GOP’ers, The Hyde Amendment, and an Alternative Universe

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As reported on NPR this morning, Republicans are pushing a lot of wind and spit over the false claim that the health care bill will provide public funds for abortions.

At first it was a mystery as to why Bart Stupak, the staunchly pro-life Democrat, and his caucus, insisted upon language that would band public funds for abortions in the first place. Any such language would have been redundant because of the Hyde Amendment, which has been in full force and effect since 1976, and bars the Department of Health and Human Services from funding abortions.

At the behest of Stupak and his cohort, and in return for their votes in favor of the health care bill, President Obama promised that he will sign an executive order reiterating what is already law as provided for in the Hyde Amendment. Curiously, the contemplated executive order really has no effect, since an executive order cannot amend or repeal a law passed by Congress. Restating the law in an executive order is fluff.

President Obama, I’m sure, happily fulfilled Stupak’s wish knowing that with, or without the executive order, nothing would be any different than it is. Pelosi picked up some much needed votes that allowed other Democratic members of the house to vote against the bill, and possibly avoid losing in their home districts in next fall’s elections. Stupak got the political cover he needed to vote for the bill and still be able to proclaim his anti-abortion credentials. And ultimately, the President was rewarded with getting to sign the bill into law.

Despite the foregoing, the GOP has declared that Stupak has damaged and compromised the rights of the unborn. Michele Bachmann, the Tea Party representative from up North, was quoted in the NPR report saying that, “If there is taxpayer funding of abortion, there will be 30 percent more abortions,” implying that the health care bill funds abortions. GOP representative Christopher Smith of New Jersey was quoted as saying, “We are looking at legislation that contains within it the largest expansion of publicly funded abortion in history.”

As is the modus operandi of the GOP, when reality doesn’t suit you, just make it up. Call white, black, and then complain how dark it is in broad daylight.

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C.H. McDermott

C.H. McDermott is a jack-nut doing what he loves best, which changes with each passing moment.
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4 years ago

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[…] Read More Infos here: madmikesamerica.com/2010/03/gopers-the-hyde-amendment-and-an-alternative-universe/ […]

14 years ago

“Restat­ing the law in an exec­u­tive order is fluff.”
You callin’ the president a fluffer?

Admin
14 years ago

I learned something from this discussion. Wedge welcome and hope you stop by again.

Wedge Macher
14 years ago

But see Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, March 28(pub date). If she has reported the facts correctly, Hyde Amendment appended to the HHS appropriations bill WILL NOT APPLY to Community Health Centers because the health care reform bill funds CHCs directly and not through HHS appropriations. If her facts are right, then her conclusion is also correct.

14 years ago

It’s pretty easy to know what the truth is, just believe the opposite of what Michele Bachman says.

Admin
14 years ago

I knew that the Hyde Amendment forbade public funding of abortions but began to doubt myself when I saw and heard the hue and cry that followed Stupak and his insistence on something that was already part of the law. Glad I wasn’t going nuts…

14 years ago

That explains some of the history behind it. I had heard that abortions will increase by 30% and also heard that they will decrease by 30% because of access to Health Care. Somebody is making up stats to further an agenda. Hmmm, wonder who it is??

(What? You have a fetish for absurd pornography??)

14 years ago

Illuminating! Thx for this!

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