Obama to Talk to Health Care with Faith Group Backing ‘Abortion Neutrality’
EmailABC News' Teddy Davis reports: President Obama has agreed to participate in a public conference call on health-care reform sponsored by an organization called "People of Faith for Health Reform" on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 19. View the call sponsors HERE. The call with Obama is part of "40 Days for Health Reform," a pro-health-care reform campaign being run by liberal religious leaders from the evangelical, mainline Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Islamic faith traditions. One of the group's goals is to ensure that the contentious issue of abortion does not scuttle the chances for health-care reform. "The key thing is we don't want abortion to enter this debate and sabotage health care reform," said the Rev. Jim Wallis on a Monday conference call with reporters. "Neither side should try to win political gains on abortion during the health care debate.". Wallis, who serves on Obama's faith council, said his group's mission is to keep universal health-care coverage alive as a "moral issue." To keep abortion from derailing health-care reform, the "40 Days for Health Reform" group is promoting a policy of "abortion neutrality." Wallis said "abortion neutrality" means abiding by the principle of "not changing federal law with regards to abortion." In particular, Wallis said his coalition of religious leaders has agreed to (1) no federal funding for abortions and (2) a "conscience clause" to ensure that health-care providers are not forced to perform abortions. Earlier today, the group sponsoring the call with Obama launched a television ad which will air nationally on CNN and MSNBC. Watch the television ad HERE.
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Funny, for decades pro-abortion groups have been cramming down our throats the idea that abortion is a “health care” issue. I thought killing babies (who, along with their fathers, don’t have a “choice”) was a bit more than that.
Posted by: S | August 10, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
S – Abortion, frankly speaking is murder. Comprehensive health care that uses my tax dollars and yours should not fund what we define as murder.
Posted by: Huh | August 10, 2009, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
Oh, this so smacks of desperation…
Posted by: matt | August 10, 2009, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
@huh: Did you not read the article? And are people not paying attention? Nowhere in the health care reform bill does it say that abortions will be covered. In fact, the Federal law remains the same as it is now. So, using this argument here and in the deceitful TV ads saying that “our insurance won’t cover my surgery, but covers abortions” is totally wrong and false!
Posted by: Shelleyt | August 10, 2009, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
Alas, personal definitions of ‘murder’ are irrelevant. Abortion is not murder just because religious extremists say so. In fact, much of what religious extremists believe and say is legal and ethical dreck.
Posted by: Sammy | August 10, 2009, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
I don’t like abortion myself. Used to use condoms and other birth control a long time ago. But if somebody needs it than that’s their business, not mine.
Posted by: Bill in NC | August 10, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
Shelleyt, Sammy – It is murder because these unborn humans have the right to life and liberty as defined in the constitution. I am no religious extremist. And yes, these new health care proposals will find a way to facilitate abortions regardless of what the politicians say to the contrary.
Posted by: Huh | August 10, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
Huh wrote:”Shelleyt, Sammy – It is murder because these unborn humans have the right to life”
So, those little Iraqi kids were murdered by Bush/Cheney. I bet you were on the front lines protesting those murders…yeah, right.
Posted by: George Jones | August 10, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Anything that would ensure that babies are born loved and wanted is fine by me. As it is, far too many people who have no business being parents to begin with are breeding like rabbits left and right–and the kids suffer for it.
Posted by: Veronica | August 10, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Abortion is a hot button. I believe many Democrats are “pro choice” not necessarily “pro abortion”. As much as Republicans go on about pro life & abortion, the GOP has not outlawed it nor changed the laws governing it. It is simply a hot button pushed when needed by the GOP.
As someone else said, abortions covered by health care is not included in the current proposal.
People really need to stop going off the deep end about health care reform & stop using abortion as an excuse not to support it or to be against it.
We need health care reform & it needs to be worked out.
Posted by: Linda | August 10, 2009, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
bringing up passionate personal & religious beliefs sure will stir controversy.
So if a group wants to steer attention away from healthcare for all, this is one of those cogs in the wheel that can be used. We’re all familiar with the right wing shenanigans.
If zealots don’t want to have an abortion, then they shouldn’t have one.
It’s between them and God.
The real point is ALL U.S. citizens deserve equal access to health and illness care. not cherry-picked by insurers, or denied coverage because they’ve lost jobs, can’t afford the high insurance premiums or become chronically ill and have a cap on their lifetime benefits.
This could be you or I, folks.
Posted by: Jackie | August 10, 2009, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
@ Posted by: Douglas Johnson | Aug 10, 2009 4:07:36 PM
“The claim that most of these Obama-affiliated groups are promoting “neutrality” on abortion does not pass the straight-face test.”
_____________________
Really, Douglas?
Speaking of faces – At face, you sound like an extremist.
Being a man, I’m sure you probably haven’t had to face this issue personally.
However, Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113 – was passed in 1973, so your claim of current conspiracies is not very convincing.
Seems like you make a moot point, Douglas.
Posted by: Jackie | August 10, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
At root, the American heartland suffers from an arteriosclerosis of the soul and mind, and is mired in jealousy of the intellectual and technological prowess that resides in the nation’s true centers of progress, creativity and tolerance of differences and new ideas.
— Pete
Posted by: Pete | August 10, 2009, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
“One of the group’s goals is to ensure that the contentious issue of abortion does not scuttle the chances for health-care reform.”
I had to chuckle when I read this part of the article — abortion is by far not the main reason why people object to the proposed health care reform.
As a matter of fact, if groups like this stopped bringing it up, most people would focus on their main objections to public option.
Posted by: Mr. M | August 10, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
Anything a religious fanatic says about healthcare is a fringe opinion.
Posted by: k3e*6 | August 10, 2009, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
If the government plan covers abortion, shouldn’t it also cover plastic surgery?
Just like people don’t expect to become pregnant and shouldn’t be held accountable for their actions, I didn’t ask for this nose and would like the government to fund a new one for me.
While we’re at it, I would like to see government funded liposuction and botox as well. After all, no body plans to get fat. Nobody plans to get wrinkles.
Posted by: Sally | August 10, 2009, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
the methamphetamine epidemic in the nations heartland – in small towns- might explain some of the extremist ideas – with religion, freedom, abortion.
What they lack in cultural vision and a connection with the world outside their small one, they make up for in an arrogance and grandiose vision of their superior values and religious virtue.
Posted by: small town gal | August 10, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Pregnancy is not a disease. Heart disease, cancer, AIDS, ALS, Parkinsons, etc are diseases. Health care is to prevent and treat illness. If a woman wants an abortion, and she was a willing partner in the sex then she and the father to be should pay for the abortion.
It’s that simple.
Posted by: Louis | August 10, 2009, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
If the folks who oppose abortion would adopt unwanted children, there would be no problem. Unfortunately, many religious extremists merely talk the talk. It’s sad how few religionists model the behavior their religion advocates.
Posted by: Sammy | August 10, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
The claim that most of these Obama-affiliated groups are promoting “neutrality” on abortion does not pass the straight-face test. In fact, at least four of the groups sponsoring Mr. Wallis’s call, purportedly to promote “neutrality” on abortion, are also members of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC). The RCRC statement on the pending “health care reform” legislation can be seen here:
http://www.rcrc.org/programs/healthcare_62409.cfm
Here is an excerpt from the RCAR statement: “Treatments and services that promote reproductive health throughout a woman’s life must be part of any national health plan. These include . . . abortion care . . . The [Roman Catholic] bishops have warned that including abortion as a health care benefit will jeopardize passage of national health care reform. But it’s the bishops and their allies who will block health care reform if it includes comprehensive reproductive health services. RCRC’s view is that abortion and contraception care should not be treated any differently than any other health care service. Coverage decisions should be left to a council of non-partisan health experts and should be grounded in science and based on the best interest of patients.”
Not surprisingly, then, the actual provisions of the legislation being backed by the White House, and promoted by Wallis and his allies, is about a far from “neutrality” on abortion as you can get. As amended, the House bill, H.R. 3200 would, among other things, establish a nationwide federal health plan (the “public option”) and explicitly authorize that plan to cover all abortions. The abortionists would send their bills to the federal agency, and the federal agency would send them payment checks. If you wanted to sign up with the public plan, you would have no choice except to buy an abortion-on-demand policy. And that is just one of the pro-abortion components. Mr. Wallis may really think he can peddle this as “neutrality on abortion,” but to more discerning eyes it looks like a wish-list for the abortion industry.
Douglas Johnson
Legislative Director
National Right to Life Committee
http://www.nrlc.org
legfederal@aol.com
Posted by: Douglas Johnson | August 10, 2009, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
Healthcare access for all in the U.S., not rationed and controlled by the mega-insurers and pharmaceuticals.
radical conservatives would rather have the profits go to the mega-corporations than to the people.
Posted by: drury | August 10, 2009, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
Sammy -
Many people who oppose abortion DO adopt children. They also run foster homes, mentor teens, work at health clinics and help fund programs to provide free contraceptives to under-privilidged women. But in the end, it isn’t the responsibility of abortion opponents to prevent pregnancy — it’s the responsibility of the couple who chooses to engage in unprotected sexual activity. They are the ones who need to take responsibility to prevent unintended pregnancy and if they don’t, it’s their responsibility to deal with the result.
Your argument makes no sense and it’s flawed. It implies that teens get pregnant because some folks oppose abortion and they don’t adopt children.
Why not focus your argument on American couples who’d rather adopt children abroad than here in America? In your mind, wouldn’t they be just as responsible for teen pregnancy as abortion opponents?
Posted by: Gaffe | August 10, 2009, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
Why is no one listening and reading about the facts that are on the White House Site about health care. Do you all really think that businesses can continue to offer health care? I think not, as that is what has helped to bring down the automakers.
Stop yelling and instead read and listen to what the president and Whitehouse are saying. There are no facts being put out there by radicals, they just want to stir-up things and leave us without any health care, because that is where we are headed as a nation, if we do not bring about a common sense need for all health care system that has some control as to pricing and necessary treatments and surgeries. Insurance companies have just given many-limited coverage if you have pre-existing health issues. Medicare and Medicaid have improved greatly, so let us not rush to judgment about universal health care and give it a try. Medicare and Medicaid works and the government went after those who tried to take advantage of those two systems recently, so that is what is needed monitoring of who is doing what. Read and Listen, it can work.
Posted by: Pam Walsh | August 10, 2009, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
I find it extremely offensive that many people feel completely justified in attacking the intelligence level of people who are “religious” and against abortion. I read several comments on here that spout that opinion. Some people think that if you accept anything and everything then that makes you sophisticated somehow. I think it just makes you indecisive and not willing to stand up and say that there might actually be some things in this world that are not gray areas but are always wrong. Abortion involves the killing of a human being at varying phases of development. Look it up if you don’t think I am “sophisticated” or worldly enough to know what I’m talking about. I realize I am just a stupid religious fanatic.
Posted by: Kmason | August 10, 2009, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
40 years ago we were in sync with the rest of the world on abortion and birth control. Now we have moved back into the 19th century.
America never moves forward.
Posted by: Jon F | August 11, 2009, 6:01 am 6:01 am
no abortion for incest victims? Makes me think of the nine year old girl the anti-abortionists were outraged that a compassionate doctor terminated the pregnancy.
i think issues get twisted – like the death panel rants. here in florida we lived thru the terri schiavo case. Many seniors were distraught at the thought of their brain-dead body being kept alive for years to drain all monies from any estate. If you enter a hospital for major surgery they ask you to provide your wishes should the catastrophic occur.
We have serious issues – health care covers less and less each year.
Posted by: citizenvoter | August 11, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am
This is crazy. Everything that has been written is just someone’s opinion. Why does everything always have to be so polictical? the country should be pro choice because everyone has there own mind and if they choose abortion that is their decision not the countries. No, I don’t think public health care should pay for it but people should really pay more attention to the bill and how it may improve the health to those who have no insurance and are very ill and unable to get the care needed to save their lives.
Posted by: unknown | August 11, 2009, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm
There is no such thing as abortion neutrality, or common ground. ***************** As for me and my house we choose life ……………..
Posted by: Ed Taylor | August 12, 2009, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Sammy, there are childless couples willing to adopt babies in large numbers in this country who must wait months and years to have a chance. I will guarantee you that there are crisis pregnancy centers in the city where you live who can help any woman willing to place a baby for adoption find a loving home where that child can be raised.
Posted by: Don | August 12, 2009, 2:03 am 2:03 am
Douglas Johnson is right. Would anyone expect less from Mr. Abortion himself, Barack Obama, most Liberal voting record….
The thing is. Even scuttling the explicit authorizations for abortion is not enough. Precedent has it that unless specifically excluded, abortion procedure are included in general “medical care” and thus covered.
Posted by: Yochanon | August 12, 2009, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm