Bioethike

In an interview appearing on ABC News tonight, President Obama clearly equivocates when speaking about Stupak/Pitts (the “Stupak amendment”) to H.R. 3962, by saying that

“we’re not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions.”

Stupak/Pitts prohibits federal funds and the mixture of private and federal funds from being used for abortions. It passed the House by a greater majority (240-194) than the House health care reform bill itself (215-210). And yet, the President suggests

“that there needs to be some more work before we get to the point where we’re not changing the status quo.”

PolitiFact’s Truth-O-Meter disagrees with the President’s assertion that Stupak/Pitts changes “the status quo.” I guess it all depends on what “is” is, Mr. President.

On a practical level, the President’s remarks point to

• a continued, non-stop effort by pro-abortion forces up to and including deliberations by the Conference Committee, when the differences between the House and Senate versions are ironed out;
• pro-abortion forces’ confidence that abortion, finally, will be covered in some way by the final bill sent to the President.

For more, see ABC News.

HT: Jill Stanek.

Tags: Abortion, Health Care, Obama, Public Policy