Rep. Stupak sees a plank in the eye of pro-lifers who opposed the Senate health care bill, now law, but claims his vote for the bill is just so much sawdust.
He explains all the arcana of his “colloquy” and defends the executive order because “ultimately all of our [pro-life Democrats’ legislative] efforts required the 60 votes we could not obtain in the Senate.” Despite his attempt at revisionist history, pro-life groups did not oppose the bill at any cost. The Susan B. Anthony List gave him the Defender of Life Award for getting pro-life language in the House-passed bill last fall and only stripped him of the award after he voted for the Senate bill.
In the end, Stupak had before him the life and a healthcare bill, blessing and curse, and chose a deeply flawed healthcare bill.