WATCH: Abortion Battle Coming To Cable

The fight over abortion rights set off by a provision in the House health-reform bill is coming to cable on Tuesday.

The ad is from Center for Reproductive Rights. "The promise of health care reform is expanded coverage and affordability, eliminating denials of coverage for pre-existing conditions, and a new basic package of essential benefits," said the group's president, Nancy Northup. "Yet some in Congress are attempting to use the reform bill as a vehicle for banning insurance coverage for abortion services, coverage that millions of women have today."

The last-minute amendment to the House health care bill would prevent some insurance plans from selling plans that cover abortion even to women who pay with their own money.

The amendment passed 240-194, with roughly one in four Democrats backing it. It would be the most aggressive rollback of reproductive rights in a generation. As the health care exchanges created by reform expand over time, the amendment could effectively put to an end the practice of insurance companies covering abortion procedures. (This FDL Action post explains how that would happen, despite what the often reliable -- but apparently fallible -- PolitiFact thinks.)

The ad -- titled "It's No Joke" -- will run on D.C.-area cable networks and online.

WATCH:

Comments

[ladydragon]

MsMandy: I'm sorry but I didn't read the story about this woman on HyffPo, I saw her story in the Washington Post maybe about a week or two ago, and I think there was some mention of "mental illness" in the article. I want to first say that I am absolutely Pro Choice, that's right, it is and was her choice to allow herself to become pregnant over and over again, and then getting one abortion after another, whomever performed those abortions should have been paying attention to her mental well being as much as her gyn issues. Although I am Pro Choice, in my own personal view, I don't believe that this procedure should be used to resolve poor choices or as a cure where mental illness is an issue.
Chicagurl: you bring nothing to the table, go play somewhere else

[MsMandy]

Ladydragon, I agree with you about not using abortion as "a cure for mental issues", I was only trying to make the point that sane women would not choose to abuse the right to an abortion, therefore, I believe that this extreme case shouldn't be used as kindling for the pro-life fire. Unfortunately, in our society, there will always be someone who chooses the wrong path. I don't want women to have their choices limited because of one very unfortunate case that could be exploited by those that want to restrict a woman's right to choose.

[soisay]

To put this in prospective; child pronogrphrs use the internet so we should shut down the internet, and forbid video cards in computers (in America, but they will be available in other countries). Before the internet, such C.P. was sent via the mail, so we should eliminate the Post Office. They use federal funds and support C.P. This idea is ridiculous, a teeny-tiny portion of citizens abused these legal otherwise procedures and to deny it to the rest of America would empower the rich and punish the poor and be pointless in solving the issue; that itself is completely anecdotal in scope. That is a perfect analogy to the 15 abortion crazy lady who may or may not exist somewhere out there in America.

[OscarthePug]

The abortion debate as it relates to the pending healthcare reform legislation can never be resolved until and unless the anti-abortion proponents and the women's rights advocates agree on some basic principles. First, each understands and respects the other's point of view and that the different viewpoints are based on personal rmoral beliefs. Second, the rule of law prevails, absolutely. Third, there is no justification for gender discrimination. Fourth, all legal medical procedures are reimbursed by insurance and that an ala carte system is unacceptable.

Understanding that many good people believe that life begins at conception will be honored and respected when there is general acceptance that there also are many decent folk who believe that human life is sacred and it begins at some point later than conception. The courts have attempted to resolve this question and have arrived at a legal solution that has existed for 36 years. It is the standing law of the land and under that law a woman has dominion over her body and its reproductive organs.

Further, one's moral standards should not be imposed on society. Those moral beliefs are personal and individual. They are no different in their application than one's religious beliefs and most agree and accept the personal nature of religion.

The resolution and agreement then becomes the principle that your moral indignation does not trump my right to healthcare benefits and my right to health does not interfere with your moral beliefs.

[brooklyncitizen]

If people are "pro-life" they need to march against war and demand a ban on capital punishment.
Otherwise your argument is mute and ridiculous.Yet again no one speaks with forked tongue as much as the male dominated GOP.

[deezus]

That's why I don't consider myself "pro-life", I think of myself more as "anti-abortion" (in most cases anyways).

That way I don't have to thought of being restricted by some religious moral beliefs and can still be in favor of capital punishment or whatever else I feel like believing, if I want to :)

Not a huge fan of war, but... whatever.

[brooklyncitizen]

IC.

so more in favor of selective murder?

[dgventers]

Leftnuts: Save the criminals... K.ill the b.abies...

[soisay]

Making abortion illegal will only make them unsafe for poor women. Making drugs, liquor, guns, murder, speeding, kidnapping illegal did not eliminate them, only make them less prevalent and more dangerous, and the culprit more determined.. Such laws are "feel good" retribution when perpetrators will never be found (unless they turn up dead). The only way to save unborn children is to make abortion irrelevant. Do this through education, birth control, and adoption. Every child must be wanted.

[tomonthebay]

The Supremes said that there is a right to abortion, not that there is any right to have someone else pay for it. If this federalization of our health care gets shoved down our throats, I hope that Stupak survives. Welcome to government health care.

[brooklyncitizen]

Really? diana ross and the supremes?

[soisay]

Actually, welcome to the party of No. Welcome to teabaggers, and moustached posters, and birth denyers, and screaming screaming screaming. Government health care will save thousands of lives and thousands of financial disasters annually. It will end millions of hours of worry allowing people to return to productivity. It will remove an anchor from small and big business as they compete in the modern 'flat earth' economy. The fact is that zealots hijacked the banking bill to add a provision for guns in national parks, zealots have pocket filibustered HHS & surgeon general during an international flu epidemic, and zealots have now tried to alter the Hyde amendment from beyond simply prohibiting direct payments for abortion (VA, Medicaid, Medicare) to any payment for any hint of any relationship to any cause of abortion. The Hyde amendment has become like the Missouri compromise, an ugly thing which makes nobody happy; but if anybody tries to significantly alter it, the other side will be called to action. It is a good compromise when all sides are unhappy.

[floridafun]

good job of clear facts. thanks!

[brt929]

Let's stick to the facts shall, we?

There were no federal funds or subsidies going to abortion BEFORE the Stupak amendment, something you fools clearly refuse to acknowledge, because in reality this isn't about abortion, it is about control.

It will not go through, not on a Democratic watch.

I think we women will remember this next year, and Stupak is going to have a hard time keeping his seat.

[roald]

Have you read the bill and the amendment? The amendment will not allow anyone who covers the procedure from participating in the government program whether the procedure is included in that offering or not. You are not being asked to help pay for abortions. I am being forced to help pay for killing children and adults.

[Justdontgetit]

Abortion is a moral and medical decision.

Neither of which ANYONE has any business regulating.

[brooklyncitizen]

Ditto.

[dgventers]

>>Abortion is a moral and medical decision.

Ok, let the baby decide then.

[roald]

There is no baby.

[Nyla785]

I don't see why we cater to these ProLifers. They are free to live as they like, and not have abortions. What they are trying to do is stop OTHERS from having abortions, people who do NOT believe as they do. We should have shut these people down flat in the 80s

[VinceTeeter]

They are nor Pro-life, they are Pro-hate, and they especially hate poor women. Rich women will always be able to get abortions, and they can visit the wine country in the south of France on the same trip.

[dgventers]

>>What they are trying to do is stop OTHERS from having abortions

Nope. Trying to save millions of innocent lives that you feel are worthless.

[floridafun]

again...its your OPINION when life begins. not everyone shares your opinion. what other people decide to do is their business, not yours. your business is which choice YOU make..not what choice i make.

[Raster]

It appears the Dems and Obama have an electoral disaster brewing for 2010 mid-term elections.

[mongus]

Only in your dreams, teabagger.

[floridafun]

lucky for teabaggers bart wants insurance to continue covering viagra..

[Agentlady007]

Abortion is a medical procedure and should be available to anyone with insurance and treated the same as any other emergency operation. There should not be any kind of discrimination or legal rights activism in question as to why a woman has made the right to get an abortion or not. This is the same thing as a pre-existing condtion policy and should be treated the same way. The dangers involved with women who are turned away will be catastophic in comparison to the safety the women will receive if abortion becomes a choice by law. If any woman is not given a safe and legal place to have this done, they could risk their own lives. It may sound irresponsible to some people, unfair to the unborn fetus, but life is about choices, and at a certain undeveloped stage, this isn't any different than contraception. Some people disagree with this and think life starts at conception. I understand their point of view, but the safety of women after this choice is made should be considered just as ethical.

[RGMc]

Extremely well said. It's too bad more people can't apply such straight-forward logic.

[dgventers]

>>Abortion is a medical procedure

Otherwise known as the sl.au.ghter of innocent lives. Calling it a "procedure" to ease your conscience is your problem and does not make it any less barbaric.

[floridafun]

but war isnt the slaughter of innocents. so christiany to be so determined to protect an undeveloped blob of tissue that could eventually become a person..and toss the post-born to the wolves. your disgusting in your quest to control the masses and try to decide whats ok for me to do when it comes to a clear legal procedure..

[CNYObamaFan]

As long as we're refusing to allow money to go to things that are immoral, how about we allow people to opt out in their taxes for paying for two pointless wars? Pretty sure that these wars are far worse than a woman having to make a painful decision about how to handle her pregnancy.

[PWM]

I agree. I want to opt out of paying healthcare for our congressmen and congresswomen.

[MicheleCA]

I'm pretty sure that your position would be enormously popular right now!

[CanadianBeef]

The Stupak Amendment was ridiculous over-reach. What's next, no public funding for the repair of roads that pass women's health clinics? Because that could be seen as "supporting" abortion. Anti-abortion folks are trying, once again, to ban without banning, to violate the law of the law while pretending not to.

[MOCONSERVATIVE]

you should send that idea to Bart - maybe he can get it into the Senate version

[turfkiller]

Just a harmless resolution... declaring that women are women first and only then people.

[soisay]

Obviously, no woman that received a stimulus check can purchase an abortion this year or donate to any organization that provides abortions for those that cannot afford them. By Stupik's pretzel logic, any such payments would be "an accounting gimmick" but mean that federal funds had paid for the abortions.

[amluvinit2]

What about this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUBrFzc_NPs

[Ifticar2]

What about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxDBkvWzfBs&feature=related

[crzy]

When your unborn child of 19 weeks is Tesslynn's age of 3 years old and born to a mother on welfare - you'll be fine and dandy with this. You'll be an advocate for her. You'll make darn sure she gets taken care of so she doesn't suffer. You will uphold her right to be safe and sound. I'm counting on you.

[jjgg5]

People opposed to abortion can make the choice not to have one.

[CanadianBeef]

Excellent point! Fanned.

[MOCONSERVATIVE]

and the choice not to pay for yours

[Phxflyer]

You don't now, and you still wouldn't without this ridiculous rider.

[ZenDiagram]

We need more progressive pro-life Democrats to take their party back from the far left pro-abortion hijackers!

[Phxflyer]

Given that over 65 percent of Americans believe in a woman's right to choose, the only one hijacking the Democratic party are the anti-choice crowd.

[Ifticar2]

Link?

[christianmama4change]

actually you are extremely wrong on that - recent March 2009 Gallup poll shows 51% of Americans consider themselves pro-life versus 42% who consider themselves pro-choice.

Here's the link
http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/more-americans-pro-life-than-pro-choice-first-time.aspx

[CanadianBeef]

There is nothing progressive about wanting to control women's uteruses.

[MsMandy]

From the Democratic Party platform, 2008:
"Reproductive Health Care. We oppose the current Administration’s consistent attempts to
undermine a woman’s ability to make her own life choices and obtain reproductive health care,
including birth control. We will end health insurance discrimination against contraception and
provide compassionate care to rape victims. We will never put ideology above women’s health."

http://www.democrats.org/a/party/platform.html

[turfkiller]

Yes... democratic women for the republican stables.... need more broadmares....

Women are women first and then only people subject first to the rights of God and then to republicans and then their husbands and then their children and finally to themselves if they are done cleaning...

[applebutter]

The Pro life position is really an Anti-choice position.

There is no such progressive position as pro-abortion.

Progressives value a woman's right to make decisions with her doctor regarding reproductive health.

Some people think the govt should decide what's best for a woman. That's what I call misogynistic (or perhaps theocratic) fascism.

[joelaf]

Does coverage pay for vasectomy or tubal ligation? If you don't pay for folks who make proactive decisions, you pay for the reactive ones. As a man, I have no say in a woman's rights.

[MOCONSERVATIVE]

if you're a progressive, you don't have a say in anything

[Ifticar2]

Infanticide is not a reproductive decision.

[Phxflyer]

That assumes facts not in evidence.

[babeltek]

here, here. Though the original commenter does have a valid point in that we should be covering those procedures if we want to help reduce abortion as long as it is still legal.

[soisay]

If the state has an interest in the developing fetus, and the woman has an obvious interest in her personal body (actually, the most private of places) the obvious solution is to remove the fetus from her private controlled property and provide it to the state to do with as they will. When a fetus can be raised to life from a fertilized cell, outside a woman that does not choose to do so, think of all the saved fetuses. Until then, the only way to avoid killing unborn children is to make abortion unnecessary through education, birth control, and adoption. Every child wanted - plan parenthood.

[jimrs6]

Looks like a distinct faction in the Dem party between the moderate pro-lifers and the extreme left pro-abortion side.

[phoenixdoglover]

Nice recalibration of the political scale! LOL!

[CanadianBeef]

Yeah, what's an "extreme pro-abortion" person? Are there people who insist that all fetuses must be aborted? That makes no sense. Anti-abortion would be the more extreme position, since the law of the law is that an abortion is a constitutional right.