E.J. Dionne Jr.: A dust-up over abortion rights -- that's all

Lauren Victoria Burke, Associated Press

A controversial amendment to the health care bill bears Rep. Bart Stupak’s name.

By E.J. DIONNE JR., Washington Post

Last update: November 14, 2009 - 9:29 PM

For some years, Democrats have denounced parodies casting their party as utterly closed to the views of those who oppose abortion. Last weekend, Democrats proved conclusively that they are, indeed, a big tent -- and many in the ranks are furious.

From the outraged comments of the abortion rights movement, you'd think that Rep. Bart Stupak's amendment to the House version of the health care bill would all but overturn Roe vs. Wade.

No, it wouldn't. The Michigan Democrat's measure -- passed 240-194, with 64 Democrats voting "yes" -- would prohibit abortion coverage in the public health care option and bar any federal subsidies for plans that included abortion purchased on the new insurance exchanges.

Whatever else is true, Stupak's amendment is unlikely to have a significant effect on the availability of abortion, since most abortions are not paid for through health insurance.

Democratic supporters of abortion rights need to accept that their House majority depends on a large cadre of anti-abortion colleagues. They can denounce that reality, or they can learn to live with it.

There is also a challenge for abortion's foes, above all the Catholic bishops who have a long history of supporting universal coverage but devoted most of their recent energy to the abortion battle. How much muscle will the bishops now put behind the broader effort to pass health care reform? Their credibility as advocates for social justice hangs in the balance.

The truth is that even with the Stupak restrictions, health care reform would leave millions of Americans far better off than they are now -- including millions of women. This skirmish over abortion cannot be allowed to destroy the opportunity to extend coverage to 35 million Americans.

Killing health care reform would be bad for choice, and very bad for the right to life.

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