Pro-Life Dems Warn Pelosi: No Support Unless Reform "Explicitly Excludes" Abortion Funding

U.S. News & World Reports:

The Family Research Council isn't usually in the business of praising Democrats. But it's giving props to 19 House Dems for writing to Speaker Nancy Pelosi to say that healthcare reform must avoid ushering in government-funded abortion.

Read the whole story: U.S. News & World Reports

Comments

[HHarvey]

I'm just thinking about people like the Octomom, who had eight kids she could not feasibly take care of on her own. I'm also thinking what happens when a person who is not exactly rich or even middle income, has to pay for their own abortions. I don't think it would happen and next thing you know it would drain the welfare system even further. Sorry to sound harsh, but that's the truth. Republicans love to hate the welfare system, but on the other hand they love to be anti-abortion. Will they take in all the unwanted children?

[Sepulchre]

Ok well my repsonse to this is insurance had never covered abortions so why would the public option plan cover them? Seems like a red herring.

[neverandalways]

Except for the fact that plenty of insurance plans do cover abortions.

[Weirdwriter]

They also cover birth control, Viagra, and some fertility treatments, depending on the insurance and their restrictions for "preexisting conditions­."

[CrzyRussell]

46% Cover elective abortions.

Abortiona aren't free now so if the public option didn't cover them wouldn't it be keeping the status quo?

[Drdemocrat]

good point.

most insurance plans do NOT cover abortions so i doubt the public option will either.

[Niasia]

Um yes they do. Know before you speak.

[SamKnause]

I wish religious people would leave their opinions and views to their selves. They try to be the judge and jury. They want to make laws, change laws, and write laws. There is suppose to be separation of church and state, but the religious can't seem to understand this and keep trying to force their views onto everyone using the government as a tool. They want the world to be over populated and for children to starve or they wouldn't be against birth control or abortions. No one wants an abortion. No one wakes up and thinks to day I'll have an abortion just for the heck of it. If there is a God let him judge, no one else has the right to do that. If religious people are going to keep getting into politics then they need to start paying taxes for their churches. They shouldn't be allowed to have it both ways.

[Weirdwriter]

There are plenty of people who follow a variety of religions but don't believe in imposing their faith on others. Any group of people with a belief system -- political, religious, hobby, etc. -- can turn dogmatic and autocratic.

When religion becomes about control, it becomes politics. There are many Christians who wouldn't agree with this small group with its narrow mindset. President obama and Nancy Pelosi, for a couple of examples.

[doctordoubt]

Take a small condo complex, maybe a hundred units. The association will be mainly comprised of blue heads, and they will try to pass a rule against anything any of them ever didn't like. Bird feeders, children, motorcycles. It's an attempt to create a comfort zone for themselves. How it affects others isn't their concern.
This is the religious right. It's about their comfort zone. Common sense and compassion be da##ed. The only way to negate them, is to change them. This we have done. Deal with it, get over it, and move on. There are laws on the books they don't like. Um, tough s##t. You had eight years, didn't do a thing except nearly bankrupt this country, so don't come crying now when it isn't your turn. We waited, we won.

[fedupinfla]

Something that men just don't seem to understand is that sometimes women have to make decisions that DON'T revolve around their wants, needs, or beliefs. SOMETIMES they have to make decisions based on what's best for THEM. There is NO equality when it comes to pregnancy. Sorry.

When you take away a woman's reproductive rights, you take away a basic freedom she has to determine the direction her future will take. You have reduced her to nothing more than a "vessel" with no more rights than a brood mare.

Well, you try looking into the eyes of a rape victim after being beaten bloody. You sit with her in court and hold her hand while she testifies and comfort her when she has nightmares night after night. You sit and cry with her when the stick turns blue and she agonizes over the CHOICE she has to make. Then you try taking her to the clinic where people scream at her and call her a murderer for making the hardest decision of her young life.

She had no CHOICE when she was raped.
She had no CHOICE when she became pregnant.

How dare ANYONE try to take away the ONLY choice she had left to make!!!!!

[apexfork]

Significantly fewer people disagree with abortion for rape cases than disagree with abortion-a­s-birth-co­ntrol.

[fedupinfla]

So what do you suggest? Should a woman have to prove that she has a "valid" reason before getting an abortion? Who decides that? Are you suggesting a woman has to appear before a judge with a copy of the police report proving she was raped before she exercises her reproductive rights??

People always SAY they're ok with it in cases of rape but they never think of it in that aspect. Is there going to be a panel of people that decide if a woman is "eligible" for an abortion?

[been2there]

Face it, the government must stay out of this. There is a right to privacy in the 4th amendment-- the state may not seize a woman's body for being pregnant. Furthermore, those of us who are pro-choice know that unless it is established as a principle of law that the state does not control this decision, there WILL come a time when the mother of a Down's child, or otherwise disabled child, is forced to abort. Protect choice, but work to reduce unwanted pregnancy.

[johnr49]

If you honestly think that women treat abortion as an alternative to birth control, you've obviously never spoken to anyone who's had one.

[IzzyIdol]

Are you saying that it is kool to abort the fetus of a rapist but not kool to abort the fetus of a player? What is the difference between the two? So you are not antiabortion, you are anti consensual sex.

[valkyrie607]

That's basically saying that abortion is okay, but only if you approve of the woman's motivation for it.

How will you find out her motivation? Who will give the approval?

Abortion should be a decision made between a woman and her doctor and anyone else whose advice the woman WANTS.

[medic628]

I don't understand that the majority of the pro-life people that I have run into are quick to send someone's child off to war. There is something wrong with that. No man has any right to tell a women what to do with her body.

[HerCabinBoy]

Egads. You mean the law telling a woman what to do with her fetus? Much more accurate now.

[medic628]

Let me repeat that. NO MAN HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL ANY WOMAN WHAT TO DO WITH HER BODY!

[who38]

It has gotten better. They used to be drafted.

[Ametista]

I am a biologist. The fetus is part of the woman's body until it is OUT of her body and receiving oxygen and food through some means other than her umbilical cord. The original wording "her body" was dead on.

[LiberalDemIda]

Have you ever seen these so-called "pro-lifers"? Not exactly the pillars of success within our society, are they? Most of them are abject failures in their own personal lives, so what else do they have but to butt in other people's lives?

[HHarvey]

Here here!

[LiberalDemIda]

Republicrats need to zip it and if they can't, the should all join the ranks of the Rushpublicans and see if they'll get re-elected to their cushiony jobs in higher government.

Democrats have long fought for the rights of the minority in this country, and aren't women still considered the minority? If the Republicrats don't get it, then they should get out and finalize the "R" in front of their names, but stop running as Dems only to turn around and vote for the ideology of the repubs.

[apexfork]

Women make up a larger percentage of the population than men. Only a liberal would call that a minority.

[LiberalDemIda]

Even a fool could deduce from my comment I was referring to social status, not physical body count. Only a repub would deny there's a difference.

[Paulied]

Aside from the continuing need for politicians to control women's bodies, this simply makes no financial sense. By denying funding for a $400 procedure, they are essentially putting the American taxpayer on the hook for a lifetime of medical expense. As an aside, what wonderful mothers those one-third of women who would have had funded abortion must be.

[who38]

Think they care. It is the control, Paulied; the control that counts.

[apexfork]

Some children grow up to be able to take care of themselves, so your "lifetime of medical expense" is a bit of a stretch. Unless, of course, we get Government healthcare.

[loki]

I dont care who does it, or how it happens. Pelosi is not good for America, and she really needs to find another job out of the public sector fast. She can take Reid with here. It would be great if most of the GOP went as well. Then maybe the American People can get some rights back

[who38]

Unfortunately, there is always a last car on the end of the train that will take up their cause. Murtha comes to mind.

[stunsitfel]

Ms. Pelosi has told the world she is a good Catholic girl so this should be interesting. Just like her flying to Rome (on our tab) after the election to get a half hour smack down by the Pope on when life starts.

This is the most dangerous person is Washington. Only CA could produce an egghead like this. What a load.

[LiberalDemIda]

Speaker Pelosi IS a good Catholic girl. Take a look at her large brood of kids and larger brood of grandkids.

The Pope is just another man. His flock overwhelmingly believe in a woman's right to choose as all polls indicate, so your name-calling and silly argument is out-of-date and baseless. That, my friend, is what makes an egghead.

[fedupinfla]

Since when does the POPE know when life starts?!?!?

[Ametista]

The bible says, TWICE, that it begins at the FIRST BREATH. Maybe the Pope should read the bible.

[who38]

More dangerous than some of the religious zealots that walk the halls of Congress and the Senate?

[HHarvey]

Pelosi is not my favorite person and really she should have not given the pope the time of day IMO>

[MissingAmerica]

I can't believe this archaic rhetoric is coming from the Democrats! Abortion is legal and in many cases therapeutic. Look at the unwanted children out there. Look at those who have been abused and abandoned. Further, let's point out that male enhancement drugs are covered under insurance plans. It's amazing that we are still so ignorant in this supposed age of enlightenment.

[AnnfromCA]

No, it's an elective surgery in a lot of cases. Probably, most elective surgeries will not be covered.

[anothervoice2]

Because HMOs want to save money. Calling it "elective" is such nonsense. It is medically necessary sometimes. And is painful and traumatic for both the woman and her partner.

[naschkatze]

Pregnancy and birth are also elective and they are not considered sicknesses. So should they be off the list too?

[fedupinfla]

I guess cancer surgery is an "elective" surgery too... After all, you don't HAVE to have it. You can always CHOOSE to die right?

[who38]

The majority of abortions are performed on married women in intact families. Don't know if this is due to a malformed fetus, unfavorable gender, or just an "oops".

[HHarvey]

Male Visectomy is covered under my plan and that is one elective I do not want to see abolished.

[ProtectTheBabies]

Pregnancy is not a disease, accident or virus. It should not be covered, just as plastic surgery is not covered. Having sex is an elective choice. If you're dumb enough to have unprotected sex, or fail to use two forms of birth control, you have made your "Choice" to get pregnant.
The rest of us do not want to pay for your stupidity. Be a mature adult and own up to your responsibilities. Carry the baby to term and put it up for adoption if you can't bring yourself to love it.

[stunsitfel]

Well said. However this lot is more into the rights of prisioners than unborn babies.

[anothervoice2]

There are medically necessary procedures. Losing a pregnancy is traumatic and happens to responsible, married women too.
This is such an ignorant, anti life comment, completely devoid of compassion or empathy for the woman.

[LiberalDemIda]

Better yet, anti-choice people like you should sign a pledge that if this happens, that when an unborn is carried to full term and is abandoned by its mother, YOU should take the child in and care for it as if it's your own. If you're not willing to pledge yourself to the well-being of the child, sit down and shaddup.

[KarenT]

But they won't commit to that as they are only interested in the life if it isn't born yet. Once it's born they are anti-life with guns, wars and death penalty.

[HerCabinBoy]

C'mon, Lib! Didn't you read? ProtectTheBabies is pro-choice. Anti-abortion is very different than anti-choice.

[miriamfl]

How about paying for contraceptive, pill, sex- ed (even though I think the classes should be segregated all boy or all girls) how about providing medical care for the unwed mother or giving them a hand noooooo.
Well many of us did not want our tax dollars to go to an illegal war in Iraq, which by the way will be over a trillion by the time it is over if ever. Which by the way has killed more americans than 9/11 hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and disable thousands of our young american soldiers. No one likes abortion but we do not want back alley ones either and we know the rich will always have access.

[fedupinfla]

Well then, if you smoke and get lung cancer, you shouldn't be covered since it was YOUR decision to smoke...yo­u don't even deserve an asprin!!

If you eat cheeseburgers and have a heart attack, you're out of luck since you CHOOSE to eat it...try a salad...

If you eat ice cream and get diabetes you're also out of luck...try the gym next time fatty..

If you drive and get in an accident, too bad, you CHOOSE to drive...tr­y riding the bus.

SEE how easy it would be to solve this??? Deny EVERYONE ANY kind of coverage since if you try hard enough, you can blame them for their "irresponsibility" and you & your precious tax $$ are safe.

[apexfork]

Yes, that's exactly right. Each person taking care of themselves with the free market providing insurance for catastrophic costs.

What's so wrong with that?

[bygollymissmolly]

Why should the government run health care program exclude a health issue that is legal and sometimes necessarhy to save a woman's life?

[AnnfromCA]

If it's life threatening, it's different. But boob jobs are legal. I can guarantee those aren't going to be covered.

[anothervoice2]

Yes, it is different from a boob job.
The comparison is so absurd.

[grooveygrover]

17 men and 2 women
the only people with the right to discuss choice are women
until men can become pregnant and carry a baby to term they have no rights or say in this issue, they are nothing but donors

[apexfork]

Tell that to the child support lawyers.

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

It doesn't really matter if abortion is included in the plan or not. The plan is worthless from the gitgo. It was designed by the healthcare industry for the benefit of the healthcare industry and will not do a thing to stop the out of control healthcare cost that is destroying this nations competitive advantage.

[ProtectTheBabies]

Amen. No form of public health care will ever pass, as our government cannot properly run Medicare, Social Security, or even Amtrak for that matter. The Dem controlled Senate & Congress cannot stay on a budget and are stealing money from Social Security and Medicare every chance they get.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN WITH SOCIALIZED MEDICINE ? - A debacle, leaving us all with worse healthcare than Canada.

[CJWebber]

Obviously you are not Canadian otherwise you would know their healthcare is far superior to your own. You are extremely uninformed. A puppet.

[anothervoice2]

"Protectthebabies"? Let me guess. "Pro life" as in protect the fetus. But adamantly opposed to any public social support once the baby is born - too "socialist" right? Hypocrite! Anti-life!

[fedupinfla]

Wow I never knew the Government ran Amtrak....

[Hermione1973]

And the private corporations are doing such a bang-up job? Please. Educate yourself.

[alwqb]

Why would anyone think abortion would be included in the health care plan? No insurance pays for an abortion so this is a non-issue. As far as I'm concerned, these Democrats are anti-choice and have no business in the party. Every woman hates abortion but it is no ones business what she does with an unexpected pregnancy. I don't understand the right wing male point of view. They have sex and could become a father every time. Have a tryst in college and the plans for your future completely change. Oh thats right, they get to walk away.

[CJWebber]

Well said alwqb.

I you happen to belong to an insurance plan that DOES cover abortion, and you oppose it, then go join another plan. It's a free country, isn't it?

If you don't agree with abortion then don't have one.

What a load.

[CR46]

My insurance pays for it now, and it pays for the senators and congressmans families.

[naschkatze]

If it's in the congressional plan, it should be part of a public option. What hypocrisy! Why don't the 19 and the Republicans refuse their insurance if it's such an issue with them?

[who38]

it's billed as a D&C.

[ProtectTheBabies]

"Unexpected" - Give me a break. This is what happens when you have unprotected sex. It's so hypocritical that the Liberal Dems will stand up for Sotomayor, gays, and the Gitmo detainees, but they refuse to protect the most vulnerable and innocent of all - babies. Planned Parenthood is a bunch of murderers for profit - nothing more.

[CJWebber]

Unprotected? Birth control methods are not 100% effective. Many women who get pregnant are using 'protection' of some sort.

Your standing up for the fetus means you are not standing up for the mother. You believe the fetus, which needs a womb to develop, is more important than the owner of the womb? What is wrong with you?

[LiberalBuzz]

Please take your Christian Taliban terrorist attitude somewhere else.

[anothervoice2]

And what happens once those babies are born? Do you passionately support govt funded social support programs to protect the life that is now born???

[been2there]

Women are people.

[Ametista]

Actually, if you are pregnant and there is something wrong with the baby and the doctor recs a termination it is done and paid for. Personal experience, although it wasn't neccessary.