Congressman Bart Stupak likes to tout himself as "pro-life". The reality is that he is not. He is willing to kill the biggest "pro-life" legislation in years. He is willing to kill Health Reform because of his misguided definition of what "pro-life" is. That is the cruel irony of his insistence on keeping his ammendment in the final versions of HCR. Congressman Stupak is actually "anti-life".
Under Stupak's definition of what "pro-life" is, he thinks that it begins in a woman's womb and ends with delivery. The reality is very different. Pregnancy is an expensive endeavor. If a woman and her family have access to adequate health care coverage, the woman goes to her doctor for check-ups, ultrasounds, and finally to the hospital for the delivery. All of this is expensive and without insurance prohibitively so. After delivery, there are follow-up visits for both mom and baby. These bills also add up. If there is a problem that requires neo-natal care, the cost can easily bring financial ruin to a family. Who will help that family cover the cost of bringing that child into the world if they have no insurance?
My question to Congressman Stupak is simple: You tout your "pro-life" credentials. You have been giving interviews outlining your position that the Stupak ammendment must remain in the final versions of HCR or you will vote "NO". I have to ask how does that square with your supposed belief in the sanctity of life? I ask this because as you know there are people in this country who are either losing their health insurance or will lose it in the near future. What will happen to them if they are faced with a pregnancy? If they had access to health coverage they would not need to worry. If they had insurance they might make a decision that you and all your supposed "pro-life" allies would approve of. But then again, your concern for pregnant women and their families begins and ends at the woman's womb. You simply don't care, because you are not "pro-life". That is the cruel irony with your defintion of "life".
I ask this because I want to know what you would tell these people. I want to know how you will explain to them that you are "pro-life". The reality is that killing HCR is not "pro-life". You are willing to deny coverage to people because you twist the very definition of the term to suit your personal agenda. You would force your will on everyone in the country for your view of what "life" is. You hijacked the phrase "pro-life".
Congressman Stupak, if you really care about life issues, then you need to drop the ego-driven demand that your ammendment be included in the final versions of HCR. Continuing your demand is not "pro-life" but rather, "anti-life".