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Stupak Sticks To His Guns, Blames Liberals For Abortion Amendment
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)
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Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) says that House liberals backed themselves into a wall during health care negotiations, and got stuck with a harsher abortion amendment than they would have had if they'd just played nice. And now, he says, there's no going back.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Stupak says "Speaker Pelosi went to present [House liberals] what she agreed to with us, that it would be part of a manager's amendment.... [T]hey're the ones who insisted, 'No, Stupak doesn't get to go in the manager's amendment, we want it on the floor.' They're the ones who insisted on bringing it to a vote. They're the ones who wanted to vote against me, they were the ones who said they would win this vote."
If they hadn't rejected the Speaker on Friday night, to use their words, there would have been a less restrictive amendment that would have been part of the manager's amendment. They rejected that. They could not live with it. Even the less restrictive language. And therefore the Speaker came back and said, 'Bart, I'm sorry, but our deal's off. So I have no choice, because we made an agreement, I'm gonna have to give you an amendment,' and I said, 'Well, with all due respect, Madame Speaker, I'm not gonna send the amendment we agreed to, because if the deal's off, then I don't have to hold to that agreement, Hyde-lite, and I'm putting up the original Hyde language that I offered in committee, that Joe Pitts and I offered.' That's why it's called the Stupak-Pitts amendment.
Given this history, and given that his amendment passed, he won't accept any weaker language going forward.
"No, we're going with current law," Stupak said. "If current law is a class divide, then they must conclude that current law is too."
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) says Stupak's amendment netted the health care bill about 10 votes. Stupak is saying he'll vote no on the final bill if his language is weakened or stripped, but it will fall to leadership to make sure that they can keep that handful of members on board for the final vote.
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Viva!America!
November 13, 2009 12:49 PM
I'm so sick of EVERYONE and their fucking grandstanding and their freaking EGOS!!! And I'm not just talking about Stupak.
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jimbomoron
November 13, 2009 2:43 PM in reply to Viva!America!
Bingo! This moment in health care reform for Democrats is like a wedding day for a bride. Democrats have waited 60 long years for this moment. And now many Democrats -- by grandstanding that this or that provision they like or dislike is included in or excluded from the bill -- have to fight over who is the bridesmaid. It's a great way to ruin the bride's wedding.
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GoodFoot
November 13, 2009 3:19 PM in reply to Viva!America!
I so agree! People dying and fools
like Lieberman and Pitts (Stupak is just
a front man)grandstanding.
And then there are the poor dumb TeaBags
believing buckeyes a biscuit..
Sad.
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Docb
November 14, 2009 11:07 AM in reply to Viva!America!
I do not believe nor do I care how people say it got in the Bill.
The point is it should NEVER HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN THE FIRST PLACE.. The shenangans are all part of the Congressional 'pass the buck' BS. Stupak is a symptom of the intellectual wasteland inside the Beltway...Against the largest growing voting block in the USA.. WOMEN---please--that is less than stupid it is moronic!
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mans_best_friend
November 13, 2009 1:12 PM
When you find a piece of bone in your sausage you don't throw the whole sausage away. You cut out the piece of bone and keep the rest of the sausage.
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DA in LA
November 13, 2009 2:56 PM in reply to mans_best_friend
Unless of course, the bone will completely destroy your base and gut your fundraising.
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jfields
November 15, 2009 3:51 AM in reply to mans_best_friend
What do you do if you discover that fully half the sausage consists of bone with razor-sharp shards sticking out of it? This isn't much of an exaggeration. Pitts-Stupak renders the health-care bill actively dangerous to over half of the population (women) by curtailing their right to control their own bodies and receive necessary care.
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CT Voter
November 13, 2009 1:16 PM
and got stuck with a harsher abortion amendment than they would have had if they'd just played nice
Is it too much to ask of our elected politicians to, excuse my language, grow the fuck up and stop being so sensitive?
This sounds like his feeling were hurt.
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commie atheist
November 13, 2009 4:38 PM in reply to CT Voter
He's a fucking liar. He drafted his amendment last summer, and has been trying to get the language added to the bill ever since:
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=D619874C-18FE-70B2-A8B7BA392BA29949
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Orlando
November 13, 2009 1:21 PM
It's nice to know that officials elected to serve the public interests know how to avoid temper tantrums so that they can better focus on the overall health and safety of the public.
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ClosetLuddite
November 13, 2009 1:23 PM
It ain't about you, b*&^ch! What a simpering little ego-happy prick. I'm almost at a loss for words. How can anyone with a conscience play such childish games with such important legislation? What a douch!
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Acharn
November 15, 2009 3:27 AM in reply to ClosetLuddite
Well, if you look at his district, it's the Upper Peninsula and the northern part of the Lower Peninsula. I'm not too familiar with the demographics except that I recall a lot of Finns live up there. Evan so, I don't think they're gonna be that happy with this. On the other hand I hear he's not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, and he lives in the C Street House, which I think indicates he's kind of nutty anyway.
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Indie Pro
November 13, 2009 1:28 PM
Sounds like he's giving a bit of cover to the Speaker, since this is in his answer to, "What was it like dealing with leadership on this?", though the question was more expansive than that.
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Matt Jones
November 13, 2009 1:52 PM
Am I the only one that thinks Mr. Stupak is entitled to an opinion about abortion right after he can get pregnant?
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GoodFoot
November 13, 2009 3:46 PM in reply to Matt Jones
As a citizen, I resent vain, crusty, old men trying to get FAMOUS by DENYING me MY RIGHTS. Why don't we prohibit dried-up old prunes from buying Viagra?
Is it in the constitution for men to have to be rushed to emergency for priapism?
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Kuyleh
November 13, 2009 3:48 PM in reply to Matt Jones
No, not even then. He doesn't think that those of us who actually can get pregnant should have an opinion, so...He shouldn't get one, if the occasion ever arises.
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traitorjoe
November 13, 2009 1:53 PM
Thanks for the well-meaning criticism on civility Stupak because right-to-lifers have always "played nice" and debated with such respect for their opponents.
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Powkat
November 13, 2009 5:16 PM in reply to traitorjoe
Of course, like the guy who used to protest outside the clinic where I escorted. He liked to ask us questions. Most of them involved graphic descriptions of lesbian sex.
Or maybe the guy who chased a woman on to a city bus while screaming at her "Murderer! You just killed your baby! Do you people want a murderer on the bus with you?" (The bus driver threw him off a block away - he swaggered back boasting that he 'showed her.'
Or perhaps the guy who set the fire? Or the one who cut the electricity to the entire building, putting 2 other businesses out of work for the day.
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commie atheist
November 13, 2009 6:42 PM in reply to Powkat
They're just doing God's work. A vengeful, angry, jealous God, to be sure, but that's who they worship, and whose orders they follow.
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CranialRectalLoopback
November 13, 2009 1:59 PM
It's time for a postpartum abortion of CongressCritter Stoop-ack.
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SS247
November 13, 2009 2:03 PM
Why is Congress Narcissists not-so-Anonymous? You should be honored and humbled that you were elected to serve your district. Check your damn ego at the door.
Stupak says he's going to vote no on the final bill if they weaken the amendment language? Didn't he vote no on the first health care vote?Does he think he runs Congress?
Lieberman/Stupake for Schmuck and vice-Schmuck 2012!
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The One True b!X
November 13, 2009 2:14 PM
"If current law is a class divide, then they must conclude that current law is too."
This doesn't make any sense. Is it supposed to be "if this law is a class divide..."?
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AJM
November 13, 2009 2:23 PM in reply to The One True b!X
Hyde I disadvantaged poor women: the government covered their health care except for this aspect of reproductive rights.
Stupak is unduly influenced by his housemates on C Street. He thinks that fetuses are people and women aren't.
It is time for his district to ditch him.
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runfastandwin
November 13, 2009 2:21 PM
Who cares about Stupak. At the end of the day this will pass without the abortion amendment, they don't have the votes.
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lousgirl84
November 13, 2009 2:43 PM in reply to runfastandwin
I agree!!
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madmatt
November 13, 2009 2:29 PM
Cult boy should explain why he thinks Jesus approved of Hitler
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voreason
November 13, 2009 2:36 PM
Stupak is an embarrassment to Michigan.
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artgurrl
November 13, 2009 2:40 PM
Stupak is one arrogant S.O.B. What a jerk. He claims it's liberals fault that he made a stricter bill and yet, it is women that will suffer. It's time to purge the Catholic/Christian alliance out of the Democratic party before it is too late.
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lousgirl84
November 13, 2009 2:44 PM
What a goofy looking guy. If he didn't have a D in front of his name, I would have taken him for a rethug
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DKDC
November 13, 2009 3:12 PM
OK everyone, listen up - I come not to praise Stupak but to set the record straight in the interests of getting this issue settled and moving forward on health reform. I have no stake in whether Stupak or any other abortion amendment gets included, but I do have a deep commitment to getting health reform done.
First of all, it's the writer of this article that used the phrase "play nice," not Stupak.
Second, Stupak's story is correct - I know that for a fact. Pelosi had his sign-off on a compromise that many of you probably wouldn't have liked either, but it was less restrictive than the language that passed Sat. night. On Friday night, the pro-choice caucus rejected it, and it was that decision that led to Stupak getting what he wanted all along adopted the next day. Put plainly, the pro-choice caucus made a decision on Friday that totally bit them on the ass. Thats what this article is saying, and that's why the starting point is the current Stupak amendment, not the less restrictive language the pro-choice Dems could have agreed to.
Again, not defending Stupak here, but it's worth noting what really happened in the interests of getting people to realize that mistakes were made on all sides here.
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benny 4 facts
November 13, 2009 3:32 PM in reply to DKDC
I agree with you DKDC but I think real Democrats are just saying they are tired of Democrats acting like Republicans. This bill should have been past done and on the next thing with the number od Democrats in thw house and senate.
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Indie Pro
November 13, 2009 3:36 PM in reply to DKDC
the pro-choice caucus rejected it, and it was that decision that led to Stupak
Blaming the pro-choice people for Stupak actions. Priceless.
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VictorLH
November 13, 2009 3:38 PM in reply to Indie Pro
Straight out of Karl Rove's book of lies.
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Indie Pro
November 13, 2009 3:45 PM in reply to VictorLH
perhaps the pro-choice people were dressed provocatively
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Consumatopia
November 13, 2009 3:56 PM in reply to DKDC
So, why did they have to bring any amendment at all? Did the pro-choice caucus really want the vote that they got, or was that Pelosi's call?
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commie atheist
November 13, 2009 4:45 PM in reply to DKDC
So the pro-choice caucus rejected language that would restrict abortion funding more than the Hyde amendment already does, and because of that "mistake," they had to be punished by being forced to vote for even more restrictive language. Makes sense to me.
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Powkat
November 13, 2009 5:26 PM in reply to DKDC
Less restrictive is still restrictive. I am so tired of men telling us that we should let the state have a little control over our uteri for the sake of the greater good.
How about you support us for a change.
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benny 4 facts
November 13, 2009 3:24 PM
Come on Rep. Stupak you have had your 15 minutes. You had a chance to help the people of your district and this country you didn’t. Now climb back in your hole and do what you have done before this---nothing.
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VictorLH
November 13, 2009 3:31 PM
Who cares, the Bill sucks with or without the Stupak amendment. Its fitting that if it fails it can be blamed on Lieberman and the Catholic Bishops and their pawns Pitts and Stupak.
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DKDC
November 13, 2009 3:52 PM
"Karl Rove's Book of Lies"??? OK, you win - it's me, Karl, doing my usual TPM trolling trying to inject level-headedness into an emotional issue that sorely needs it in order to achieve health reform. You got me, pal.
You know what the difference is between some of you people and Joe Wilson? Not a whole hell of a lot....
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Indie Pro
November 13, 2009 3:54 PM in reply to DKDC
They didn't call you Karl Rove.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
November 13, 2009 3:58 PM in reply to DKDC
Trying to inject level headedness into a fight about abortion is like trying to break up a fight between lions and hyenas wearing a suit made of raw meat.
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again
November 13, 2009 5:55 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
lol - if I could laugh at this point
you are so right
i have actually made a similar comment before about the exact same topic.
I referenced approaching similar animal while wearing a giant steak taped to one's head
but I'll admit that I also laughed when I read indie pro's provocative clothing comment
Dear God, please deliver us.
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commie atheist
November 13, 2009 4:42 PM in reply to DKDC
"You people"?
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Indie Pro
November 13, 2009 4:53 PM in reply to commie atheist
it's a testament to his level-headedness
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Powkat
November 13, 2009 5:29 PM in reply to Indie Pro
DKDC comes for the provocative outfits us people wear.
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GTFOOH
November 13, 2009 4:14 PM
I thought Rahm was brought in, precisely to manage these mavericky members of congress. It's way past time for his four-finger bitch slap!
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ShawninMo
November 13, 2009 8:49 PM
Are they going to send them Rambo knives too? Just incase the baby is born alive. Oh wait, they just leave them on a table to die, don't they?
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Riggsveda
November 14, 2009 11:25 AM in reply to ShawninMo
Sounds like empirical evidence. Is that what you did when you had your abortion?
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ShawninMo
November 14, 2009 12:24 PM in reply to Riggsveda
I chose to keep my children. Of course, I wasn't worried about a child interrupting my going out and partying in the future.
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Riggsveda
November 14, 2009 12:59 PM in reply to ShawninMo
Then you have no actual evidence of the things you allege. Save it.
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ShawninMo
November 14, 2009 3:39 PM in reply to Riggsveda
There's undercover footage of a planned parenthood worker describing what happens and a planned parenthood nurse who gave an interview about it. I can't get the links to work, but they are easy enough to look up.
It happens enough for legislation to be drawn up to protect these children who survived choice. Save these children, not my comments.
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Nikkiru
November 16, 2009 7:32 PM in reply to ShawninMo
C'mon, I just know you can be more dismissive of women than that if you put some effort into it. Why stop at being underhandedly snide and passive-aggressive while insulting our intelligence with your unsubstantiated fairy tales?
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ShawninMo
November 17, 2009 7:47 AM in reply to Nikkiru
The MOST basic right a living being has is to be alive. Whether or not they have childen would rank just a bit lower, especially when choosing to take away the most important right that another person has.
From allowing living chilren to die, when they were supposed to be aborted to delivering all but the head and sucking out the childs' brain, would make choice supporters some of the most heartless members of our species. Denying it doesn't take away the guilt.
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Silence
November 14, 2009 1:33 PM
Why don't you folks simply step up your private donations to fund abortion? That would be the logical solution to getting rid of those you deem to be undesirables.
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