I wish I could find the exact quote, but on Mike Huckabee’s Fox News show over the weekend Democrat strategist Kirsten Powers used the word “strange” to describe Obama and the Democrats’ willingness to concede billions in budget concessions to Republicans, all just to keep Planned Parenthood funded for the small total (relatively speaking) of $300+ million.
Here’s how the New York Times described a key conversation:
At one crucial moment in the game of chicken over a looming shutdown of the United States government, President Obama and the House speaker, John Boehner, faced off in the Oval Office. Mr. Boehner, a Republican heavily outnumbered in the room by Democrats, was demanding a provision to restrict financing to Planned Parenthood and other groups that provide abortions. Mr. Obama would not budge.
“Nope. Zero,” the president said to the speaker. Mr. Boehner tried again. “Nope. Zero,” Mr. Obama repeated. “John, this is it.” A long silence followed, said one participant in the meeting. “It was just like an awkward, ‘O.K., well, what do you do now?’ ”
That meeting broke without an agreement.
We all now know that in the finals hours before a government shutdown loomed, an agreement was indeed reached. And even though Obama won on PP funding, he and Democrats made other major concessions on the pro-life issue.
About the “GOP’s winning streak,” Politico reported that on “broader trajectory of politics,” the “Republican – and, yes, the tea party – agenda is not only ascendant, it’s driving the debate over reshaping government at every level.”
This includes the pro-life issue, which clearly was front and center in the budget debate. Pro-lifers must continue working to keep it that way.
Another outcome of the Planned Parenthood budget fight is Obama is now officially married to PP, for better or worse. As Americans are increasingly educated about PP’s dastardly history, emphasis on abortion, $1 billion annual income, defrauding the government, and willingness to cover up child rape and sex trafficking, PP is now Obama’s to defend.
The reasons why Obama and Democrats so protect PP are obvious, money and votes.
The Washington Examiner reported April 10 that PP spent $1 million on the 2008 elections (although it promised to spend $10 million).
With Obama losing ACORN and union influence, he can’t afford to anger PP, likely his strongest political interest group. Don’t forget PP sided with Obama against feminist groups that were supporting Hillary back in the 2008 primary. Friday night showed exactly why.
[Top graphic via Huckabee; bottom graphic via Washington Examiner]