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Earlier today, several members of the pro-choice caucus were steaming because they said the White House had released the text of the Executive Order to the press before they had seen it.
According to TPM, “Just before 4 p.m. ET, the White House released text of a compromise on abortion to help clear the way for passage of the health care legislation.”
Stupak’s press conference started at 4pm.
McJoan reports that DeGette disputes that she didn’t see the final language before its release. From the Huffington Post:
“We looked at the language, we gave our comments and they left us and said we’ll get back to you,” said DeGette.
And when did they get back to you?
“About,” DeGette said, pulling out her BlackBerry to scroll through it looking for the e-mail. “Four o’clock.”
She said they signed off on the language after they received it at 4:00, meaning they signed off on it after Stupak’s press conference began and long after he had scheduled it.
The White House released the text of the Executive Order before 4pm. DeGette says she first got it at 4pm.
DeGette acknowledged that some in the pro-choice community may have felt left out of the process. “I think there might have been some issues with the pro-choice advocacy groups, but as far as I know, we’ve been given the language exactly at the same time as the other side has been,” she said.
The White House has already sent the language out to the press before DeGette even got it. Stupak is giving a press conference while she’s still reading it.
I realize it’s a hectic day for members of Congress. But how could she possibly think she’d “been given the language exactly at the same time as the other side has been” if Stupak is in front of the cameras when she’s still going over it?
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Jane,
Any idea why most of the MSM (Time, Newsweek, etc.) are claiming Stupak got the short end of the stick and that the EO is not worth worrying about?
I still have a really bad feeling about the EO, but that could be me.
My daughter and I had a wonderful trip to DC to protest the attack on Women’s Rights in April,2004. Her “Welcome To Womanhood” event at 15 years old. Way back in the days when lower middle-class families could tighten their budgets and plan for a trip across the country for an important statement/educational opportunity. 1.5 million people streamed into DC.On the planes, in the subways, in the hotels and museums. Because we Liberal Activists do tend to do museums….. It was exciting, dynamic and full of intense experiences.
We have lost so much since then. It’s almost immeasurable when I think of her future now, in contrast to what we talked about then. Sitting outside at Starbucks, people watching in the most intense 10 mile city on Earth.
Oops, that should be 1.15 million people.
And a great Porta-Potty system. Actually, DC has the best Porta-Potty, mega cop system I’ve ever seen. It’s amazing.
We went to Dupont Circle for a Take Back The Night rally which was kind of boring, except for the defensive moves. Those were very handy. During the long speeches we played “Find The Surveillance Person”. It was very fun!!! And totally scary when you begin to focus on surveillance.
Shit, that whole time seems so naive now.
Wow, DeGette is in denial, she just got played.
What’s worse, not only did the pro-life side get a big victory (they’re going to use that EO against Obama anytime he says or does anything halfway supportive of abortion rights), since they are pushing the story that Stupak caved, they now have an issue to motivate the religious right to go out and vote in November.
The religious right will simply open the can of worms Ben Nelson gave them and lobby state legislatures to ban private insurance coverage of abortion. And since right-wingers aren’t as stupid or gullible as certain other groups, they won’t wait four years for their version of “healthcare reform” to begin– they’ll demand it start immediately.
Unless it becomes a tea-partier-only issue. Bachmann is all over this, FWIW.
The ironic thing of course is that they’re all over the this-doesn’t-go-far-enough side when in reality it’s made things so very much worse for so very many people.
Well the first thing you should know is Karen Tumulty is probably the biggest Obama administration sycophant in the entire media universe, so that explains Time magazine.
Stupak most definitely did not get the short end of the stuck. The Nelson language is a *major* departure from current law. Stupak tried to push it even farther and fell short in the end, but I’m sure he’s still very satisfied with himself.
Stupak was always a yes for the HC bill http://youtu.be/URr68joWr1E
Yes; I have been posting the link everywhere. He said he would support the bill, all things considered, even BEFORE the vote in November 2009. And, legally speaking, that EO has no power, anyway, given that its wording explicitly denies any enforcement mechanism. But know what it did? It provided a way for Stupak (and the other wavering D’s in line) to vote with the President and still save face in front of their anti-choice base of supporters who, like so many of their Congresspeople, don’t know any better.
Know what else it did? It made it look like the Democratic president and majorities in both houses care more about the other party’s position on core platform issues than their own base’s. Maybe it looked that way because it is that way. I know that a lot of the groups are okay with that, but I also know a lot of the people on the front lines have a bad taste in their mouths. Boxer is already set for the fight of her career and I wouldn’t be surprised if this finished her off. One of the R’s running for her senate seat is, after all, pro choice, so what’s the difference between a D and an R other than that more damage was done under the D’s? Female D’s going along with it? They’d better buy asbestos suits.
Jane, I follow a couple of rules that serve me pretty well.
Rule #1. If a politician’s lips are moving, they’re lying.
Rule #2. If in doubt, see Rule #1.
That way I’m never disappointed.