Without his teleprompter, Barack Obama looks decidedly uncomfortable in this interview with ABC News’ Terry Moran addressing the subject of abortion funding in the House-passed health care bill. In this video clip, Obama dissembles like the law school professor he once was, offering a weak, tired “on the one hand, but then on the other hand” defense of the bill.
The truth is less savory: Obama, Reid and Pelosi cannot pass health care reform without kicking their pro-choice base in the teeth. After it became clear that Pelosi could not pass big-government health care reform without caving to the demands of the U.S. Catholic bishops and pro-life Democrats, the Speaker allowed Bart Stupak of Michigan to offer an amendment that prohibited coverage for abortion services not only in the government-run plan, but under any private insurance policy that was subsidized with federal funds. Sixty-four Democrats voted for the amendment. This prohibition is likely to cover all private policies for private sector employees making up to $88,000 a year—four times the poverty level.
Is this the change that liberals voted for? Likely not. House pro-choice Democrats are hopping mad, vowing to sink the final bill if the Stupak amendment is not removed in conference committee. Good luck with that. Pro-choicers are the new Tony Rezko of American politics: Obama used them to get where he wanted, then threw them overboard.
As Wall Street Journal reporter William McGurn notes here.
