The Stupak Bloc just Broke Apart (Rep. Oberstar voting for HCR Bill)

[berni_mccoy]

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/87721952.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvDE7aL_V_BD77:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

WASHINGTON - With the finish line in sight on the long national health care debate, Rep. Jim Oberstar, a Democrat who opposes abortion, announced that he will not stand in the way of a final bill, meaning that all of the pieces have fallen into place for the Minnesota delegation.

The timing of Oberstar's decision, which surprised even some aides, comes as Democratic leaders scramble to muster every last vote in a do-or-die showdown on landmark health care legislation extending coverage to 30 million more Americans.

I expect the other anti-abortion members to follow suit at this point. The Hyde Amendment gave them cover in the first place, now Oberstar is giving them everything they need.

[NJmaverick]

1. This is excellent news. It's exciting to watch history being made

[berni_mccoy]

Indeed. One thing people underestimate with Obama

He's an awesome politician.

[felinetta]

27. Yes, Obama is a consummate politician.

[KittyWampus]

31. Yes it is. And I'm glad some DU'ers are on the right side. We'd have been FOR Social Security too

if DU had been around back then. And a lot of DU'ers would be against it.

[DrDan]

2. gotta wonder what deal was just cut

[berni_mccoy]

3. Well it wasn't with the language in the bill

And Pelosi has been saying since the Senate bill passed that the Stupak language would be stripped from the bill.

It's called politics my friend.

[DrDan]

9. that is exactly what it is - politics

[HughMoran]

11. You seem disappointed?

Yes?

[DrDan]

17. you are reading way too much into the post . . .

[HughMoran]

20. OK, because you've been fighting against this bill for a while...

...it seemed like a logical question to ask of you...

[DrDan]

29. I am not happy with the bill . . . I freely admit that

[tallahasseedem]

13. Well...

we certainly can't get it done by drinking tea and reading poetry. The 'pubs started this game and we're ending it.

[berni_mccoy]

16. lol!

Nice!

[berni_mccoy]

15. Well, it looks like he buckled under pressure from his constituents...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7928284&mesg_id=7928387

You should be happy about that.

[DrDan]

19. just cynical enough to be concerned about what deal was cut

[tallahasseedem]

23. I think we're all cynical at this point...

it has definitely been a rollercoaster of emotions. Hopefully this will come to an end soon! :)

[HughMoran]

10. Catholic groups even think the language in the Senate Bill is acceptible?

Perhaps a little common sense crept into their thinking?

[berni_mccoy]

12. Well the Bishops don't, even though the Catholic Hospitals do.

As a Catholic, I'm very tired of the Bishops playing politics. They need to stay out of it and focus on their own problems in the Church.

[HughMoran]

22. Well, the Bishops have a long history of being ass holes

& hiding scandals. I spit on the Bishops.

[berni_mccoy]

26. Yeah, it's about to blow up in the Pope's face too. I've been following that story

and he's now directly linked to the cover up.

If the Church thought it was losing members before... it ain't seen nothing yet.

[UTUSN]

4. K&R #9 n/t

[Bitwit1234]

5. Yes I posted that earlier per the Star Tribune

Jim said that alto he opposes abortion he thinks the bill needs to be passed. Since Minnesotans agree on the bill and he has been flooded, myself one of them, with emails I suppose he realizes he wants to get re-elected. He has been in office a long time, but he can go as well as the next and there was an effort to get someone to run against him.

[Inuca]

6. Great! Oberstar is a heavy weight

in the House if I remember correctly (head of the Transportaion Committee?)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Great news!

I suspect we may just see a run to join the now-emerging majority who will vote for the bill.

Who wants to be left out of this historic victory?

K&R

[Kber]

8. Good news - thanks for posting!

[gratuitous]

14. Hmm, maybe the Stupak Bloc wasn't all that strong to begin with

I wonder what might happen if the Democratic leadership started calling a few more of these deathless pronouncements from their own caucus and the Republicans? That is, some of them on the Blue Dog and Conservadem side? They seem pretty good at ignoring or running roughshod over progressive concerns. How many of these lines in the sand would turn out to be lines in the river if the Speaker and the Majority Leader called a few more conservative bluffs?

[KharmaTrain]

18. How "Whipping The Vote" Is Done...

Methinks Congressman Oberstar got a good dose of reality over the past week about the consequences of the bill failing and that he can't get cover on a "no" conscious vote. You are right, others will follow, the stakes are too high.

What I find ironic is those who complain that this administration is too soft are now complaining that they're "shoving this down our throats"...ya never can win.

Cheers...

[berni_mccoy]

21. You are correct. There are some people who are going to complain no matter what

Too soft! Too Strong! Stop! Go! Wait! Up! Down! Yes! Know!

man, I'm dizzy from the spin of some here.

[KharmaTrain]

24. An Interesting Sideshow...

I've been following all the "brouhaha" here with some amusement as the spinning and idol worship can be astounding. I'm about to order another truck of Orville Redenbacher for the spinning and/or consternation when St. Dennis flips...

:toast:

[berni_mccoy]

25. LOL!

A Truckload of Redenbacher. I've got a box of it in my pantry. I'll start popping some now.

:popcorn:

[jwirr]

28. As my rep I was pretty sure that in the end he would vote for HCR.

[druidity33]

30. do we know

how many there actually are in the "Stupak bloc"? At first there were 12, then HuffPo said 6... but Bart has never put out a list? Is that true? Are there other "Stupaks" that have affirmed their Aye vote?

:shrug:

K&R