“A Tale of Two, Three or 30 Congressmen – the Stupak Buy-Out”

UPDATE: March 21, 2010

I knew (and dreaded the possibility) that I would need to amend or update my blog, “A Tale of Two Congressmen,” and, after watching Rep. Bart Stupak announce in a news conference his decision to change his vote to a “Yes” for ObamaCare despite months of firm, decisive claims to the contrary, I need to clarify and retract portions of that article.

Rep. Stupak just changed his “No” vote to a “Yes” for ObamaCare, based on a last minute promise by Mr. Obama to write an Executive Order prohibiting federal funds for abortion, with exceptions for rape, incest or to protect the health of the mother.

In fairness, I can’t brand Rep. Stupak as another crooked politician; he didn’t specifically deviate from his position on abortion or his desire for health care reform. Stupak was clear that he would support HR 3590 if it did not include federal funds for abortion.

While the bill may be considered amended by the Executive Order, it is my understanding that Mr. Obama has the latitude to retract an Executive Order, as will subsequent presidents. If that is the case (I’ve read the EO, but need more information before taking a definitive position), then the rights of the unborn are still in peril.

“A Tale of Two Congressmen,” compares the ethics of Stupak and Rep. Dennis Kucinich. While an Executive Order is in a different “perk” category than plane rides on Air Force One or promises of party and financial support (according to news reports), Stupak’s decision puts him, from my perspective, in a gray area. Yes, the congressman, more or less, kept his word; however, as I comprehend this development, the provision in the Senate bill wasn’t changed; it is negated by the Executive Order.

Stupak, like many of his colleagues, negotiated a deal with Mr. Obama – welcome to the club, Congressman! You may know some of the members: Flyboy Kucinich, Louisiana Purchase Landrieu, as well your cohorts from Tennessee, North Dakota, Oregon, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, Montana and the District of Columbia. (Sources: NPR, Fox News)

As pro-ObamaCare Democrats stand around and congratulate themselves over their “victory,” more than half of Americans (according to a number of polls) fiercely reject this bill and the sneaky, bamboozling of our political system.

Mr. Obama, Sen. Reid and Speaker Pelosi know that Americans are angry over the abuse of Reconciliation, Deem and Pass and other, usually legitimate, political actions taken to coerce this bill into law, so why aren’t they listening to their constituents?

According to today’s Rasmussen Reports polls, 42% of Americans strongly disapprove of Obama’s performance as Presidential, giving him an Approval Index rating of -16. Also determined by Rasmussen, “50% of voters are less likely to vote for a Member of Congress who supports the health care reform plan proposed by the President and Congressional Democrats. Just 20% believe that most Members of Congress will understand the proposed health care bill before they vote on it.”

Furthermore, Real Clear Politics polls indicate that 75.8% of Americans disapprove of Congressional job performance and over 60% of the country believes that America is headed in the wrong direction. Is anyone in Washington, on the “Left” side of the aisle, listening? We know that Obama’s Oval Office is sound-proofed with arrogance and an iron will to get “his” bill passed today.

Yesterday, a small group angry citizens hurled racial epithets and homophobic slurs at a few elected Democrats. The Bold Pursuit strongly denounces those actions.

However, we support the majority of angry, fuming Americans who feel betrayed by the way our system is being manipulated so that Obama, Pelosi and Reid can have their “win.”

Today, they may revel in having the votes needed to cram through unwanted legislation that is predicted to inflict profoundly negative and fundamental change in our country, but next November the gloating will turn to gloom as the results of the Democratic “eviction” campaigns send an unequivocal message to Washington: “you should have listened to the People and Killed the Bill.”