---

LSN NewsBytes - U.S. Health Care Bill

* Disclaimer: The linked items below or the websites at which they are located do not necessarily represent the views of LifeSiteNews.com. They are presented only for your information.

Compiled by Steve Jalsevac

Idealists Vs Pragmatists Among Dems re: Health Care Bill -  Carol Platt Liebau
The NY Times today covers the "cost containment" debate raging among Democrats divided into what Sheryl Gay Stolberg describes as "idealists" vs. "pragmatists."

The "pragmatists," apparently, include people like Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emmanuel.  They don't really care how much the bill costs -- or what it does to our economy long-term -- so long as a bill passes.  That's because they know that an entitlement -- even an economically crippling one - is almost impossible to repeal once it is passed into law.  And once it's there, the debate comes down to the "evil" Republicans trying to take benefits away vs. the kindly Democrats trying to increase them.  Think of the way Democrats have demagogued Social Security for years, and you'll see what I mean.

What Democrats are offering people is a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea.  Either the US slides into permanent European-style social democracy, with high unemployment, slow growth and high taxes because there is an unsustainable level of health care spending -- or you lose your freedom when it comes to health care.  Or,  most likely, both. UGLY.
http://townhall.com/blog/g/5c3d9efb-57d6-4c38-a452-73b056a3514b?comments=true&commentsSortDirection=Descending

The Absolutely Worst Bill Ever - By Peter Ferrara
The bill is a serious threat not only to your freedom and prosperity, but to your very life as well. That is because at the heart of this bill is a cruel perversion. The bill labors mightily (though it actually fails) to expand insurance coverage to everyone (taking the most expensive route possible). But then it is devoted to taking away the very health care that you may need to save your life, or the life of a loved one.

The bill would create 118 new federal boards, bureaucracies, commissions, and programs, which as a group have the power to ration and deny you health care. These are the Pelosi death panels.
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/11/the-absolutely-worst-bill-ever/1

The Republican Shift on Abortion Is Dramatic, Too - Neil King Jr.
The late GOP Rep. Henry Hyde of Illinois sponsored an amendment to back a ban on abortion funding(the Hyde Amendment). Thirty-two House Democrats voted in favor—exactly half the number of Democrats who supported the ban on abortion funding Saturday night in the health-care package.

But just as striking is that 33 Republicans in 2001 broke with their party to oppose the overseas ban. On Saturday, by comparison, no Republicans crossed the aisle on the abortion vote. The difference? Of the 33 Republicans who opposed the ban in 2001, 26 have since retired or been ousted from office. Nearly all were replaced by Democrats, with the heaviest shift coming in states like New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/11/10/the-republican-shift-on-abortion-is-dramatic-too/

Ann Coulter video on Fox re: Health Care Bill
One Republican who voted for House health care bill and AARP support for bill
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=4282776&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/glennbeck/

AARP sells out seniors for big bucks - AFA
The AARP claims to be all about representing the interests of seniors, but when it comes to health care reform, they are selling seniors down the river to line their own pockets. The AARP has endorsed the gargantuan PelosiCare bill that just passed the House, despite the fact the bill proposes more than $400 billion in cuts to Medicare, which is certain to lead to rationing, inferior care and "death panels" for vulnerable senior citizens
http://action.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147489432

Dark secrets of AARP finally exposed to light - WorldNetDaily
Executives, employees backed Obama, Dems by 14-to-1 ratio
AARP's history of left-leaning activism on a host of issues may surprise its constituents
AARP's Nov. 5 health bill endorsement left many seniors wondering why the powerful group that claims to represent their interests would call for an estimated $500 billion in cuts to Medicare, a system many seniors have indicated that they would like to preserve
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=115617

What GOP Rep. Joseph Cao Got From Obama - Micelle Malkin
Cao was the one Republican to Vote for the health care bill
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/08/health-care-takeover-roll-call-vote-and-what-gop-rep-joseph-cao-got-from-obama/

Santorum "Appalled" at Catholic Bishops - Creative Minority Report
In an exclusive interview with Creative Minority Report, former Senator Rick Santorum leveled criticism at both Senator Bob Casey and U.S. Catholic bishops for their stands in the current healthcare debate, even going so far as saying he was “appalled” by the statements of the USCCB.

Casey recently told CNS that he refused to draw “a line in the sand” over abortion. Santorum said that kind of response is typical of Casey. “If it is convenient for him to vote pro-life he’ll do it but he’ll put other issues above abortion,” said Santorum. “And I don’t think he hides that. I think he’s been very upfront about it.”

When contacted, Casey staffer John Richter said that Casey “favors” the current healthcare legislation. When asked whether abortion being in the bill gave the Senator pause, Richter answered, “Abortion’s not even mentioned in the bill.” Santorum called that response “disingenuous.” “They think pro-lifers are simpletons. That’s what they think of all pro-lifers - clinging to their guns and religion” said Santorum. “They treat you like you’re an idiot.”

Santorum’s words for Casey were tough but he had even tougher words for Catholic bishops. “I am appalled at the Catholic bishops,” said Santorum. “I commend them for drawing a line in the sand on abortion. But what they’ve suggested would do more damage than the abortion coverage.”

The USCCB has made strong statements against the healthcare bills because of the inclusion of abortion funding but have stated often that they would be in favor of the bill if that were excluded. Santorum warned that socialized medicine would inevitably lead to a devaluing of human life as it has in the other countries where it has been implemented. "
http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2009/11/santorum-appalled-at-catholic-bishops.html

Pelosi phoned Cardinal McCarrick before permitting Stupak amendment vote
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4566

Obama Betrays the Bishops - Catholic League president Bill Donohue
On September 30, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter to the U.S. Senate saying, “So far, the health reform bills considered in committee, including the new Senate Finance Committee bill, have not met President Obama’s challenge of barring use of federal dollars for abortion.

We now know that President Obama—who is lobbying to excise the abortion restrictions that the bishops wanted—has betrayed the bishops. This has been a great moment for the bishops, and for Catholics generally, but the fight is not over. It’s important that those on both sides know exactly who the players are on each team.
http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1713

The Bishops Go On Offense By Robert Royal 
I’m happy to say, however, that, in recent weeks, some of the American hierarchy have gone beyond defense and onto cultural offense. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has become, as a body, rock-solid about opposing current healthcare proposals if they include abortion.
A high-placed prelate told me a few days ago that if coverage of abortion is not removed from the reform proposals, the bishops as a group will go on the attack “because we’ll have nothing to lose.” That’s refreshing talk. Not that long ago, there might have been vocal resistance within the USCCB itself, but recent reforms of the conference have all but removed that possibility and enabled strong action. Individual bishops have been stepping up the offensive, too.
http://www.thecatholicthing.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2407&Itemid=2

Personal Aside: Why, Oh Why, is the USCCB (Catholic Bishops) Pushing ObamaCare?
Pelosi was told that unless the offending provision were to be dropped, the bishops would turn thumbs down on ObamaCare. Inferentially: if the provision were to be dropped...as it was...the bishops would push ObamaCare as part of its "social justice" mission. I checked yesterday with a number of lawmakers on the Hill including some Democratic House members close to Pelosi-including some pro-life Democrats-and find a good number who told me there was an agreement...passed to them by Pelosi...that the USCCB would cover them if they voted for ObamaCare by publicizing the fact that they were in synch with Catholic social teaching.
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=25096

Prominent Catholic Dissident Thomas J. Reese, S.J. on Health Care Bill
With the adoption of a House floor amendment banning the use of Federal money for abortion, the U.S. bishops are no longer opposing the Democrats' health care reform plan; in fact, they are supporting expansion of it.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/georgetown/2009/11/health_care_moves_beyond_abortion.html

Lynn Woolsey: IRS should scrutinize bishops
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29336.html

Chris Matthews: Catholic Bishops 'Should Stay Off Capitol Hill'
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-shepherd/2009/11/10/chris-matthews-keep-catholic-clergy-away-capitol-hill

AP: Obama's Glow From Health Care Triumph Over -- Bill DOA In Senate
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/08/ap-obamas-glow-healthcare-triumph-over-bill-doa-senate

The House bill has passed — barely and belatedly — and it is now dead.  Nothing like it will ever pass the Senate.
http://healthcare.nationalreview.com/post/?q=N2NlYTJjZGQ1MDMyNjZjNjU1MGE0NTc5YzJkZjQ3ZGM=

Health Care Passage Unlikely - With or Without Stupak Intact
http://catholickey.blogspot.com/2009/11/health-care-passage-unlikely-with-or.html

 Back to Top

---

MORE NEWS: LifeSiteNews.com Home Page  Last 10 Days   Archives   Special Reports

Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.