This video is unbelievable – it’s Stupak arguing against the Republican’s motion to recommit the Senate bill to the committee. He denigrates the Republicans claiming they are pro-life and claims the Democrats are more pro-life:
Health Care Showdown
Aired March 21, 2010 – 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
REP. BART STUPAK (D), MICHIGAN: The motion — the motion — the motion is really — the motion is really a last-ditch effort of 98 years of denying Americans health care. The motion to recommit does not promote life. It is the Democrats who have stood up — it is the Democrats who have stood up —
REP. DAVID OBEY (D), WISCONSIN: Suspend. Those who are shouting out are out of order.
STUPAK: Mr. Speaker —
(CROSSTALK)
STUPAK: Mr. Speaker, this motion does not promote life. It is the Democrats who have stood up for the principle of no public funding for abortions. It is Democrats, through the president’s executive order that ensures the sanctity of life is protected, because all life is precious and all life should be honored.
Democrats guarantee all life from the unborn to the last breath of a senior citizen is honored and respected.
For the unborn child, his or her mother will finally have free and post-natal care under our bill. If the child —
(APPLAUSE)
STUPAK: If the child is born with medical problems, we provide medical care without bankrupting the family.
For the Republicans now claim that we send the bill back to committee under this guise of protecting life is disingenuous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I’m claiming my time.
STUPAK: This motion is really to politicize life, not prioritize life. We stand for the American people. We stand up for life. Vote no on this motion to recommit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the gentleman for —
STUPAK: And I yield back to the gentleman.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
There’s nothing you can say other than the statement “Democrats guarantee all life from the unborn to the last breath of a senior citizen is honored and respected.” is a plain and bold faced lie. The paragraph before it is full of mischaracterization of the bill and the useless Executive Order – His party hated him for doing what he did. The only way to explain this is that this is Stupak’s speech to get him back in the good graces of his party. It also exposes the Executive Order for what it was – a way for Stupak to save face.