President Obama versus Cardinal Rigali: Who is telling the truth about abortion funding?
President Obama is ‘Fabricating’ — Not Cardinal Rigali and the Catholic Bishops — About Abortion Runding in Health Care Plan
20 August 2009 Terence P. Jeffrey, Editor-in-Chief
(CNSNews.com) - President Barack Obama and Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, have taken directly contradictory positions on whether the health-care bill in the U.S. Congress funds abortion.
Cardinal Rigali says the bill does fund abortion and that those who say otherwise are pushing an “illusion.”
President Obama says the bill does not fund abortion and that those who say otherwise are guilty of a “fabrication.”
Who is right and who is wrong?
Cardinal Rigali laid out his position in a carefully reasoned and detailed argument presented in a pastoral letter sent to the U.S. House of Representatives on August 11.
President Obama laid out his position in two terse sentences in a short speech to a religious audience on BlogTalkRadio yesterday. President Obama did not present a detailed argument for his position or make any reference to any specific provision in the bill itself.
Here, verbatim, is how Cardinal Rigali explained that federal money would indeed go to pay for abortions through the federally subsidized system of health insurance that the bill would be create (the bolded words in this passage are bolded in the Cardinal’s original text):
“Because some federal funds are authorized and appropriated by this legislation without passing through the Labor/HHS appropriations bill, they are not covered by the Hyde amendment and other federal provisions that have long prevented federal funding of abortion and of health benefits packages that include abortion. The committee rejected an amendment to extend this longstanding policy to the use of federal subsidies for health care premiums under this Act. Instead the committee created a legal fiction, a paper separation between federal funding and abortion: Federal funds will subsidize the public plan, as well as private health plans that include abortion on demand; but anyone who purchases these plans is required to pay a premium out of his or her own pocket (specified in the Act to be at least $1.00 a month) to cover all abortions beyond those eligible for federal funds under the current Hyde amendment. Thus some will claim that federal taxpayer funds do not support abortion under the Act.
“But this is an illusion. Funds paid into these plans are fungible, and federal taxpayer funds will subsidize the operating budget and provider networks that expand access to abortions.”
President Obama not only disagrees with Cardinal Rigali’s conclusion that the bill funds abortion because it funds abortion providers, but in his short speech to a religious audience on BlogTalkRadio yesterday he said that those who say the bill funds abortion are not telling the truth.
“I know there’s been a lot of misinformation in this debate. And there’s some folks out there who are, frankly, bearing false witness,” Obama said near the beginning of his talk.
A little deeper into his talk, Obama said: “You’ve heard that this is all going to mean government funding of abortion. Not true. This is all–these are all fabrications that have been put out there in order to discourage people from meeting what I consider to be a core ethical and moral obligation. And that is that we look out for one another. That I am my brother’s keeper and my sister’s keeper. And in the wealthiest nation on earth right now, we are neglecting to live up to that call.”
Did President Obama rebut Cardinal Rigali’s clear and specific argument?
When the Energy and Commerce Committee approved the amendment to its version of the health care bill that spelled out the way the bill would handle abortions in federally subsidized health insurance plans, the liberal New York Times did its best to describe the amendment in a way that would be amenable to the predictable spin that Obama and others who want to deny that it funds abortions would put on it.
But even in the New York Times’ explanation, the basic fact is impossible to ignore: The bill mandates that everyone getting federal subsidies to buy health insurance must have an opportunity to buy health insurance that covers abortion.
Reported the Times:
“By a vote of 30 to 28, the committee approved an amendment setting forth abortion policy. The proposal, offered by Representative Lois Capps, Democrat of California, was supported by most Democrats and opposed by Republicans.
“The amendment said abortion could not be included in the ‘essential benefits package’ to be defined by the government. Further, it said insurers would not be required or forbidden to cover abortion. But, it says, in every part of the country, the government must ensure that there is at least one plan that covers abortion and at least one that does not.
“Under the bill, health plans would receive federal subsidies to help pay premiums for low-income people. But under the amendment, subsidies could not be used to pay for abortions.”
In fact, under the terms of both the House and Senate bills, it is not only "low income people" who will qualify for federal subsidies to buy insurance, but also people making up to 400% of the poverty level ($88,000 for a family of four). The bill will guarantee all such federally subsidized insurance purchasers the ability to buy an insurance to plan that covers abortions. Therefore, federal money will pay for abortion coverage.
To put it more bluntly, this health care bill will take money away from hard-working, decent, pro-life taxpayers and hand it over to insurance providers that pay doctors to kill unborn babies.
Verdict: Cardinal Rigali told the truth, Obama did not.
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The Democrats lie?! Shocking! Remember Bill Clinton, the "unusually good liar?"
I am so tired of Obama calling people who oppose him insulting names. He’s the one who is "fabricating" things here. He’s going to be a one-term president, and it serves him right. I can’t wait until he’s out of office and the Democrats are licking their wounds in the minority section of Congress.
Beware! Obama Been Lyin’ and Osama Bin Laden
No bill from the Senate or the House shall be no more than 200 pages and contain more than 40,000 words. The bill shall be broadcast on the internet for 7 days. Comments YEA or NA shall be recorded and counted state by state. Letters and phone calls shall be judged the same. If any Senator or any House member voted against his constituants wishes -The Senator or House memers shall immedately resign and the Governor of the state shall appoint a sub until the next election. HOWS THAT GRAB YOU!
Unless the Obambycare law has wording which specifically requires exercise of health care to preclude abortion for any person for any reason along with patient requirements to ascertain that they are not using the health care plan for abortion and that, under penalty of law, any use of the health care plan for abortion purposes is subject to prosecution to the greatest extent of the law, then HR 3500 supports the possibility of abortion being performed as part of the Title 10 authorized parental planning care.
Prez Obama: PLEASE read the bill (the only one that is in writen form at this point). You will find all of those items you claim are not in it ARE in it. And, those of us you accuse of "wee wee"ing around (or are you spelling it "Oui! Oui!"ing?) will be owed an apology.
Who are you going to believe? A man of God (Cardinal Regalli) or a fabricator(obama). I will go with the man of God.
So now "The Great Pretender" is calling the Cardinal a liar? One would think this alone would outrage Catholics, however the Democratic Party seems to be their "Religion" of choice. How anyone could adore a Party that endorses the very issue their Religion vehemently opposes is truly incredible.
Great journalism, Mr. Jeffrey! Father Pavone of Priests for Life called it FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) in disguise. He also said: "The “health care reform” bills being finalized in Congress will set off a chain reaction that will result in a massive expansion of abortion! That’s because, unless Congress explicitly states that abortion is excluded, it will be regarded as “an essential benefit” for Americans."
Hard for Obama to maintain any credibility by accusing a Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church of lying, or at the very least "fabricating", AFTER the AARP has already refuted Obama’s repeated claim that their organization supports his Health Care Reform bill. I got to tell you, someone better show the Community Organizer-in-Chief where the rocks are before he drowns. As of right now, he’s soaking wet and looking rather foolish.