Executive order just 'cover' for pro-life Dems
With little fanfare -- and few witnesses -- President Obama has signed an executive order barring use of federal tax dollars for abortion under the recently signed healthcare reform bill.
Obama made the commitment to the executive order prior to the final vote on the healthcare reform bill over the weekend, a move designed to lure the backing of enough pro-life Democrats to pass the measure. Signing of that bill on Tuesday was very public, done during a nationally televised ceremony that was interrupted repeatedly by the applause of a throng of cheering Democratic lawmakers and other supporters.
In contrast, when he signed the executive order Wednesday, "it was very private because of its lack of popularity," notes Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List. Who was in attendance? A small group of Democratic lawmakers who traded their healthcare vote for Obama's promise of the executive order -- and no media.
"Without question, if it had been an effective hedge against abortion funding, they would've had enough people there to fill the entire White House lawn and the Capitol lawn and beyond," Dannenfelser states.
Obama is an ardent supporter of abortion rights, and has been described by many pro-life groups as the "most pro-abortion" president in the nation's history. Consequently they questioned the president's sincerity behind the executive order. The Associated Press notes the contrast between the two signings, reporting that the president was "anything but jubilant" on Wednesday as he "awkwardly kept [his] promise."
Contact: Charlie Butts and Jody Brown
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: March 25, 2010
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Illinois Federation for Right to Life
2600 State Street, Ste E
Alton, IL 62002
Phone: 618-466-4122
Web: www.ifrl.org
E-mail: mail@ifrl.org
