This is it. This is what I have been boring you about for weeks. The last major sticking point in the budget battle. De-funding Planned Parenthood. Jake Tapper
His meeting with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., having concluded, President Obama came to the White House briefing room this evening to report “additional progress” had been made and “differences have been narrowed.”
But outstanding issues remain, he cautioned, ones so important – to both sides – the president said he wouldn’t express “wild optimism” that there will be a deal.
Democratic sources tell ABC News that things “feel better now” in terms of a deal being cut, but the major sticking point remains the GOP rider prohibiting any federal funding to Planned Parenthood or any of its affiliates.
This is what was always going to come down to. Numbers are negotiable and no number under discussion would come any where near fixing the problem or making a real difference. Defunding Planned Parenthood can make a real difference. It can save lives. It is the only thing that matters in this debate.
The Republicans must stick to their guns on this matter or they walk away with nothing after all this, morally AND politically. If Obama is willing to shut down the Gov’t over PP, then so be it. If the Republicans will be unfairly blamed for the shutdown, then so be it. This is the only thing that matters and this opportunity may never come again. Now is the time. There is no other.
Kill Planned Parenthood now. If they cave, I am done with them and so will many others. Do it, do it now.
April 8, 2011 at 5:00 am
Amen!
April 8, 2011 at 5:32 am
They're already willing to stop pay to the military, and think that will be enough.
We'll have to see, no?
April 8, 2011 at 6:00 am
We are actually in the middle of two opportunities that being the funding of last year's budget and the huge discussion of next years budget.
As a matter of tactics I expect some will argue (with some justification) that some significant cut in this deal to propel into the next cycle might be called for versus all or nothing.
I talked to a pro-lifer about this today and he was not happy with what I said but I was just giving a political on the ground observation.
I travel between two to three districts. 2 Republicans and one Conservative Democrat. On the radio stations I have listened too I have heard no upsurge in Pro-life adverts, I have not caught one commercial on radio or TV that is talking the planned parenthood issue.Maybe they are there but they have not been enough to get through the average person
If we are expecting Republicans to go out on a limb here and in a second week of a shutdown stick to total or even at this point partial defunding against a angry public that is not getting tax returns they need some help.
The point I made to my pro-life friend was you just can't tell a Congressman to do X and leave it at that. You got to help him out by shaping public opinion on a issue.
IN FACT, I have not noticed any indication of a real PR push by the Bishops even. At least not in my Diocese and my Bishop is pro-life.
Liberal groups and pro-abortion groups on the other hand I HAVE heard on the radio in my conservative area.
I understand the " I am through with you" sentiment. But to be honest from what I am seeing where I live for the Battle that is ahead that same politico might go so what and say "What have you brought to the fight."
I fear this is a serious problem and this has to be corrected soon and def before the huge major war we are about to have on the next budget
At this point I am less disappointed with the GOP and much more with the whos or whoms is in charge of national messaging and PR for the pro-life community
Maybe I will be pleasantly shocked but right now the preparation for this seems to have been lackluster.
At least that is how it looks from the EAST Texas, North Louisiana, and South Arkansas markets
April 8, 2011 at 6:09 am
But to be honest from what I am seeing where I live for the Battle that is ahead that same politico might go so what and say "What have you brought to the fight."
To which we'd reply:
"I sent you, *bleep.* Just like the last dozen times you promised that this time, it was different. Show you're worth the effort before I blow all my ammunition– again– supporting your bloated corpse."
Great, so there hasn't been anything on the radio? I know there's been TV commercials– they've shown up here– and I know that there are videos all over the net.
At this point I am less disappointed with the GOP and much more with the whos or whoms is in charge of national messaging and PR for the pro-life community
We're not monolithic, first off, and secondly– you're disappointed in a group that has commercials from A FORMER PP LEADER saying PP is bad?
Oh, but you haven't heard any on the radio.
I've got nothing BUT strong pro-life messages during Mass– in the Seattle area, of all places!– and without looking, have run into a dozen different strong advertising pushes against the baby killers.
But hey, let's throw our hands up and quit, because you haven't heard anything on the radio. A multi-million dollar business is threatened, and they've spent more than the pro-lifers— shock!
April 8, 2011 at 6:41 am
I think James' point is well-taken. Yes there is pro-life messaging going on for those of us who read Catholic, pro-life, or conservative blogs or news sources. The same (hopefully) at mass. But that's a very limited percentage of voters. I agree that we need more media coverage, starting with newspapers and radio. TV would be great, too.
April 8, 2011 at 1:05 pm
I do not expect the Stupid Party to go out on a limb. They desire to remain in power. They do not desire to exercise that power to defend life so to Hell with them.
And if anyone thinks that Ryan's budget is serious, I got some swap land in Florida…
The Stupid Party is smart enough to know that it can safely pass a budget that the Senate will reject therefore convincing its supporters it is really serious this time..
Please
April 8, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Defund PP, or we shall elect someone else who will.
April 8, 2011 at 2:37 pm
I am confused right now. From Catholic Vote it looks like defunding Planned Parenthood is NOT on the table right now, that the only rider regarding abortion is to stop tax payer funding of abortions in DC only. Either way, both sides are playing politics with lives. This is a tragedy.
Kathryn
April 8, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Kathryn:
There is no moral equivalence as you suggest ("both sides are playing politics with lives") between politicians who (at the moment) appear to be at least standing up for life against those who would have our tax dollars used directly for the killing of innocents and the politicians who will force us to pay for abotions. This isn't and either way both are playing politics issue. One side is (at the moment) standing up for life and the other death. Who is really "playing politics with lives"?
Also, I am also confused as to what is exactly on the table. From what I understand you are right that the only provision deals with direct funding of abortions in DC.
David
April 8, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Quick! Get to the Chopper!
April 8, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Re: " only rider regarding abortion is to stop tax payer funding of abortions in DC only." I think that is only for the 1 week extension. The defunding of PP is for the 2011 budget.
April 8, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Both sides always play politics. The members of The Stupid Party and The Evil Party are politicians and their #1 priority is to remain in office and enjoy the position, powers, privileges, and perks and playing politics is the way they preserve their positions.
Far too many Christian Catholics think The Stupid Party cares about them and the universal objective moral order. But any time spent in thought over their actual record over the past two scores years wakes-up one to reality.
The political class thinks we are fools; they can not stand The Catholic Church; they have no use for the Kingship of Christ; they refuse to faithfully discharge their oath to protect and defend the Constitution but they will go to great lengths to protect and defend Usury and Unjust wars; and they will do whatever they can to keep the Borders open so that there will be a continuous cheap supply of labor for Big Business that will keep wages artificially low so that both Mom and Dad will have to work which means destruction of the family; and they will target the monies in retirement accounts and the social programs instead of radically scaling-back the Military which is positioned all over the globe.
Keep convincing yourselves that "this time" it will be different from the "Reagan Revolution" or the 'Republican Revolution"' of 1994. Both "revolutions" resulted in much bigger government, more wars,increased debt, and it was Reagan who looted the Social Security System and increased the size of the Dept of Education despite promises to do just the opposite.
Look, liberty died with the election of Lincoln and it has all been downhill since the despicable tyrant became the head of the Republican Party and instituted mercantilism and unitary govt.
The Stupid Party hates you and it is high time y'all grew-up and started hating it right back. And, yes, as bad as The Stupid Party is The Evil Party is worse.
April 8, 2011 at 3:47 pm
The Stupid Party knows that "defunding P.P." will NOT pass in the Senate. They are playing politics. They could have defunded it when they had total control of all three branches of govt under the liberal Dubya, but they didn't.
They did not defund it because they think it is a good idea. And they now tell you they will defund it so you will hate their political enemies instead of hating then for not doing the right thing when they had total control of govt.
Sheesh…….
April 8, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Now is not then.
Planned Parenthood is weak, and we've made it clear that we actually expect action for our vote, not just more promises.
I think I'll avoid the "throw your hands in the air and give up, they're all evil, you can't win" thing.
April 8, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Thanks Rick, that makes sense now.
Kathryn
April 8, 2011 at 4:33 pm
From doing more reading, Rick is right. There is a CR that is sitting in the Senate that funds the military and bans taxpayer funded abortions in DC. The actual budget cuts PP funding and, according to Reid, is the only problem with the bill for the Democrats. How's that for highlighting their baseline priorities?
I fully expect the Republicans to cave, but so long as they are standing firm (no matter what they did in the past) I don't think it is fair to accuse them of not standing up for life.
PP's "brand" as they call it is weak right now. Now is the time. Especially because you can justify the cuts on separate fiscal grounds.
David
April 8, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Also, with the help of Susan B Anthony's List, there was success against "pro-life" politicians that caved on the abortion provisions of Obama care. Hopefully, that means that these politicians will learn that there are consequences for abandoning your pro-life principles when you get to Washington.
David
April 8, 2011 at 5:31 pm
@ David, The consequences are total and outright loss of citizenship and exile.
A FUNDAMENTAL DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO LIFE IS ENUNCIATED AS “SELF-EVIDENT” AND “UNALIENABLE” IN OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. The “Right to choose” violates the most basic civil right inscribed in our founding principles, the right to be recognized and acknowledged as a sovereign person begotten by the will of God and the laws of nature and nature’s God also inscribed by our Declaration of Independence. The state gives citizenship and makes vital statistics. Contrarily, any person who repudiates our founding principles repudiates his own citizenship. Repudiating our founding principles, as atheists and abortionists do by denying the Person of God as a citizen of the world, the newly begotten sovereign person as a child of God, requires witness and testimony to prove perjury, treason and sedition by these Sovereign Persons Whose sovereignty constitutes our nation, to remove their citizenship.
Planned Parenthood like the American Civil Liberties Union cannot be paid for providing, in their own words, CHARITY. Charity and Justice are virtues and cannot be bought any more than the Constitution or citizenship can be bought. If the government shuts down, it will be paralleling our moral status: NONE
April 8, 2011 at 8:04 pm
I think I'll avoid the "throw your hands in the air and give up, they're all evil, you can't win" thing.
Come on Foxfier, it's fun! Plus you get to display your own sense of moral superiority, all the while mindlessly spewing cliches used by another mindless blogger.
April 8, 2011 at 10:07 pm
The true political believers in The Stupid Party are forever telling others that "this time it is different; we will hold their feet to the fire," while they castigate those who are, finally, fed-up after all of the endless lies.
Those who are fed-up are seldom credited with any rational motive for their refusal to believe the lies of The Stupid Party. Far from it. They are impugned as having malign motives – "your own sense of moral superiority" – while they give The Stupid Party chance, after chance, after chance.
When it comes to Christians and the Stupid Party it can not be said that The Stupid Party does not know its base and how to successfully manipulate it and keep it loyal.
But the ease with which they accomplish it year after year after year after year must make even them laugh to themselves.