Pelosi Shuns Stupak and Pro-Life Position

Pelosi gave up on Bart Stupak, but not his colleagues who vowed to vote against the health care bill if it involved federal funding for abortion. And apparently, it's working. Stupak said she's "peel[ed] off one or two" of the twelve. Stupak claims that even if they can't garner the votes elsewhere, they won't insert the abortion language that the group has based its votes on. Which tactics is Pelosi employing? Stupak said both the White House and Pelosi are "twisting arms" and the members are also receiving pressure from their Democratic supporters, "like unions" to pass the Senate bill. Stupak said the deliberations with party leadership, "are a pretty sad commentary on the state of the Democratic party" as they have argued that abortions are more cost effective than caring for unwanted babies. He added, "This has really reached an unhealthy stage. People are threatening ethics complaints on me. On the left, they’re really stepping it up. Every day, from Rachel Maddow to the Daily Kos, it keeps coming. Does it bother me? Sure. Does it change my position? No." Let's hope most of the other 12 have the integrity and strength to withstand the thuggish arm twisting. I feel confident they will. I believe this will be the decisive issue for the bill and the party.