Compromiser-in-Chief No Backstop for Women's Rights

The House passed an "historic" health care bill Saturday night - there was much celebration on the Democratic side and the proverbial wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Republicans.

The bill was historic, all right. Along with the first federal abortion ban in history passed in 2003 (and affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2007), this bill went further than any action to restrict access to abortion in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade gave women the right to choice.

Unable to hold their caucus together, the House leadership went all in with reproductive choice as the bargaining chip to get a bill -- any bill -- passed. Never mind that it deeply undermined the rights of the majority (women) in this country.

The Stupak amendment, backed by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who lobbied heavily for it, eliminates abortion services from health care coverage altogether. Going beyond an earlier compromise that would have allowed insurers to cover abortion but not with federal funding, it bars abortion coverage not only in any public plan, but essentially in private ones as well. Insurers participating in health care insurance exchanges are prohibited from offering coverage at all, even if a woman pays for it using her own money.

The pro-choice women in the House put up a mighty battle, but there were not enough of them to win it. They were reportedly outraged and emotional, and broke off negotiations when George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, told them to get used to the fact that the House is now majority anti-abortion. The vote on the amendment (240-194) proved him right.

Women's groups are furious, though they're stopping short of outright condemnation of Nancy Pelosi and the House leadership. Instead they're calling on President Obama to refuse to sign a bill with the Stupak provisions in it.

Don't count on it.

The Compromiser-in-Chief signaled long ago that he's willing to look the other way on abortion rights. Obama's speech at Notre Dame last spring was all about "common ground" on abortion, but if you listened with half an ear you heard that all the concessions he mentioned had to come from the pro-choice side. And according to the New York Times, he "listened intently" to Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the Archbishop of Boston, when O'Malley told him at Ted Kennedy's funeral that the bishops wouldn't support any health reform with abortion coverage of any kind.

Well, the House (and the Senate is expected to follow) no doubt got the message, because they've "consessioned" away any hope of reproductive choice for women who need health insurance. I suppose a very tiny minority at the top of the income heap (maybe a few female bond traders on Wall Street) won't be affected because they can just tap into the fat bonuses provided by Congress for enough money to pay for an abortion if they need it.

As for the rest of us, our daughters and granddaughters, welcome to the new reality. You're now officially a second class citizen. The House of Representatives said so on Saturday night, and your President did not draw a line in the sand on women's rights when asked if he could live with it. He punted, saying it's a health care bill, not an abortion bill.

Unfortunately, that's the change we now can believe in.

 

Comments

[S1m0n]

Huh? The President isn't a party to any deal struck in the house. This belongs on Nancy Pelosi's scorecard, not the president's.

[Ellen Snortland - Huffpost Blogger]

Martha Burk is always pitch perfect. I'm one of her biggest fans. If you think this country, or its leadership, is pro-women's rights, think again.

Pre-natal, natal and post-natal care is one of the primary interfaces that women and girls have in their entire lifetime with the medical establishment.

I resent having Catholicism dictate health policy in this country. If I wanted to be a Catholic, I'd join up.

Be sure to read Ms. Burk's book, "Cult of Power." You'll have an astonishing trip through the actual gender apartheid that we live within in the U.S. and who's behind it.

[BarbaraKline]

I am horrified that women's rights are considered a bargaining chip in what may be a disastrous health initiative. It is great that we are working toward unversal coverage, but when universal coverage denies women access to critical heath care coverage and appears to be causing a huge dislocation in our ability to access affordable insurance and/or care, perhaps we have moved too quickly. Some leaders, including Pelosi and Obama, have lost my confidence big time.

[gjdagis]

The "choice" comes when a woman hops into the sack. I'm tired of paying for other peoples' lack of maturity and responsibility. Next thing that should be dealt with is the choice to over eat and continue to drive up health costs through the stratosphere !

[S1m0n]

This is a scripted pas-de-deux designed to allow some of the democratic holdouts to vote for the bill while saving face and generating some headlines. After a suitable delay, the amendment will be quietly pruned back out of the bill.

[gayleg]

"The pro-choice women in the House put up a mighty battle, but there were not enough of them to win it. . . . George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, told them to get used to the fact that the House is now majority anti-abortion. The vote on the amendment (240-194) proved him right."

This is exactly why women need parity with men in political office. Even ostensibly pro-choice men, I believe with one exception, didn't bother putting up a fight over this.

Men won't fight for our rights. They'll just say nice things while they ask for our votes and even pretend to be feminists when they run against women. We need more female Senators and Congresspeople and Governors, etc. and we need them now.

[BillZBubb]

I just have to laugh at all the women who said Obama was stronger on women's rights than Hillary Clinton during the primaries. Or that he was stronger on health care.

The Obama record is that he is not strong on anything. He'll give up a lot to get a little--or do nothing when faced with strong opposition. "Compromiser in Chief" is actually too nice. Obama gives away half the farm before the negotiating even begins.

Another blog leads with "I thought I voted for a Democrat!" Well, this is what the Democrats have become.

[Kassandra]

You just HAVE to laugh, huh? Think it's funny do ya?

[Simone]

I couldn't agree more. Many of us worked our hearts out to elect a Democratic President and Congress only to discover that they listen to the Catholic Bishops, Joe Lieberman and anti-choice Dems more than pro-choice women and men.

Message received.

[Simone]

The disloyalty among Obama and the Democratic leadership to the people who worked for their election is disgusting. If they would rather suck up the the Catholic Bishops who believe women are second class citizens and second rate human beings - well, they are no friend my mine.

Another part of the Democratic base not only being thrown under the bus, but beat up on the way down. It is disheartening.

[Grimmlok]

Huh.

Now straight women know what gays feel like every day. It's not pleasant, is it.

We're in this together, ladies.

[RPLinNYC]

Absolutely. Everybody is equal!!! What is particularly galling
is that Obama doesn't seem to grasp this aspect of civil rights.
He no longer deserves the support of women and/or gays.
I certainly will not vote for him again unless he cleans up his act.

[gayleg]

As if women aren't discriminated against all the frickin' time.

[Kassandra]

Wimmin have always been in the forefront of every civil rights movement. I was one of the first in forming the Gay rights group in my town in the 70's. Why don't you check your facts before throwing stones?
We worked for the black man we worked for gays we worked for the poor and we tried to work for ourselves.

"Now we Know" What crap! We've "known for 6000 years little boy

[BMS]

Obama signs a bill with this amendment in it, and he loses my support and vote forever. As well as the vote of every woman I spoke with today.