[Apologetics] ACLU: Your senators' big decision on Stupak-style extremism

[Art Kelly]

For the ACLU to call anyone an extremist is the classic case of "the pot calling the kettle black."
 
More importantly, the Stupak-Pitts Amendment is definitely NOT extreme.  
  
According to the National Right to Life Committee (NRTLC), the Stupak-Pitts Amendment would: 
  
(1) prohibit the new federal government insurance program, the "public option," from paying for abortion, except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest; and 
  
(2) prohibit the use of the new federal premium subsidies ("affordability credits") to purchase private insurance plans that cover abortion (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest). 
  
NRTLC also noted:  
  
“The Stupak-Pitts Amendment explicitly allows private insurance companies to sell insurance policies that cover abortion (either abortion alone, or abortion coverage along with other coverage) to persons who pay for such policies entirely with their personal funds.  Some pro-abortion groups have claimed that the Stupak-Pitts amendment would prohibit private companies from selling abortion coverage even to a person who receives no government subsidy, but this is false.” 

Art
--- On Thu, 11/19/09, ACLU <aclu at aclu.org> wrote:


From: ACLU <aclu at aclu.org>
Subject: Your senators' big decision on Stupak-style extremism
To: arthurkelly at yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 6:45 PM






















Dear ACLU Supporter,

The anti-abortion agenda is now in full view. Anti-choice extremists think they have won a massive victory in their attempt to limit access to abortion. Let’s prove them wrong. 
 
As Senate action on health care reform heats up, the reproductive freedom of millions of American women is on the line. 

Your senators—Sen. Jim Webb and Sen. Mark R. Warner —have a critical role to play in deciding whether or not health care reform will undermine the reproductive rights of women all across the country. 

Urge Sen. Jim Webb and Sen. Mark R. Warner to reject anti-choice efforts to hijack health care.

As you may know, anti-choice forces in the House—led by Representatives Stupak and Pitts—succeeded in making the House health care bill a vehicle for advancing their agenda.
 
This isn't, as its sponsors claim, an attempt to make sure health care legislation maintains the "status quo" when it comes to federal funds not being spent on abortions. It is an effort to dramatically alter the landscape of reproductive rights for women all across the country.
 
Health care reform should improve women’s health and lives, not interfere with their ability to get the health care they need. But politics and ideology came together in a toxic mix when the House of Representatives added the Stupak-Pitts amendment to the Affordable Health Care for America Act. 

We must not let the same thing happen in the Senate.

Urge Sen. Jim Webb and Sen. Mark R. Warner to reject anti-choice efforts to hijack health care.

If this amendment is part of the final health care legislation, anyone who participates in the health care exchange will be prohibited from buying a plan that covers abortion care if they receive a federal subsidy, even if they contribute their own private funds to pay part of the premiums.

Please act right now by urging your senator to protect women’s ability to make private health care decisions without government interference.

Thank you so much for acting to protect reproductive freedom. 

Sincerely, 
Vania Leveille 
ACLU Legislative Counsel 

P.S. Even though the odds seem daunting, I know we can win. The Stupak-Pitts amendment is one of the most dangerous intrusions into women’s lives we’ve ever experienced. But you and I know the American people don’t want the government interfering in their personal lives. Please take action today and tell your friends to do the same.















© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004

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