In his health care speech last week, President Obama was emphatic: “[O]ne more misunderstanding I want to clear up,” he said. “Under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.“
But the White House remains hesitant to commit to legislative language equally explicit, and pro-life groups are still concerned. Dr. Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life met with White House officials yesterday, including Melody Barnes, Obama’s domestic policy director. She reports back her disappointment with the result.
“Ms. Barnes reiterated the President’s statement about opposing abortion funding in his address before Congress last week but the White House would not commit to language that explicitly excludes abortion from health care reform,” said Yoest in a written statement. “The reality on the Hill right now is that the health care bills do include abortion funding.”
Yoest is correct about this, according to the Associated Press and FactCheck.org. Moreover, House Democrats have defeated such language in committee.
President Obama answered Joe Wilson’s “You Lie!” outburst over immigration by committing to a verification mechanism, to ensure that those receiving insurance through his plan are present in the U.S. legally.
Without a similar outburst, can Americans get any solid assurance, beyond the president’s say-so, that they won’t be forced under a new health care bill to pay for abortions?
