Obama Offers Executive Order Fig Leaf – Stupak Accepts

Game over.

The deal, according to the Politico:

The White House and anti-abortion Democrats have reached an agreement to defusethe controversy over abortion in the health reform bill – planning a series of steps that will secure the support of Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and other Democrats to give party leaders the votes they need to pass reform, sources tell POLITICO.

Under the agreement, President Barack Obama would sign an executive order ensuring that no federal funding will go to pay for abortion under the health reform plans. In addition, Stupak will get to state his concerns about abortion funding in the bill during a colloquy on the House floor during the debate.

And then, Stupak and several other Democratic hold-outs over abortion will sign on to the bill, the sources said…

The EO can be viewed here.

I can tell you right now; this won’t be worth the piece of paper it’s printed on. There is no one in politics today who is more viciously pro-abortion than Barack Obama, and every statement he makes comes with an expiration date.  If Obama was willing to lie to the Pope to his face about abortion, he certainly has no compunction about lying to Bart Stupak and his pro life stalwarts.

Americans United For Life’s Charmaine Yoest says (via email) that the Executive Order Won’t Stop Taxpayer-Funded Abortion:

“Once again, the proposal to address the problem of abortion funding in the health care bill through use of an executive order is a tacit acknowledgement that the bill as it stands is pro-abortion legislation. Both the President and the Speaker have repeatedly denied this stark fact.

Furthermore, the AUL legal team has concluded that an executive order is not an adequate fix to mitigate the Senate bill’s establishment of taxpayer-funded abortion.  For example, an executive order cannot prevent insurance companies that pay for abortions in the exchanges from receiving federal subsidies.

In addition, executive orders can be undone or modified as quickly as they are created. President Obama revoked the Mexico City Policy, through the use of an executive order, and thereby allowed federal tax dollars to finance organizations that provide abortions internationally for the first time in years.

This fact, coupled with the Administration’s repeated endorsement of the pro-abortion lobby’s agenda, force any reasonable person to conclude that this bill will clearly create the largest expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion in American history.”

– Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President & CEO of Americans United for Life Action.

Mike Pence just mentioned on Fox that a court of law would throw out the EO since it would contradict the legislation passed by Congress.

Tom Price calls it “a pig in a poke” – you can’t override legislation with an executive order.

A clearly disgusted Doug Ross, cuts loose:

This bill fundamentally changes the relationship between the federal government and the people; and it does so in a despicably evil way. Health care will, there is no doubt, be wielded as a political weapon to reward and punish.

Congratulations, Bart Stupak and your so-called “Pro-Life” Democrat Caucus, you’ve sentenced the unborn generations of this country to misery, poverty and economic ruin. Way to stay true to your beliefs.

You aren’t pro-life, you’re low-lives.

But then, we already knew these guys were progressives.

An also clearly disgusted Andrew McCarthy concurs with Pence and Price about the constitutionality  of the EO deal:

The Susan B. Anthony List observation that EOs can be rescinded at the president’s whim is of course true. This particuar EO is also a nullity — presidents cannot enact laws, the Supreme Court has said they cannot impound funds that Congress allocates, and (as a friend points out) the line-item veto has been held unconstitutional, so they can’t use executive orders to strike provisions in a bill. So this anti-abortion EO is blatant chicanery: if the pro-lifers purport to be satisfied by it, they are participating in a transparent fraud and selling out the pro-life cause.

MORE:

AUL’s Charmaine Yoest sent out yet another emergency email:

I am writing to you from inside the US Capitol building. And I wanted to give you an update and also tell you about a special last-minute need for action.

Tension is high here in the buildup to tonight’s vote. As I write I can hear protestors outside. You may have heard the news reports that some pro-life Members of Congress are being offered a “deal” from the White House on health care reform legislation. That is true. In exchange for a “yes” vote on this bill, President Obama promises to issue an executive order that he claims will address our concerns about taxpayer funding for abortion.

Let me be clear, this will not prevent taxpayer-funded abortion.

Here is a statement I made to members of the press.

Here is detailed legal analysis from Senior AUL Action attorney Bill Saunders from today’s Washington Examiner.

Friends, please do NOT believe news reports that this fight is over. It isn’t over until the last vote is counted!

If you live in their districts, please call these eight Members of Congress immediately to encourage them to stand strong for Life. Let them know that the only acceptable way to stop taxpayer-funded abortion is a NO vote. Implore them not to take any “deal” on an executive order.
Please also take a moment to forward this email to anyone you know who lives in these districts.

Rep. Marion Berry(D, AR)  – (202) 225-4076

Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D, PA) – (202) 225-5406

Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D, PA) – (202) 225-6511

Rep. Mike Michaud (D, ME) – (202) 225-6306

Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D, ND) – (202) 225-2611

Rep. Bobby Rush (D, IL) – (202) 225-4372

Rep. Vic Snyder (D, AR) – (202) 225-2506

Rep. Bart Stupak (D, MI) – (202) 225-4735

Rep. Harry Teague (D, NM) – (202) 225-2365

Krauthammer (on Fox):

The EO is “worthless”.

Stupak’s cave is disappointing…

This is nationalizing health care. As of tonight, health insurance companies become agents of the government.

Obama will be remembered as the father of nationalized health care.

There will be a reckoning…..

Michelle Malkin:

Meet Dan Benishek, Stupak’s GOP challenger in Michigan’s 1st congressional district. His campaign slogan: “You deserve better.”

Another challenger: Linda Goldthorpe.

The Daily Caller: Obama’s executive order that satisfied Stupak does absolutely nothing

Via Ace, Mark Steyn: This Is Even Worse Than You’re Thinking:

Happy Dependence Day!

The boys at AoSHQ do not give up easy:

Drew: Last Chance To Kill Health Care?

Ace: Hmmm: 2/3rds of State Legislatures Can Force Vote on Constitutional Amendment to Repeal Health Care