Paul Ryan’s floor speech, on this ill-fated night:
I’m not kidding. This man is so brilliant, conservative, and appealing, I would vote for him in heartbeat. If anyone can begin to lead us out of this horrific mess, it’s him.
Hat tip: Allahpundit, who’s valiantly keeping a stiff upper lip over at Hot Air with some non-pessimistic links.
For the many of us who were not able to be there:
Thanks to Project Shining City for putting that together.
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.
“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…..
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
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
The US Bishops, who only recently came out against the bill, have issued a final, urgent plea to prevent the passage of Obamcare:
In a final, urgent plea to prevent the passage of the current form of the Senate health care bill, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on Saturday evening sent a letter to Congressmen asking them to vote “no.”
“For decades,” the letter says, “the United States Catholic bishops have supported universal health care. The Catholic Church teaches that health care is a basic human right, essential for human life and dignity.”
“Our community of faith,” the bishops continue, “provides health care to millions, purchases health care for tens of thousands and addresses the failings of our health care system in our parishes, emergency rooms and shelters. This is why we as bishops continue to insist that health care reform which truly protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all is a moral imperative and an urgent national priority.”
Nevertheless, they add, “we are convinced that the Senate legislation now presented to the House of Representatives on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis sadly fails this test and ought to be opposed.”
The letter is signed by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Chairman of the Committee of Pro-life Activities; Bishop William F. Murphy, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; and Bishop John C. Wester, Chairman of the Committee on Migration.
“Why do we take this position, when we have a long record of support for health care reform?” the USCCB letter asks, answering that the fundamental objections can be summarized in two points.
First, the bishops argue that health care reform “must protect life and conscience, not threaten them.” The Senate bill “extends abortion coverage, allows federal funds to pay for elective abortions (for example, through a new appropriation for services at Community Health Centers that bypasses the Hyde amendment), and denies adequate conscience protection to individuals and institutions.”
“Simply put,” the letter to Representatives continues, “health care reform ought to continue to apply both parts of the Hyde amendment, no more and no less.”
You can read the entire letter at the Catholic News Agency.
Hat Tip Gateway Pundit
Related:
This thing ain’t ovah.
Gateway Pundit: Pelosi Still Scrambling for Votes… Dems Draft Bill Clinton to Make Calls
Glenn Reynolds: REPS. SPACE & MATHESON WILL BOTH VOTE NO. Glenn also reports: I’m also getting email reports that Rep. Lincoln Davis’s (D-TN) office is saying he will vote no, though I haven’t been able to find a published report to that effect.
UPDATE: A “no” from Rep. Glenn Nye.
Gabe at AoSHQ: Where is Representative Loretta Sanchez?
Nomentum is back!
MORE:
Must read for shits and giggles: Hillbuzz: Daily Kos in full-on pants-wetting meltdown over “Motions to Recommit”
Nice Deb 