Dems Give Up on Stupak?

Have the Democrats found a way to work around the abortion and health-care issue? Rep. Bart Stupak, the leader of the anti-abortion Democrats, says “they’re ignoring me now. That’s their strategy now. The House Democratic leaders think they have the votes to pass the Senate’s health-care bill without us. At this point, there is no doubt that they’ve been able to peel off one or two of my 12. And even if they don’t have the votes, it’s been made clear to us that they won’t insert our language on the abortion issue.” Stupak has claimed to have 11 other Democrats who will change their votes from “yes” to “no” if the anti-abortion language in the Senate bill isn’t strengthened. “The others are having both of their arms twisted, and we’re all getting pounded by our traditional Democratic supporters, like unions.” Stupak almost sounds resigned: “I’m disappointed in my colleagues who said they’d be with us and now they’re not. It’s almost like some right-to-life members don’t want to be bothered. They just want this over.”