill.

Speaking to ABC News on Monday, President Obama said that the legislation is “a health care bill, not an abortion bill.”

"And we're not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions,” he continued. “And I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test -- that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices, because one of the pledges I made in that same speech was to say that if you're happy and satisfied with the insurance that you have, that it's not going to change.”

Saying there are “strong feelings” on both sides, the president said there needs to be “some more work” before lawmakers can be assured they are “not changing the status quo.”

President Obama’s comments on insurance echo the concerns of Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, who on Saturday told her supporters that the Stupak Amendment could eliminate private health insurance coverage of abortion.

PolitiFact, the St. Petersburg Times’ fact-checking site, explored the claim of U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat who likewise leveled the claim that the Stupak Amendment puts new restrictions on abortion coverage in the private market.

According to PolitiFact, her claim is “misleading” because the amendment does not affect the entire private health insurance market but only the health insurance “exchanges” for those who do not already have coverage through their employer or a government program.

This exchange would serve “at most a small fraction of Americans.”

The charge that abortion coverage would be restricted for those who pay premiums with their own money, in PolitiFact’s view, was an even more significant “misrepresentation.”

“The amendment says that individuals buying insurance on the exchange may still purchase coverage that includes abortions as long as no federal money is used,” PolitiFact reports. “The people who would truly pay all of the premium with their own money -- and who would not use federal subsidies at all -- are not barred in any way from obtaining abortion coverage, even if they obtain their insurance from the federally administered health exchange.”

Some criticisms of the Stupak Amendment suggest its restrictions are “more severe and widespread than they actually are.”

PolitiFact did report that a stronger case can be made that the Stupak Amendment creates enough financial obstacles against offering abortion coverage that insurers may offer a single plan that excludes abortion coverage.

Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), said that the Stupak Amendment is the only thing preventing the health care bill from being “an abortion bill.”

“The phoniness of Obama's claim that he has been trying to preserve the 'status quo' on abortion policy should be evident to any observer by now,” Johnson argued. “In reality, the White House and top Democratic congressional leaders have been working hard to create a national federal government health plan that would fund abortion on demand, just as Obama promised Planned Parenthood."

The president has a record of statements supporting federal funding for abortion.

In a July 17, 2007 speech to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, he said that reproductive care is “essential care.” He proposed a public health care plan that all those who do not have health insurance can access.

“It'll be a plan that will provide all essential services, including reproductive services," he said, using a common generic term which often includes abortion.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is rallying its supporters. A Nov. 8 e-mail alert from the group said that President Obama campaigned on “a promise to put reproductive health care at the center of his reform plan.”

The organization urged its supporters to send the president e-mails to tell him “Now it’s time for you to make good on that commitment.”

Comments: 6

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Thecla St. Romain
Breaux Bridge, LA., USA 11/11/2009 03:16 PM EST

Mr. Barach Obama talks out of both sides of his mouth. He wants what he wants and will do and accept anything he has to do to get it. I have placed him in the hands of Almighty God concerning his thoughts, words, deeds and actions.

Published by: d,.smith
No. California, USA 11/11/2009 03:02 PM EST

Lying wanna-be politicians who promise anything and say what they think people want to hear, are sooner or later required to pay the bills. Well, Mr. Obama, the bill is due. Are you going to do what the majority of moral Americans require or bow down before Satan and give Planned Parenthood the stimulus pkg. it shreiks for?

Published by: Francis
Wareham MA 11/11/2009 07:50 AM EST

The RSVCE gives a more clearer version of this biblical text but I think most people will get it."And after their reign, when iniquities shall be grown up, there shall arise a king of a shameless face, and understanding dark sentences. And his power shall be strengthened, but not by his own force: and he shall lay all things waste, and shall prosper, and do more than can be believed. And he shall destroy the mighty, and the people of the saints, According to his will, and craft shall be successful in his hand: and his heart shall be puffed up, and in the abundance of all things he shall kill many: and he shall rise up against the prince of princes, and shall be broken without hand". (Daniel 8:23-25) Douay Rheims Bible

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass 11/11/2009 02:28 AM EST

President Obama is always walking a tightrope between the issue of abortion but his balancing stick is the abortion issue. He would do best to throw away the walking stick and spread out his hands to have God to guide him on his walk. His supposed idol Abraham Lincoln could do this as he was never torn between the issue of slavery in his time. Slavery was never right in Lincoln's day and it is an abomination of our times and inconceivable in our day. President Obama should trust in God and not special interest groups to guide him on all issues that fall under his jurisdiction. Abortion is is a tragedy not birth control. No one is banning a necessary surgical procedure. Abortion is the loss of a human life not a painful gallbladder that needs to come out. Discretion is to honor life as life is such a precious and unique force in the entire universe. To not believe this is to return to the attitude that allowed slavery in Lincoln's time and that is the sense that life is drudgery,futility and expendable. President Obama has the gift of a magnetic personality but to be a good President any President must have very high moral standards. Abraham Lincoln had these standards and is loved to this day because he did. For any leader "essential care "is to be a shepherd of the people as Christ is the shepherd of his flock of the faithful who loved him so much.

Published by: Richard Duncan
Boise, ID USA 11/11/2009 01:14 AM EST

When will people realize that giving up abortion for this bill was a pawn they were willing to sacrifice? Now with this health care bill in place, in the future they will get the abortion added. They'll just tack it onto a bill that must be passed. This type of thing has been going on forever. It is the old bait and switch. Promise one thing, get a consensus, and then once the main bill passes, modify it to what you want. After all, when you have a room full of worldly sharks running the country, why are we shocked we are getting bitten? How can we have belief that this group of amoral people will do the right thing? We cannot. All we can do is pray our rosary.

Published by: Craig
maumee, ohio,usa 11/11/2009 12:46 AM EST

The president said it is about getting health care that means that the babies in the womb are protected too. If it isnt about health care for everyone than the babies are not protected.health care for everyone is for the living babies in the womb to or if not it shouldnt be for you for we are all equal even babies are created equal just because they are not born yet doest mean that can't have any rights, If you believe that unborn living babies dont have rights than why should you belive that yoiu yourself should have any?..

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