"[O]ne more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place."
So said Barack Obama during his healthcare address to the nation Wednesday.
Yet, according to an article at ABCNews.com, this could be another example of the President playing fast and loose with the facts (h/t Jake Tapper):
While the original bills both in the House and Senate never explicitly addressed abortion, Section 1714 of the House bill, H.R. 3200, does talk about family planning for women on Medicaid, the existing federal-state health care program for the poor.
Section 1714 would make states automatically eligible for matching federal funds if they wanted to offer family planning services to women who do not otherwise qualify for Medicaid because they make too much money. Currently, states wanting to pursue this approach need a special waiver from the federal government.
The piece elaborated:
Current law says federal funds cannot be used for abortions except in the cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
But under health care reform plans, lower income Americans would have their health care subsidized by the government, and they would be allowed to pick a health care plan that covers abortion.
Not what Obama and the Democrats are claiming, is it?
One version of the House reform bill, by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, would allow health plans to cover abortions, as long as they were paid for entirely with private funds. That provision is made in an amendment by Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif.
Keeping public and private money separate might not be the easiest thing to regulate, but experts say it could work.
However, the version with the Capps amendment may or may not end up being the final bill that goes to the House floor.
The Senate, in the meantime, is still working on its bill.
So, it is unclear whether taxpayers could ultimately fund abortions through these reforms or not.
As such, despite what Obama said Wednesday, healthcare reform MIGHT result in federal dollars funding abortions.
If this ends up being the case, will media outlets fully apprise Americans BEFORE members of Congress vote on this bill?
Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.






















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Comments Policy
→ Bait and switch
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 18:06 ET by Cool ArrowObama's cover is "There is no bill", so he can say anything negative about it he wants and be technically truthful at this point.
The Bill with the Illegal Alien Care, and the Abortions, will be another of those overnight sensations we saw with the Budget and Stimulus.
Van Jones is a Quitter - FS
The master, Saul Alinsky, would be proud
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 21:28 ET by lotrI hope to God Cool Arrow is wrong.
"Let's wrap him up, alright?" -- Keith Olbermann
→ lotr
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 21:33 ET by Cool ArrowI feel like a Barry Goldwater campaign ad.
"In your heart, you know he's right"
LOL
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 22:52 ET by lotryour killing me
"Let's wrap him up, alright?" -- Keith Olbermann
Budget Reconciliation...
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 14:28 ET by retroconThe congressional budget act allows a simple majority vote (no filibusters allowed) for budget reconciliaion bills.
Notice how Obama and other dems are trying to sell the concept of this being a budget problem? Insurance, money, medicare budget, deficit... words that they are using to manipulate the public into stupidity, and give the MSM a "reason" to support them when they nuke it with a simple majority vote in the Senate.
just watch.
As Wilson and others have pointed out..
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 18:23 ET by RpeggioAmendments to speak directly to NOT funding abortions and REQUIRING citizen verification/ID check to receive federal healthcare funds/benefits have all been fought and left out of the bills in the Congress and Senate by the Dems.
The reason being lawyers and politicians love ambiguity and loopholes, and unless language explicitly states Abortions CANNOT be funded and illegal aliens CANNOT receive healthcare benefits and ID's must be verified, they will find a way to contort the language in the bill(s) to allow such things. The Dems have fought against very clear specific language to address these two issues and it's obvious why.
It's precisely why Wilson, though rude and inappropriately called Obama a liar, truly had a valid point in saying Obama is not being totally honest, and he knows it.
Any lawyer knows that ambiguous legal language or language that doesn't specifically say something CANNOT be funded or allowed can be circumvented and twisted so such items CAN be funded and allowed. It's shameful.
Obama can say anything
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 18:34 ET by richb313Obama can say anything because he did not submit a bill. In the present form the house bill bears very little resemblece to what Obama described, but dear leader has cover because Nancy Pelosi and her gang are crafting the bill. Mark my words, Obama will sign anything that comes across his desk, just like George Bush did during his first term, and not veto any bill that comes from his democrat congress.
It seems all politicians have a bad case of truth telling when it comes to what is actually in legislation. The names of bills usually have the opposite effect. Patients bill of rights protect doctors and insurance companies. We could play this game all day long but you get the point.
jake tapper is the box of chocolates for the MSM
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 18:37 ET by katainkentyou seriously never know what you're gonna get.
He could really have taken this further and delved into reproductive planning the board that will oversee it but this is better than nothing.
Let's do this again!
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 18:49 ET by BigMike252You Lie!
Will miracles never cease
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 18:57 ET by general companySomeone in the srm is finally reading the flipping Bill!!! What a day late joke***
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
The Catholic Health
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 19:09 ET by celatorThe Catholic Health Association, the nation's largest group of not-for-profit health care sponsors, systems, and facilities, has announced it will not support Obama's HealthCare proposal. The story was issued by the American Life League Sept 1.
KA-POW! Right in the kisser, abortion fanatics.
Perhaps we missed that story in the national media. Lesse, must be here in the pile somewhere. Nope. Not there. How odd.
Here's the web site with the story
http://www.all.org/article.php?id=12166
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
Of course the eventual bill
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 19:18 ET by kefkaOf course the eventual bill will cover abortions. I think everyone knows it will. Its an obvious lie that it won't. Barry pretends he's not lying when he says abortions won't be covered and the GOP pretends to believe him. Its all so civilized.
The Commerce Clause returns
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 19:31 ET by KC MulvilleAll of the governmental mischief comes from a fraud. In the wake of the Depression, the Supreme Court issued a logically tortured excuse for the federal government to control private behavior. They latched into the Commerce Clause, and claimed that anyone who consumes their own wheat is "suppressing sales." Therefore, their private behavior is affecting interstate commerce, and therefore Congress has the right to control what a man does on his own property.
Well, I say the same rule must be applied here. The government cannot subsidize abortions. But if the private citizen chooses a private plan that the government would have otherwise had to pay for, is he not doing the exact same thing as the wheat grower? It's a commercial transaction. And if the government is forbidden to subsidize abortions, doesn't that demand that private citizens are therefore forbidden from buying insurance that covers abortions?
The Commerce Clause cuts both ways.
This is OT
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 19:54 ET by well99delete
Lies & Trust
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 20:24 ET by kilrodIf an unborn child cannot trust you, why should I,??
Can hardly wait to hear
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 22:02 ET by RR GOPCan hardly wait to hear this argument:
"Well, Medicare doesn't pay for abortions!"
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
LOL
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 02:24 ET by KC MulvilleThat's the line of the day ...
Too Funny!
Sun, 09/13/2009 - 22:05 ET by srqvetRR GOP. That was hilarious! Thanks! Needed a laugh.
You have to understand
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 11:40 ET by grumpyoldbB.O. only lies when his lips are moving.. or when he's looking at you, or anyone else, or when he's thinking, or when he's asleep, or.....
Lies.
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 11:52 ET by jessieHLies. That is all we ever get from the govt. The same goes for the govt. run news media. If obama opens his mouth, he is lying. If the MSM reports a story, it's full of lies........................TRAITORS, every last one of them.
Of Course
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 12:36 ET by slickwillie2001Of course abortions will be paid for, it's a done deal. The liberals have successfully taken the 'health of the mother' to such ridiculous extents like –"I can't have this baby because I will be depressed if I can't go clubbing at night", and they get away with it. Those same ridiculous measures will apply to Obamacare and to the onerous requirements the Bamster will place on private insurance in order for them to participate in his 'exchange'.
We need to successfully challenge the 'health of the mother' loophole before Obamacare can be addressed.