Given my view that the term “pro-life Democrat” has become an oxymoron in the aftermath of ObamaCare, I wasn’t surprised at this story on Congress.org discussing tension in the bi-partisan House Pro-Life Caucus.
Some “pro-life” Democrats who voted for the final health care package are none too pleased at being targeted by legit pro-life groups in an election year:
Some members say they’re not sure whether the [caucus] will continue to function.
“Whether or not … we’ll continue working together, I don’t know,” said Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio). “I would hope so.”
Driehaus, who voted for the bill, said he thinks the group’s fate may rest in the hands of antiabortion groups such as National Right to Life and the Susan B. Anthony List, which have taken a strong line against the bill.
Already, the caucus is being shaken up by the retirement of co-chairman Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who announced in April that he would not seek re-election after 17 years in office.
That was compounded last week, when Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) lost a Democratic primary after being hit with negative radio and TV ads by antiabortion groups for his vote for health care.
Rep. Driehaus is wrong. The fate of pro-life cooperation between the parties on ObamaCare always rested in Democrats’ hands. After compromising their principles for a flimsy executive order, now they want to avoid paying the price of opposition from real pro-life advocates.
If Democrats truly had cared about cohesion in the caucus, they would have stuck to their guns and voted against legislation that lacked language banning taxpayer-subsidized abortion.
Stupak himself casts aspirations on the pro-life movement in an article appearing in the latest issue of Newsweek:
Ultimately, what stings the most isn’t the hatred … It’s that people tried to use abortion as a tool to stop health-care reform, even after protections were added.
It’s a good thing Stupak is leaving office, because such ridiculous assertions would be gasoline on the fire in his re-election bid. To suggest that millions of pro-life activists with genuine convictions about unborn human life used abortion only as a catalyst to deep-six a government takeover of health care is absurd on its face.
Again, if pro-life cooperation between Democrats and Republicans is eroding, the ruling party should look to itself for blame.
