How to sell out the pro-life cause…
The following is Planned Parenthood’s reaction to Bart Stupak’s (D-MI) decision to vote “yes” on on the Senate’s health care bill:
“While we regret that this proposed Executive Order has given the imprimatur of the president to Senator Nelson’s language, we are grateful that it does not include the Stupak abortion ban.”
Planned Parenthood knows full well what Mr. Stupack apparently does not. The Senate’s bill will not ultimately protect us from paying for abortions.
From National Right to Life Committee:
The executive order promised by President Obama was issued for political effect. It changes nothing. It does not correct any of the serious pro-abortion provisions in the bill. The president cannot amend a bill by issuing an order, and the federal courts will enforce what the law says.
From Andrew McCarthy:
That EOs can be rescinded at the president’s whim is of course true. This particular EO is also a nullity — presidents cannot enact laws, the Supreme Court has said they cannot impound funds that Congress allocates, and (as a friend points out) the line-item veto has been held unconstitutional, so they can’t use executive orders to strike provisions in a bill. So this anti-abortion EO is blatant chicanery: if the pro-lifers purport to be satisfied by it, they are participating in a transparent fraud and selling out the pro-life cause.
It is a sad day indeed.
