The health care reform bill passed last night. It doesn't do a whole hell of a lot for most of us and doesn't hurt the insurance companies as I had hoped it would. I suppose it's a step in the right direction and hopefully will spur more reform as well as rigorous regulations for private insurance companies who make tremendous profits off the suffering of millions of people.
Bart Stupak who championed against reform because he had claimed (and falsely so) that abortions would be covered, relented and voted for the bill. Stupack rose and said that forcing the abortion amendment to the bill would do nothing except deprive 32 million Americans of health care insurance. The good thing about the bill is just that. I'm glad that so many people will be able to seek medical help when they need it.
After Stupak spoke against the abortion amendment, an unidentified, chickenshit Republican called him "Baby killer!" loudly but refused to come forward after it was asked who said it.
Stupak also said, "The Democratic Party is pro-life; this bill is pro-life for millions of Americans... What you are advocating is a political trick to kill this bill... You are not for life – you are politicizing life."
The Republicans are always ready to dredge up a wedge issue when there is any type of measly bill out there that may indeed help a citizen (or in this case, millions of them) rather than a corporation.
Every single time I have the opportunity to speak to a Republican senator or congressman, I have asked him or her this question:
"When Republicans held all the power in all levels of government and the filibuster proof majority, which you did for many years, why didn't you ban abortions right there and then? You claim to have the support of the majority of Americans and yet, you have never introduced a bill that outright bans abortion."As of yet, I have not received an adequate response from a Republican congresscritter, a right wing talking head or a so-called "pro-life" person who votes Republican all the way. I heard all sorts of blather about Democratic obstructionism and the like, but there were plenty of times that they could have done something to make abortions illegal as well as prosecute both the doctors who performed them and the women who sought the procedure.
This only proves that "pro-life" politicians do not care whether or not a woman gets an abortion at all. They simply want votes from people who do care and they enjoy using abortion as a wedge issue to stop any legislation that may be put forth which doesn't benefit them personally or the corporation that sponsored their election. It seems to me that Republicans wouldn't even have a voice in politics if it weren't for the wedge issues that they use so well.
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