What’s got people pissed off is not the amendment itself, so much as that it was a Democrat, and that there wasn’t some back room meeting wherein Stupak was told “you do have a right to bring this up, and we understand that it’s a deeply held principle. And we need you to understand, we won’t cheapen your principle one bit – we’ll let *everyone* see that you’ll stand up for principle even when it costs you, in every thing, in every way, that we can make it cost you. We will make you the martyr you are begging to be. So, yes, you have your rights, and we ask you to exercise them in accordance with your true principles.”

I hate this bit-by-bit approach but it’s what we’ve got to deal with. We come back again and again until it’s done. DK’s principles are fine and dandy…but the people who will be helped by this current effort can’t wait on DK’s principles. And they shouldn’t have to be sacrificed so DK can remain pure.

1. Condoms can break. No form of physical contraception is 100% perfect.

2. The last 8 years of public sex ed. has been plagued by something called “abstinence only education”, which has made a generation of teenagers ignorant of contraception.

For that matter, why should I have to pay for the lifestyle choices of Americans who can’t accept personal responsibility for their own health?

Because that’s not how a representative democracy works. By that logic, I shouldn’t have had to pay for a dime on the Iraq War. But guess what…

Also, how can this be called “universal” health care if it doesn’t cover an aspect of women’s reproductive health?

Yet again Democrats are giving in hopes of receiving.

I want the health bill to pass, but we need to stand up and voice our opinions on what we want in and out of the bill.

Stupak personally doesn’t care about fixing health care. He only wants to be a obstructionist like the Republicans and fill the bill with junk. If you think you will have an easier time reforming the reform bill think again. We’re you in a coma over this pass summer when Democrats and the White House compromise to get where we are at now, and we still don’t have the health care form that we need. We can’t let the bill be filled with junk and call it reform. And I’m far from being the one being used.

Even the US Conference of Catholic Bishops disagrees with this amendment.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/7/801879/-HCR-House-Debate:-Catholics-for-Choice-Say-Stupak-Amendment-Unconscionable,-Stupak-Smirks

Do you have any concept of what “insurance” actually is?

1). This can be fixed in Conference or amended in the future.

2). Abortion is not the entirety of healthcare, even for women. Ask most women.

3). You don’t see that you are being used by the Blue Dogs so that they can kill the ENTIRE REFORM effort. They are using abortion to get folks to hate the entire bill. Then they you blame YOU for not compromising.

We can work to remove the worst provisions in conference. Let’s get some people healthcare instead of doing nothing.

There is nothing in the health care reform bill saying the government will fund abortions….NOTHING!

The Stupak amendment will not allow anyone(even businesses)to purchase insurance plans that have abortion coverage if they receive subsidies from the government even if they choose a private insurance company plan.

The government already has a Federal law that doesn’t allow any government funding of abortion.

No one is going to have to pay for someone’s abortion, but the Stupak will make a person or company pay extra insurance just for abortion coverage.

1. Oliver/Chris – your sentiment is fine for business, however, but policy MUST be perfect, because Capitol Hill has shown a proclivity for imperfect legislation, with horrible consequences. Neither party is exempt from producing “imperfect” legislation, but Social Security and Medicare stand out as examples of imperfect legislation with dire financial consequences for the nation. And look at all the “pork” that gets thrown in as riders on regular legislation. Theoretically, it could be removed, but it never is. And as an aside, what happened to Obama’s promise to remove pork? Another campaign promise, without any follow-through.

What defines perfect? There is NO set of legislation that is perfect, anywhere in the world.

We point to Europe as shining examples of how healthcare can be provided, but even they run up deficits, etc. with their systems.

The point of legislation isn’t to be perfect, but to SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

I’d HAPPILY take huge deficits if it meant we would get affordable healthcare for everyone.

We will always find things to improve. Now? Let’s get the ball rolling first.