Will Obamacare pay for abortion on demand?

 

A majority of Americans are opposed to the idea of abortion on demand. An even larger majority are opposed to the use of taxpayer funds to pay for this procedure. Because of this, the Obama administration and its Democrat supporters in congress are dancing all around the question of whether or not the various health care reform proposals being debated (collectively, “Obamacare”) will allow the use of taxpayer money to pay for the abortion of unborn children.

In our sister publication, washingtonexaminer.com, Marjorie Dannenfelser and Kellyanne Conway remind readers that the Gallup Poll reported in May that the number of Americans who call themselves "pro-life" has surpassed 50% for the first time in 10 years. They also list a recent survey by the polling company, inc./WomanTrend, which found similar results that yield even more compelling evidence of a growth in pro-life attitudes: Just seven of every one hundred Americans support the Obama-Pelosi creed of abortion at any time and for any reason. They go on to summarize: “When you go beyond the usual ‘pro-life or pro-choice’ dichotomy to ask the degree to which Americans support abortion, 56% select what can be considered a ‘pro-life position.’ Only 40% select what can be pegged as a ‘pro-choice’ view.”

 

Last week, in his radio address (pre-recorded before his trip to Martha’s Vinyard), President Obama slammed his opponents for spreading what he called “willful misrepresentations and outright distortions” over his plans for comprehensive reform of the healthcare system. The Christian Science Monitor reports Obama as “debunking some of the most outrageous myths” circulating about what the Democratic reforms would do. One of these “myths” was the claim that coverage for abortion would be mandated under reform. The Monitor quotes the president as saying that idea is false: “although Obama did not venture into the territory of whether women receive federally subsidized insurance could sign onto a health plan that covers abortion.” So it’s sorta, kinda like a myth. Only different.

In late July, CNN's John King asked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D. Calif.) if the government-run health plan should cover abortions. Pelosi stammered, saying, “That’s not--that’s not the issue. The issue is people go out there to--we'll be working on that issue. But that’s not the issue." Later, a Cybercast News Service reporter asked “Could you please give me a yes-or-no answer on whether or not you personally, Speaker Pelosi, support expressly prohibiting the funding of abortion through the federally subsidized health plan created by the health-care reform bill.” “Well,” she replied, “my position on a women’s right to choose is well known.” With Nixon, we had the famous “non-denial denial.” With Pelosi, it’s the “non-admission admission.”   Same level of candor.

  Nancy Pelosi (AP/Steven Senne)

Any number of slick “truth about healthcare” websites attempt to assuage pro-life fears concerning taxpayer-funded abortion. One particularly egregious one, Health Care Reform Myths, slides around the issue by proclaiming: “Nothing in any of the current health care reform bills mandates abortion coverage — or any other type of medical procedure — in the Exchange. Abortion is not mandated any more than any other medical procedure in health care reform, similar to all other coverage decisions.”

The Democrat sycophants of the Mainstream Media are equally coy on the subject. On its website, CBS News has listed “10 Health Care Reform Myths,” including one stating: “The Health Care Legislation Mandates Taxpayer Dollars Pay for Abortions.” Citing a report by Dan Gilgoff of U.S. News and World Report, the site claims: "Private health care providers are free to cover abortion, but not with federal funds. The public plan would cover abortion, but not with federal funds; a Capitol Hill aide tells me money for abortions would come from what participants pay into the public plan."

CBS then goes to a remark President Obama made in his July interview with Katie Couric: "I'm pro-choice, but I think we also have the tradition in this town, historically, of not financing abortions as part of government-funded health care." From all of this, they conclude: “It has yet to be determined how this issue will finally be settled.”

 

So, that’s it. Some congressional flunky tells Dan over at U.S. News, who tells CBS News that Obama’s public plan will pay for abortions, but only from premium funds paid by participants. And the president says that, traditionally, tax money has not been used to pay for abortions; so the whole thing is just a “Health Care Reform Myth.” Where’s Dan Rather when we really need him?

Clearly, the Obama administration is going to great pains to deny that the taxpayer-funded killing of unborn infants is in their health care plan. Obama says he prefers not to be "distracted" by this question. But, during the campaign, Obama gave a speech before Planned Parenthood (watch the VIDEO); the enterprise that annually kills 350,000 unborn children in the U.S. He pledged that "the first thing" he would do is to sign what sponsors call the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which would strike down every protective bill ever passed in Congress or in the states. Partial-birth abortion would be de-criminalized. Waiting periods would be struck down. Parental notice would be banned. Funding restrictions would be overturned. Informed consent laws would be de facto repealed.

 

Even though the FOCA has not yet been passed by congress, the Planned Parenthood folks are strongly supportive of Obama’s health care reform proposals. Stop and think. If Obamacare really didn’t cover abortion, shouldn’t we expect a loud roar from the pro-choice advocates? Their silence on this topic surely indicates that they know something the rest of us don’t.

Sure, the word “abortion” appears nowhere in any proposed versions of Obamacare. Neither do the terms “appendectomy,” or “angioplasty.” Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that these procedures would not be covered under the plans, just because they are not mentioned by name? Just recall that, eleven times, pro-life amendments were offered in committee, amendments that would have specifically ruled out abortion funding. And eleven times these amendments were voted down. Pro-life Democrats joined Republicans in voting for these protective amendments, but to no avail.

Is it reasonable to doubt that Obamacare will bring about taxpayer-funded abortions?

Obamacare: Abortion's Trojan Horse

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