No, I don’t believe it would have killed the bill either, but it did give many blue dogs cover to say, well I voted for it after they took out the abortion funding. I believe Republicans should have cast a “not voting” vote and let the pro-life dems. sink.. Repubs. just have no clue how to fight dirty.
I wish that Stupak had failed also, but the author is correct that that would not have been the end of this mess.
Here is the issue and the national right to life committee (NRLC) and the catholic bishops association should be ashamed. NRLC came out and stated that a present vote would be considered a no vote for the amendment thus they would hold it against them on the right to life score. They forced Republicans to vote for the amendment thereby ensuring enough votes to pass the overall bill when the amendment was added. Of course the Catholics are going to come out with an article trying to justify the reason they hung Americans out to dry by supporting this bill. This bill would not have passed without the amendment pure and simple and we have the two organization above to blame.
>>Repubs. just have no clue how to fight dirty.<<
They are too concerned about offending “my dear friends across the aisle” and “maintaining the moral high ground”.
Well, I DO know how to fight dirty. I was taught by the best - Marine Drill Instructors at Parris Island. And I will fight this bill.
I REFUSE TO OBEY. I WILL NOT DIE ON MY KNEES AND IN CHAINS.
But then all the Republicans would have had a campaign add saying that when they had the chance to vote for prohibiting federal funding of abortion, they voted no. You can’t give your opponents soundbite commercial material. Most voters won’t take the time to understand the procedural tricks of passing legislation. The vote would be on the record without any editorial comments. Campaign dollars would have to be spent defend themselves. The Dem opponents would try to paint themselves as a pro-life alternative to the pro-choice Republican.
More importantly than that, it allowed them to pass it with a larger margin than a single vote.
A single vote would have allowed the Republicans to run ads against every single Democrat who voted for it saying that theirs was the vote that passed it.