The Optimistic Take
Lindsay Beyerstein argues that, contrary to the most obvious inference, that reproductive freedom advocates weren’t asleep at the switch when the House adopted the Stupak amendment, and that it’s likely not to survive the Senate:
The reality is much more complicated. Abortion-rights groups were actually watching and lobbying against stringent anti-abortion restrictions in the health-care bill throughout the process. And, while their strategy failed in the House, the introduction of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s health-care bill on Wednesday without Stupak-like language indicates that their predictions that they would be more effective in the Senate are being vindicated.
It’s hard for me to imagine the World’s Worst Deliberative Body improving any legislation passed by a Democratic House, but the reporting is solid, so hopefully Lindsay’s onto something…