In case you haven't been aware of Bart Stupak, he is the Democratic rep who was holding up the health care bill on the basis of its allowing indiscriminate federal funding for abortions (which it never has done).

So in a last minute agreement for his vote, a directive was issued that put new language in the bill, language that changed nothing, but that made it seem like Stupak had achieved some sort of victory.

The bill provides for the funding of abortions performed only to save the life of the mother, or to halt pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest. The new language does not change that. Even those of us who are pro choice can live with that because few of us want frivolous reasons to prevail. However, the poor who cannot afford more children or who are too ignorant to understand birth control, will still suffer. The wealthy will just pony up the bucks and get what they want.

Now Stupak can go back to Michigan and prance about his influence. I tried to E mail him, but his website limits E mail to those who are Michigan residents, and they don't show you his E mail address on the form so you can't copy it to your own webmail. (I will still find it.)

If Stupak thinks God is on his side (and if there is a God) he will get his. I can presume to speak for God as well as any Evangelical nitwit: God hates hubris.

On MSNBC this morning, one analyst asked, “Ooooh, has Stupak succeeded in getting the Democratic party to attest to a pro-life policy?”

Well, no. Those of us who understand what has happened know that nothing has changed.

If Stupak(a particularly appropriate name) ever rears his political head to try for a bigger constituency though, he is toast.

I’ll content myself with E mailing MSNBC.

Meanwhile, I am breathing a sigh of relief that this important legislation, flawed as it is, but a first step, has finally passed, and the Republicans can go to bed with a supper of nails to chew on.

xx, Teal