The Other McCain

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Late Zombie Health Care Updates: Executive Orders, Whip Counts, Slurs, Epithets and More Wholesome Fun! UPDATE: Stupak SELLS OUT! Yoest Declares ‘PRO-LIFE EMERGENCY’!

Posted on | March 21, 2010 | 39 Comments

Please visit our LIVE CHAT!

UPDATE 6:30 p.m. ET: Just posted this at the American Spectator blog:

You’ve probably never heard of Dan Benishek, but he’s a Republican running against Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who struck a deal with Nancy Pelosi that is believed to be the decisive vote to pass ObamaCare.
More than 1,700 people have already joined Benishek’s Facebook page.
Liberty First PAC has added Stupak to its target list, and Stupak is probably going to be on a lot of other lists pretty soon.

Of course, we don’t know yet whether the bill will pass, but Pelosi just got 224 votes on a procedural motion, with 28 Democrats voting no. At this point, it looks like she’s got votes to spare. Anybody who ever voted for a “moderate” Democrat is getting a long-overdue lesson today.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m. ET: Another GOP challenger for Stupak is homeschooling Republican mom Linda Goldthorpe.

UPDATE 4:13 p.m.: Stupak press conference underway, Charmaine Yoest of Americans United For Life just sent this e-mail:

Dear Friend of Life,
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

UPDATE 4:53 p.m. ET: Fellow bloggers, Bob Belvedere has your Google-bomb of the day: Bart Stupak Is a Cheap Crack Whore.

EXPECT FURTHER UPDATES . . .

UPDATE 4 p.m. ET: Ready for the Stupak press conference? Allahpundit’s following the whip count now.

UPDATE 3:40 p.m. ET: My DC source just called to say that “pro-life” Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Hell) has scheduled a 4 p.m. press conference. Politico now reports that the disgusting swine’s finally got a deal to vote “yes.”

UPDATE 3:11 p.m. ET: The vote on the “motion to proceed” passed with flying colors. It looks like Pelosi’s got votes to spare. Stupak’s vote is probably worthless at this point. Ace is blogging. And over at Hot Air, Ed’s continuing Stupak Watch 2010. “Pro-life Democrat”! What a colossal joke . . .

UPDATE 2:44 p.m. ET: “Pro-life Democrat” Bart Stupak (D-Hell) is still a firm, courageous “maybe,” as Philip Klein of the American Spectator reports:

Right now, it’s looking more and more like Democrats have the votes. And while Rep. Bart Stupak is still saying publicly he’s a no — for now — he is still working on a deal in which President Obama would issue an executive order on abortion, and several news outlets have been saying that he’s onboard.

Kathryn Jean Lopez has text of the proposed executive order. And yeah, we can trust Obama. Just like we trust “pro-life Democrats.”

UPDATE 1:37 p.m. ET: In the live chat room, we get this:

“Stupak to CNN producer Lesa Jansen: “I’m still a no…There is no deal yet. Its a work in progress.”

We await further developments as Stupak continues to peddle his worthless ass like the cheap crack whore he is . . .

UPDATE 1:20 p.m. ET: Reuters reports that “pro-life Democrat” Bart Stupak (D-Hell) just got his 30 pieces of silver:

U.S. Democratic Representative Bart Stupak, who opposes abortion, will vote for healthcare legislation later on Sunday, in a move that could help pave the way for passage of the bill, MSNBC reported.

What a miserable swine . . .

Politico: “House Democrats have picked up critical health reform ‘yes’ votes from a group of anti-abortion lawmakers, including Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, according to senior Democratic aides. Democrats believe a breakthrough with Stupak’s group – based on the promise of an executive order to be issued by President Barack Obama reinforcing a ban on federal funding for abortion – will help give them the 216-vote majority needed to pass reform on Sunday.”

UPDATE 1:28 p.m. ET: We will put an asterisk next to this report. If there’s anything more unreliable than a “pro-life Democrat,” it’s “senior Democratic aides” and MSNBC. Speaking of slurs and epithets . . .

UPDATE 11:45 a.m. ET: “Pro-life Democrats”:

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said Sunday morning that he is close to striking a deal with the Obama administration on abortion provisions.
“We are close to getting something done,” Stupak said in an interview with MSNBC.

Is there anyone — anyone — who still doesn’t understand the utter uselessness of voting for “pro-life Democrats”? Do I have to draw you a picture? If you want to kill babies, vote Democrat. If you think it’s probably a bad idea to kill babies, vote Republican. 

Some of you will ask, “What if I want to elect a two-faced lying fool who can’t even spell the word ‘principle’? Wouldn’t that be a good reason to vote for a pro-life Democrat?”

No. That would be a good reason to vote for John McCain.

UPDATE 11 a.m. ET: Can the president “fix” the bill through executive order? Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life is profoundly skeptical:

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.
The American people overwhelmingly do not want to see their tax dollars go toward abortion and that is why Speaker Pelosi cannot mobilize a majority coalition for passage. Her multiple attempts to construct esoteric parliamentary maneuvers to circumvent the clear will of the people is unconscionable. This Executive Order proposal is wrong in principle because it would be designed to retroactively address an issue after Congress, as the direct representatives of the people, failed to do so. . . .
Executive Orders can be undone or modified as quickly as they are created. This is a blatant attempt to subvert democracy and should be quickly quashed . . .

PREVIOUSLY: Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has the beginnings of a whip count, but frankly I’ve lost track. I just heard Martha MacCallum on Fox News call the legislative process “fascinating.” The process is actually tiresome and annoying.

I’ll update with more, in a few minutes. I’m extremely tired. We’ll have a live chat at noon.

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Category: Abortion, Congress, Crime, Health Care

Comments

  • http://punditandpundette.com Jill

    See Jennifer Rubin: In the list of deceptions and worm-like maneuvers, this one ranks up there. No, you haven’t forgotten your basic civics. An executive order cannot countermand a statute passed by Congress and signed by the president. If ObamaCare says, “We will subsidize abortion,” no executive order can effectively say, “but not really.” And if it were so, then every pro-choice member of Congress who is voting for this is deceiving the public by voting to “preserve reproductive choice.”
    http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/262471

  • http://punditandpundette.com Jill

    See Jennifer Rubin: In the list of deceptions and worm-like maneuvers, this one ranks up there. No, you haven’t forgotten your basic civics. An executive order cannot countermand a statute passed by Congress and signed by the president. If ObamaCare says, “We will subsidize abortion,” no executive order can effectively say, “but not really.” And if it were so, then every pro-choice member of Congress who is voting for this is deceiving the public by voting to “preserve reproductive choice.”
    http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/262471

  • http://punditandpundette.com Jill

    See Jennifer Rubin: In the list of deceptions and worm-like maneuvers, this one ranks up there. No, you haven’t forgotten your basic civics. An executive order cannot countermand a statute passed by Congress and signed by the president. If ObamaCare says, “We will subsidize abortion,” no executive order can effectively say, “but not really.” And if it were so, then every pro-choice member of Congress who is voting for this is deceiving the public by voting to “preserve reproductive choice.”
    http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/262471

  • Pingback: Stupak Voting Yes? Unfortunately Yes (Update: Wait a Second) | Caffeinated Thoughts

  • http://my-thoughts-on-freedom.blogspot.com/ Chris W

    Screw ‘em all

  • http://my-thoughts-on-freedom.blogspot.com/ Chris W

    Screw ‘em all

  • http://my-thoughts-on-freedom.blogspot.com/ Chris W

    Screw ‘em all

  • Pingback: Do they have the votes? | The Lonely Conservative

  • Pingback: Has Pro-Life Democrat Rep Bart Stupak Sold Out and Copped a Deal? | Scared Monkeys

  • http://unitedstatesofscamerica.blogspot.com rusty
  • http://unitedstatesofscamerica.blogspot.com rusty
  • http://unitedstatesofscamerica.blogspot.com rusty
  • http://my-thoughts-on-freedom.blogspot.com/ Chris W

    Next stop, the SCOTUS should this bill pass.

  • http://my-thoughts-on-freedom.blogspot.com/ Chris W

    Next stop, the SCOTUS should this bill pass.

  • http://my-thoughts-on-freedom.blogspot.com/ Chris W

    Next stop, the SCOTUS should this bill pass.

  • Mark

    If Stupak was so pro-life, he would have distanced himself from Obama, who voted against the Born Alive Bill every time. With a record like that, does he really think he can trust the president?

  • Mark

    If Stupak was so pro-life, he would have distanced himself from Obama, who voted against the Born Alive Bill every time. With a record like that, does he really think he can trust the president?

  • Mark

    If Stupak was so pro-life, he would have distanced himself from Obama, who voted against the Born Alive Bill every time. With a record like that, does he really think he can trust the president?

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  • http://trainwife1962.blogspot.com Agnes B. Bullock

    There is no such animal as a pro life Democrat, as there is no such animal as a moderate .

  • http://trainwife1962.blogspot.com Agnes B. Bullock

    There is no such animal as a pro life Democrat, as there is no such animal as a moderate .

  • http://trainwife1962.blogspot.com Agnes B. Bullock

    There is no such animal as a pro life Democrat, as there is no such animal as a moderate .

  • http://dad29.blogspot.com dad29

    Pretty soon Stupak will be just a traffic cop again, picking up road-kill in da YooPee.

  • http://dad29.blogspot.com dad29

    Pretty soon Stupak will be just a traffic cop again, picking up road-kill in da YooPee.

  • http://dad29.blogspot.com dad29

    Pretty soon Stupak will be just a traffic cop again, picking up road-kill in da YooPee.

  • http://realamericanpolitics.wordpress.com/ Good Ole Boy

    We now know the supposed pro-life Democratic house member Bart Stupak and others aligned with him were lying about their plans to vote no on Obamacare if the abortion funding was included. They have played the people assuming we are fools. We should of known from the start they were Democrats and party affiliation trumps any convictions they have or say to have for political expediency.

    http://realamericanpolitics.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/democrats-ignore-the-people/

  • http://realamericanpolitics.wordpress.com/ Good Ole Boy

    We now know the supposed pro-life Democratic house member Bart Stupak and others aligned with him were lying about their plans to vote no on Obamacare if the abortion funding was included. They have played the people assuming we are fools. We should of known from the start they were Democrats and party affiliation trumps any convictions they have or say to have for political expediency.

    http://realamericanpolitics.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/democrats-ignore-the-people/

  • http://realamericanpolitics.wordpress.com/ Good Ole Boy

    We now know the supposed pro-life Democratic house member Bart Stupak and others aligned with him were lying about their plans to vote no on Obamacare if the abortion funding was included. They have played the people assuming we are fools. We should of known from the start they were Democrats and party affiliation trumps any convictions they have or say to have for political expediency.

    http://realamericanpolitics.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/democrats-ignore-the-people/

  • http://redstate.com/diaries/finrod Finrod

    FYI, Linda Goldthorpe is a Ron Paul follower.

    I recommend sticking with Dan Benishek.

  • http://redstate.com/diaries/finrod Finrod

    FYI, Linda Goldthorpe is a Ron Paul follower.

    I recommend sticking with Dan Benishek.

  • http://redstate.com/diaries/finrod Finrod

    FYI, Linda Goldthorpe is a Ron Paul follower.

    I recommend sticking with Dan Benishek.

  • http://www.redstateeclectic.com AngelaTC

    We have no idea what Benishek stands for. He has no issues page. I suspect he is the GOP’s attempt to undermine the TEA Party movement, especially given that the blogosphere all sang his praises almost simultaneously.

    It’s amazing that he got so much attention with nobody knowing where he stands on a single issue.

    We’re doomed if we’re so easily played.

  • http://www.redstateeclectic.com AngelaTC

    We have no idea what Benishek stands for. He has no issues page. I suspect he is the GOP’s attempt to undermine the TEA Party movement, especially given that the blogosphere all sang his praises almost simultaneously.

    It’s amazing that he got so much attention with nobody knowing where he stands on a single issue.

    We’re doomed if we’re so easily played.

  • http://www.redstateeclectic.com AngelaTC

    We have no idea what Benishek stands for. He has no issues page. I suspect he is the GOP’s attempt to undermine the TEA Party movement, especially given that the blogosphere all sang his praises almost simultaneously.

    It’s amazing that he got so much attention with nobody knowing where he stands on a single issue.

    We’re doomed if we’re so easily played.

  • http://www.haemet.blogivists.com Roxeanne de Luca

    I just keep telling myself that the great irony of the last two years is that the liberals just handed the Presidency to Sarah Palin.

    On a related note, is there anyone in Boston who wants to poura drink down my throat? I can’t survive until 20 January 2013 whilst sober.

  • http://www.haemet.blogivists.com Roxeanne de Luca

    I just keep telling myself that the great irony of the last two years is that the liberals just handed the Presidency to Sarah Palin.

    On a related note, is there anyone in Boston who wants to poura drink down my throat? I can’t survive until 20 January 2013 whilst sober.

  • http://www.haemet.blogivists.com Roxeanne de Luca

    I just keep telling myself that the great irony of the last two years is that the liberals just handed the Presidency to Sarah Palin.

    On a related note, is there anyone in Boston who wants to poura drink down my throat? I can’t survive until 20 January 2013 whilst sober.

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