2 anonymous pro-life GOP members tell National Review why the Stupak presser was cancelled

[kpete]

Update: Stupak’s presser was abruptly postponed. Reason why as of yet unclear.

Update: Two anonymous pro-life GOP members tell National Review why the presser was cancelled:

Two pro-life GOP members close to Stupak tell NRO that any Stupak deals are off. They just spoke with him and they said he’s finished with Pelosi. They rejected his enrollment corrections proposal.

If true — and I’m trying to confirm — that would mean that Dem leaders are prepared to move forward without Stupak and his untold number of followers.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/where-we-are-this-morning/

[lamp_shade]

1. Suggests that Nancy has the votes she needs.

[JackBeck]

12. I met with Rush Holt in DC last Monday.

He shared that Pelosi is one of the best counters he's ever seen. Always impressed with how she's able to figure out how many votes she has. He had nothing but praise for her in this respect.

[lamp_shade]

14. What a gal, eh?

[MindandSoul]

2. I hope this is true

And I hope some of those "stupak stupids" will come around, now that they lost anyway!

[patrice]

3. Health Care inequity causes abortions.

[WhiteTara]

9. so true! n/t

[patrice]

13. a Concrete Fact - along with the somewhat less concrete - Contraception is a sacrament in a culture

of War Slaves.

[Doremus]

4. I'm sick of that Stupak blackmailing Congress with his theocratic edicts.

It would be wonderful if he gets what he deserves: A BIG FAT NOTHING.... with the promise of much more of same for the rest of his term. :toast:

[Pirate Smile]

5. Kildee who already broke with Stupak is trying to get other anti-choice Dems to support the Bill.

Daily Kos Diary on this topic:

BREAKINGx5: Deal with Stupak is OFF, Dems ready to ditch him, his presser's canceled
by tdub
Share this on Twitter - BREAKINGx5: Deal with Stupak is OFF, Dems ready to ditch him, his presser's canceled Sat Mar 20, 2010 at 07:23:20 AM PDT
UPDATEx5: The good news is leaking out from the other side. The deal with Stupak is OFF (h/t Brainwrap):

Two pro-life GOP members close to Stupak tell NRO that any Stupak deals are off. They just spoke with him and they said he's finished with Pelosi. They rejected his enrollment corrections proposal.

Will he have to settle for an executive order?

UPDATEx3x4: Wonkroom's feed says "Democrats say they are ready to move forward without Stupak." Beutler: One aide says Stupak won't get his way, another that Stupak will "renegotiate." Politico: Stupak says he's still dealing. Senior aide quoted by wonkroom says "We may be able to find a way to satisfy (Stupak's) concerns."

tdub's diary :: :: UPDATEx2: Waxman now "says party leaders are unlikely to cut a deal with abortion opponents to pass President Barack Obama's health care overhaul." (AP News) Nice timing after Stupak's presser canceled.

BREAKING UPDATE: mark louis says below - CONFIRMED by newsfeeds of wonkroom and TPM and by Dayen at FDL - that Stupak has "canceled" his presser. Wonkroom also reported "rumors that Stupak's enrollment resolution has been ruled out of order." Let's hope he's having more trouble than he thought he'd have keeping his bloc together and getting his parliamentary maneuver approved.

* * * * * * * * * *

My original diary below explains how Dale Kildee may have been instrumental in reaching some of his fellow pro-lifers.

This will be short. I have been very dispirited by the reports that a deal may be developing in which an "enrollment correction" lets Stupak tie the HCR bill to his holier-than-thou abortion provisions.

Well, cockeyed optimist that I am, I have a little ray of hope to offer.

You may have caught pro-life Dem Dale Kildee's statement three days ago announcing his yes vote (NYT Prescriptions blog, "Stupak Ally in House Approves Senate Abortion Restrictions"):

I now find myself disagreeing with some of the people and groups I have spent a lifetime working with. I have listened carefully to both sides, sought counsel from my priest, advice from family, friends and constituents, and I have read the Senate abortion language more than a dozen times. I am convinced that the Senate language maintains the Hyde amendment, which states that no federal money can be used for abortion.

That's strong stuff, and it joins the equally unimpeachable voices of 59,000 nuns and the National Catholic Reporter to suggest that, well, any God-fearing pro-life Catholic should endorse the life-saving HCR bill, whereas Stupak's position... well, don't get me started.

Anyway, the purpose of this diary is to call your attention to some great reporting by Nick Baumann over at Mother Jones:

Stupak has a surprising obstacle in his path: his old friend Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.). Kildee isn't just opting out of his pal's voting bloc: He told reporters on Friday that he's been working hard to convince other anti-abortion Democrats to abandon Stupak's effort. As the final hours before the vote tick down, the battle between these two Democrats could determine the fate of the party's biggest legislative priority.

Kildee and Stupak have much in common. They're both pro-life Democrats from Michigan. They're been social and political comrades for years. Kildee, who's 81, knew the 58-year-old Stupak when Stupak was a young Michigan state trooper.

...

I asked Kildee about Stupak's statement that he relies on groups like the National Right to Life Committee and Focus on the Family (groups that have generally opposed the Democrats' health care reform plans) for guidance. Kildee questioned the wisdom of depending on these outfits. Members of Congress have to be wary of groups that "start out with a premise and only seek out facts that support their premise," Kildee warned. He added, "You have to know where they come from. You have to know what their purpose is—they gather information that supports their purpose."

In that last bit, it seems Naumann got Kildee to say that, if you want to hold the Hyde Amendment line on abortion funding, maybe you should read the bill and use your brain to understand it, instead of relying on wacko wingnuts who wouldn't want HCR in any shape or form.

Look, I'm not holding up Dale Kildee as a progressive lion (we heard from his primary challenger on the left here recently). But damn it, I can respect that he seems to have a brain and a conscience in better working order than Stupak. Let's see if some of the other "Stupakians" are in fact willing to listen to reason and endorse Nelson's pro-life Hyde-amendment-preserving Senate-bill language on this topic and let us have HCR without another huge deformation in it.

At 11 a.m. Stupak will give a press conference. This is what Naumann says we can look for:

We'll know more tomorrow, when Stupak will face put-up-or-shut-up time. If he can produce at this press conference—or any other time—the 11 or 12 House Democrats he has claimed are with him, health care reform could be in serious trouble. If his allies are much less than that, the bill's passage could become a foregone conclusion.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/3/20/848168/-BREAKINGx5:-Deal-with-Stupak-is-OFF,-Dems-ready-to-ditch-him,-his-pressers-canceled

[dmr]

6. Good, then Pelosi is finished with Stupak

Not the other way around.

[spanone]

7. fuck you bart and your 'concern' for 'life'

[WillyT]

8. According To Politico, A Stupak Spokesperson Is Saying "... discussions are continuing."

Stupak delays presser
March 20, 2010

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), the leader of the Democrat's pro-life group, postponed a Saturday morning press conference at the last minute without giving a reason.

Stupak was supposed to appear at 11 a.m. with other like-minded Democrats, some of whom are also withholding their support for the health care bill because they think the Senate's bill allows federal funding for abortion.

But his office sent an announcement a little over half an hour before, saying that "Information regarding rescheduling the press conference has not yet been determined."

His office did not immediately respond to an email asking about the cause for delay and the status of his negotiations with the Democratic leadership.

UPDATE: Stupak spokeswoman Michelle Begnoche said, "I can say discussions are continuing."

- James Hohmann

Link: http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0310/Stupak_delays_presser.html

Of course they have to say that, wouldn't they???

:shrug:

[mzmolly]

10. Has FDL commented yet?

:sarcasm:

[47of74]

11. Me to Stupak

Would you do the rest of the world a favor and leave the Democratic party? We need you in the party like we need hemorrhoids.

[Ozymanithrax]

15. It is illuminating that the GOP goons reveal this.

It is time Michigan elected a real Democrat or a Real Republican. Electing a chameleon hasn't gone so well.

If we are going to have a snake in congress, the snake should wear the name with pride.

[patrice]

16. War causes Abortions because War IS Abortion.