Several folks asked me why I didn't comment on the health care bill passing. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Looks like that is happening. Obama is pulling back the reigns on the "pro-life victory" wrought by the Stupak amendment restricting abortions as part of the plan.
President Obama said today that Congress needs to change abortion-related language in the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives this weekend.
In an exclusive television interview in the Map Room of the White House, Obama told ABC News' Jake Tapper that he was confident that the final legislation will ensure that "neither side feels that it's being betrayed."
"I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test -- that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," he said.
Common ground, I guess.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Anybody Else Call This One?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
'Reins', not 'reigns'. (insert FYI smiley here)
I tend to hear conflicting opinions from Catholics on the subject of health care. In Europe I think it's safe to say that most Catholics are for it; it seems that in the US there is some reserve. Is that due to the fact that what is generally proposed is national health care? And if so, why doesn't there seem to be much animus towards it in Europe? Could the latter be a consequence of most Europeans being born already into such a system? What kind of a health care system would be "most Catholic"?
The "national" element of the reform options available is definitely one element of it. Frankly, the objections are coming from a lot of different areas.
Some are worried about a drift towards socialism in everything the country does. Some are worried that this is a plan to get abortion and euthanasia laws in through the back door. Some are worried about loss of personal autonomy. Some just don't like the idea of paying for others' health care.
The European folks I know (and granted there aren't many) seem to be just used to it. The respective governments there, of whatever sorts of systems there may be, have a much more expansive entitlement system than the USA does. It's just accepted there now.
It's Obama's legalese at work again. I think Cardinal George noted it early on...Obama said something to him along the lines of "I understand you completely, we're on the same page..." and George was quick enough to say "Listen. No we're not."
I think that Throwback's right when he states that European Catholics are used to nationalized health care at this point. I also think that this explains in a small part at least, the Church's decline in Europe. Why depend on Mother Church for anything, why do the "Christian thing" and help your fellow man, when the government will do it for you?
Post a Comment