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Rep. Capuano backs off support for abortion-restricting healthcare bill

By Aaron Blake - 11/10/09 08:30 PM ET

Want a testament to how potent the pro-abortion rights crowd is on health care reform?

Check out the race for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat:

U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano, in a significant departure from his forceful arguments a day earlier, said today that he would vote against a final health care bill if it includes a provision restricting federal funding for abortion.

Capuano, who voted for the bill in the House on Saturday, had blasted Senate race rival Martha Coakley on Monday for saying that the abortion provision was so unpalatable it was worth sinking the overall package.

But today the Somerville Democrat said that his vote Saturday was merely to advance the legislation so it could be amended later, not an indication of his final political judgment.

“If the bill comes back the same way as it left the House, I would vote against it,” Capuano said in an interview. “I am a pro-choice person, and I do believe this is [necessary] to provide health care for everyone.”

It is a startling reversal given the language Capuano used Monday to hammer Coakley for saying she opposed the bill over the abortion restrictions, whose inclusion was the product of a deal liberal House members made to win narrow passage of the overall package. He went so far as to call Coakley's comments "manna from heaven" for his campaign, blasting her for not knowing how Washington worked, and for being willing to torpedo a major health care overhaul over this one provision.

Coakley's campaign follows with this: “We are heartened to see that Congressman Capuano has reversed his position to follow Martha Coakley’s lead, and no longer will vote for health care legislation that further restricts a woman’s right to choose."

At this point, Capuano needs some "manna from heaven" to make next month's primary a real race.

This round goes to Coakley.
Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/67301-capuano-backs-off-support-for-abortion-restricting-health-care-bill

Comments (10)

The Dems have become morally bankrupt. — Consider their ICONS - Teddy, a drunk who let a girl drown while he saved his own sorry ass - Mr. Rangel, who is so far into owing everyone, no one can keep it straight - Mr. Dodd, whose cozy arrangements with Countrywide, etc, allows him to live an elegant life - and so on, Ad Infinitum, Ad Nauseum. — These people have no shame because all of their Democratic "friends" and "representatives ' and "senators" have been doing the same for decades. — NEWS FLASH - everyone's watching you very closely now. — Lots of documents are in the Public Domain, particularly Real Estate deals. — Watch your backs because an unhappy constituent is watching YOU.BY cme on 11/10/2009 at 21:21
The abortion rights activists will kill the public option.Disallowing subsidies for plans that offer abortion is an easy vote.But they want to allow the public plan to offer abortions, and the President will toss the public plan and the abortion issue if it threatens Health Care legislation.BY JJC on 11/11/2009 at 04:10
Journalists work purposefully against the national interests by selecting inflammatory or misleading language. Why say "pro-abortion rights crowd" instead of pro-choice? Why say "a provision restricting federal funding for abortion" instead of a provision restricting federal and private funding for abortion? The public desparately needs more information and less drama!BY Insearchoftruth on 11/11/2009 at 08:44
i dont see all the problem,, the hyde amendment and obama already said he will not sign a bill that lets federal money be used for abortion, you can buy a rider on the insurance for it, which would cost more that the abortion itself, just pay cash if you want an abortion, all these people fighting for it to be included, how many abortions do these women plan to get in a life time? you want freedom to chose what you do with your body, everyone does, but with that comes responsibility, birth control, its not rocket science, you dont want a kid, use birth control or self control its that easy. in other words. dont act like a hoe, close your legs,BY cargo65 on 11/11/2009 at 09:20
pro abortion and pro choice are different,proch oice- the right to chose even if you dont believe in abourtionpro abortion-you support abortionsfedera l funding/insurance with subsidies-no abortion moneypersonal insurance w/ no federal subsidies- can get abortion rider this is the difference, prochoice dont mean pro abourtion, it means the right to chose,i am prochoice yet i do not approve of abortion, but i do feel its a womans choice and would never judge someone who wants one. learn the differenceBY cargo65 on 11/11/2009 at 09:25
I was for it before I was against it. Heard that before. What weak leadership we have today. Seems like all of congress is for sale.BY PL on 11/11/2009 at 10:04
If you're going to say "pro-abortion", you should probably say "anti-choice", too.We already have a law on the books (that has proven to be a workable compromise over many years) and specific language in these bills assuring that no federal money would go to abortions. Why in the world would Congress (and perhaps the Senate) pass an amendment that goes far beyond the status quo? An effort to begin the removal of choice? Or an effort to kill heath care reform? Either way, it's just another example of Congress not doing the people's business but playing politics.BY LauraNo on 11/11/2009 at 10:38
It just goes to show all of us that in most cases in Congress politics rules out conscience most of the time.If you sacrifice conscience in order to save yourself politically, then, you must not be able to do anything creative outside of being a politician.BY Jeremey LeBlanc on 11/11/2009 at 11:49
I am so tired of politicians who say what they do not believe just to get votes. Show me a man or woman who speaks for what they believe, and I'll respect them. Show me people of integrity who will stand on their word because they have ethics and concern for their fellow man. Politicians have become like vomit in the mouth - needing to be flushed down the toilet!BY Elizabeth on 11/11/2009 at 12:04
Aaron these people are pro-choice not pro-abortion.You dumb down your argument when intentionally choose to label them this way… Or perhaps it's unintentional and you're just an idiot.BY tom priestly on 11/11/2009 at 12:18

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