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NOW Official: Abortion-Rights Groups ‘Extremely Disappointed’ in Pelosi; Will ‘Absolutely’ be Tracking Final Vote
November 11, 2009 2:21 PM
ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Abortion-rights groups say they were blindsided by the last-minute deal that wound up adding new abortion restrictions in the health care bill -- and are serving notice that they won’t let that happen again.
On ABCNews.com’s “Top Line” today, Erin Matson, action vice president of the National Organization for Women, said the fact that Rep. Bart Stupak’s, D-Mich., amendment came to the House floor “came as a shock” to her group and others.
“Frankly, everyone was stunned by this,” Matson said. “We did not expect this would be part of the health care bill. We had been mobilizing our members for weeks and weeks in advance to try and stop this, and all of a sudden in lands in the bill.”
She added: “I don’t think we consider Nancy Pelosi an anti-choice Democrat, but we’re extremely disappointed that this went to the floor.”
Asked if -- if the Stupak amendment is in the final version -- the health care bill will be part of NOW’s annual “scoring” of how members of Congress vote on abortion-related legislation, Matson was unequivocal, as well as graphic:
“Well, absolutely. But you know what? I’m not concerned about Blue Dog Democrats or other Democrats. What I’m really concerned about are women are college campuses who are missing their periods.”
Matson also pushed back against former President Bill Clinton’s contention -- as articulated yesterday in a meeting with Democratic senators -- that “the worst thing we can do is nothing.”
“I do not agree with that at all,” she said. “The notion that we should sacrifice our rights as women for the greater good is absolutely a false choice.”
Yesterday, NOW President Terry O’Neill told ABC’s Jake Tapper that the House-passed bill would “achieve that goal [of passing health care reform] by pushing women back into the back alleys to die.”
(O’Neill was originally scheduled to be our guest on “Top Line,” but she was unable to join because of a meeting at the White House with Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.)
Matson said NOW and others need to make their case quickly because “things are moving at an incredibly fast clip right now.”
“I’m 29,” she said. “I never thought I would make a sign that says, ‘my body, my money, my choice.’ What we have for the first time is an attempt to bar women from using their own private funds, with private insurance companies, from accessing abortion.”
Watch the full interview with Erin Matson HERE.
We also checked in with Christina Bellantoni of Talking Points Memo about how Senate leaders are sorting out complicated abortion and health care politics, and about grass-roots efforts to press members of Congress into action.
You can watch the discussion with Christina Bellantoni HERE.
We also played a piece of the latest “Subway Series” interview conducted by ABC’s Jonathan Karl, where Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., suggests he’d be willing to join a GOP filibuster of a bill that looks like the one passed by the House.
You can watch the full segment with Sen. Nelson HERE.
November 11, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (43)
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What a BS article. People who are oppose to murdering their child should NOT fund your choice to do so. Spend your own money for this Vile act. I dont want anyone to pay for something they oppose. Murder is your choice and your money.
Posted by: cameronspeaks | Nov 11, 2009 3:01:14 PM
The Dems, mostly Pelosi and Obama, incompetence with this matter is shocking. Words matter in legislation and shoving something through out of fear of losing power is unacceptable. NOW is right to be disappointed. Good for them for speaking out.
Posted by: Lila | Nov 11, 2009 3:05:11 PM
Let Planned Parenthood supplement peoples
choices to have abortions or better yet,
all of you who think abortions are a good
thing should have a telethon and raise
money for this. For you true believers,
put your money where your mouth is.
Posted by: wis134 | Nov 11, 2009 3:06:15 PM
CAMERONSPEAKS I AS A INDEPENDENT MODERATE VOTER I AM PRO-CHOICE BUT IN NO WAY I SUPPORT THIS BILL OR ANY BILL THAT SAYS MY MONEY WILL GO TO ANYONE FOR A ABORTION AND ALL MY PRO-CHOICE FRIENDS FEEL THE SAME.
Posted by: natale from mass. | Nov 11, 2009 3:08:46 PM
My tax money went to Wars I was against that killed thousands and will cost trillions. Are those born breathing thinking loved people who left devastated families less valuable? Bailouts and many more things I'm morally against giving my tax money to, including giving your evil religious corporations tax breaks, so quit your whining.
Posted by: Lila | Nov 11, 2009 3:13:16 PM
I cannot believe half this country still supports Obama and his cronies. These people have to be sitting at home living off the government which is basically living off everyone elses hard work! Anyone who is unemployed and wants to work has to know by now Obama doesn't care about creating jobs. He wants everyone dependent on government.I am still so mad about the way he dicrespected the soldiers killed at Fort Hood ie: his little shout out, reading completely off script, no emotion. It's a discrace. Thank you this Veterans Day to all our armed forces and vets! No Obamacare...They already messed up the H1N1 vacine...Speak out America
Posted by: cookiemnst | Nov 11, 2009 3:19:21 PM
LILA, YOUR EVIL RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS SORRY I DONT OWN A CORPORATION OH BUT THEN I WASNT THE ONE WHO GAVE THEM A BAILOUT AM I THE DEM AND REP DID LISTEN ALSO IF YOU WANT TO LAY DOWN AND DO THE NASTY THEN YOU PAY FOR THE ABORTION OH THATS RIGHT THEIRS THIS FUNNY LITTLE THING CALLED CONTRACEPTIVES PILL,CONDOM TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE REST OF US.
Posted by: natale from mass. | Nov 11, 2009 3:20:52 PM
NOW has wasted so much time and money on lesbians and third-world problems, and failed to protect abortion rights. They weren't caught off guard on this one, or when they supported Obama over Hillary in the primaries. Unbelievable idiocy!
Posted by: tina | Nov 11, 2009 3:27:51 PM
What do you think all the churches are run like? CEOs are criticized for their lavish lifestyles, ever see the way these church leaders live? Worse they don't pay taxes!! Oh by the way, if your not even smart enough to unlock your cap lock button, please do the world a favor and take your own advice, use contraceptives and don't reproduce.
Posted by: Lila | Nov 11, 2009 3:34:19 PM
Guess they will have to keep their pants on now.
Posted by: VEC | Nov 11, 2009 3:59:22 PM
lila happily married 20 years and going strong whats the matter with you poor liberals cant handle it to sressful for ya leogorky yes i am judge and jury when i have to take care of a bunch of dead beat losers like yourselves.
Posted by: natale from mass. | Nov 11, 2009 4:04:35 PM
Spend the money on Birth Control, not Murder. If they are in college or anywhere else they can spend the $ for birth control or do what the rest of the responsible people do: take the responsibility. And yes, I know from what I speak as a 19 year old unmarried pregnant girl. I'm 52 now and paid the price over and over. Pro Choice BEFORE Pro Life AFTER conception.
Posted by: kab4usa | Nov 11, 2009 4:20:59 PM
I've been happily married for years and I'm originally from Newton. The probability that you pay more taxes than me is very unlikely. See, I'm more inclined to believe people who want to stick their nose into everyone's else business are the real dead beats, because they seem to have WAY too much time on their hands.
Posted by: Lila | Nov 11, 2009 4:43:21 PM
To the government: Mind your own business.
To the Catholic bishops who are still butting into something that they will NEVER do: Mind your own business.
To the conservatives who still think that women belong at home barefoot and pregnant: Mind your own business.
To the anti-choice people posting here: Mind your own business.
Our bodies, our choices, our OWN business.
Posted by: Veronica | Nov 11, 2009 5:42:03 PM
I am pro choice,I don't like abortion but I am sure everyone who is anti abortion won't whine when their taxes go up to support the thousands of children and their mothers that will go into the welfare system, food stamps, health care schooling etc. The wealthy women will go elsewhere to have their abortions. If you believe in retribution from God let Him be their judge, I am tired of old white men especially telling women what to do with their bodies
Posted by: irene | Nov 11, 2009 6:08:51 PM
I can't believe that this is happening in this country who exports democracy in other nation but women in their own country don't have right to what to do with their life.
Posted by: uma | Nov 11, 2009 6:22:12 PM
This witch Nancy calls herself a CATHOLIC,where is the church on this woman.She is a demon from hell.As for her boss he is beyond saving.
Posted by: Joeray | Nov 11, 2009 6:48:51 PM
Wmmen have the right to do with their body as they please, they just don't have the right to have others pay for it. Let's be clear here.
Posted by: LongT | Nov 11, 2009 6:57:39 PM
First of all this amendment has NOTHING to with restricting abortion. The people at NOW are liars. If you want to have an abortion go ahead, but you should pay for it. If you decide to keep you baby go ahead, but you should pay for it. I believe a woman should have the choice but the woman should also pay for the consequences of that choice NOT ME. No federal dollars should go to abortion.
Posted by: Libertarian | Nov 11, 2009 7:18:19 PM
""Posted by: Veronica | Nov 11, 2009 5:42:03 PM To the government: Mind your own business."" If it wasn't for the GOVERNMENT, women would not be able to abort their unborn babies. Do they still need to "mind their own business"?
Posted by: d | Nov 11, 2009 7:39:43 PM
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