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   Memo: The way forward on health care reform in 2010.
 A dark legacy of the Vietnam War is creating a whole new set of problems.
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March 2, 2009
OVER BEFORE IT STARTS.... President Obama nominated Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) this afternoon to head the Department of Health and Human Services, but political observers have known for a while this was likely. Indeed, several conservative groups and high-profile activists have reportedly been gearing up to fight Sebelius' nomination. Jane Hamsher noted two weeks ago that there are "concerns" in the White House that Sebelius may prompt "a backlash" among abortion-rights opponents. The Washington Post reported last week:
The New York Times added over the weekend:
Donohue doesn't have to "walk away," but by all appearances, the fight is already over. For example, Operation Rescue, a hardcore pro-life group, thought they could pick up Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) as an opponent of Sebelius' nomination. Almost immediately after her nomination was announced, however, Brownback issued a statement, expressing his enthusiastic support for the Kansas governor. What's more, when the president introduced Sebelius today, they were joined on the stage by, among others, prominent Kansas Republicans Sen. Pat Roberts and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. Around the same time, Sebelius' nomination was endorsed by the American Medical Association and the AFL-CIO. Now, I suppose it's possible there's something damaging in Sebelius' background that could imperil her nomination. It's exceedingly unlikely -- she was already vetted for the Obama ticket last summer -- but crazy things happen. That said, if Bill Donohue, Operation Rescue, and other culture warriors think they can derail this nomination because Sebelius is an ardent supporter of reproductive rights, they're likely to be very disappointed. —Steve Benen 3:10 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (20)Comments
I'm a devout Catholic, and I don't know anyone -- progressive or conservative -- who respects Bill Donahue, or even takes him seriously. His importance is derived not from support of Catholics, but from the media's willingness to give him a podium. Posted by: Hoosier Paul on March 2, 2009 at 3:04 PM | PERMALINKAddendum: See? I respect him so little, I didn't even spell his name correctly. :) Posted by: Hoosier Paul on March 2, 2009 at 3:05 PM | PERMALINKTaking Sebelius out of Kansas is a mistake. Period. Posted by: Simp on March 2, 2009 at 3:05 PM | PERMALINKwell of course brownback is offering enthusiastic support for sebelius' nomination: Damn Obama - I thought I voted for a 'pro-choice' president who would implement 'center-right' government & appoint Phyllis Schafley to head HHS. Posted by: SadOldVet on March 2, 2009 at 3:11 PM | PERMALINKAll the Catholics and other Christians should remember we do have separation of church and state. These people still try to usurp the power of state to impose their religious believes upon women. Bill Donohue is one of the deranged males who are hostile to women and have trouble with human sexuality. They want to punish women not protect life. They are against sex education and contraceptives and abortion. Gov. Sebelius will get all the support from us women out there. We are fed up with all these idiotic religious nutcases. Posted by: renate on March 2, 2009 at 3:17 PM | PERMALINK Hey wait just a darn minute We're the party of NO and we mean it. We don't give a rats ass what other Rpugs support her Posted by: John R on March 2, 2009 at 3:19 PM | PERMALINKAll the Catholics and other Christians should remember we do have separation of church and state. These people still try to usurp the power of state to impose their religious believes upon women. Bill Donohue is one of the deranged males who are hostile to women and have trouble with human sexuality. They want to punish women not protect life. They are against sex education and contraceptives and abortion. Gov. Sebelius will get all the support from us women out there. We are fed up with all these idiotic religious nutcases. Posted by: renate on March 2, 2009 at 3:19 PM | PERMALINK Nothing makes the word "hardcore" sound more pornographic than following it with "pro-life". Posted by: Capt Kirk on March 2, 2009 at 3:29 PM | PERMALINKCatholic officials and officiants: make sure that you pressure as well anyone who supports the death penalty - your Church has condemned that too, not just abortion. But as good a choice as Sebelius seems, do we have to worry about her likely replacement as Gov? Posted by: Neil B ◙ on March 2, 2009 at 3:47 PM | PERMALINKThe WalMart wing of the party couldn't block Solis, the religious wackjob wing isn't going to be able to block Sebelius. Posted by: Steve LaBonne on March 2, 2009 at 3:50 PM | PERMALINKAnd after Donahue was so successful at derailing Obama's campaign with a pro-choice Catholic running mate. Posted by: Allan Snyder on March 2, 2009 at 4:09 PM | PERMALINKHoosier Paul, amen on Donohue. Also, I think Brownback's support for Sebelius is tough to overstate. Posted by: Dan on March 2, 2009 at 4:28 PM | PERMALINKThe Church's position now seems to be that every Catholic politician is duty-bound to promote codifying Catholic morality into law, and therby criminalizing any deviation from Catholic morality. So what's next: outlawing contraceptives?, eliminating divorce?, making Sunday church attendance legally mandatory? Posted by: Virginia on March 2, 2009 at 4:52 PM | PERMALINKNo one is "pro-abortion"...they are "pro-choice". Posted by: bjobotts on March 2, 2009 at 5:06 PM | PERMALINKMore imbeciles: "the most rabidly pro-abortion governor" I'm certain that at night she satanically lusts for the souls of the unborn too, along with the giblets. Religious conservatives are morally bankrupt and they don't even realize it. Here's to America's religious abortion! I doubt it will come to pass but I kind of doubt the Jesus/Apocalypse/Heaven's do-overs for the "faithful" will even more so. Operation Rescue still exists? I thought they had dried up and blown away. Trust Bill Donohue to come along and prove that the English slurs against the Irish are all too true in at least one instance. I must say, he's the perfect example of the otherwise-unemployable Irish con artist. Posted by: TCinLA on March 2, 2009 at 6:03 PM | PERMALINKI'm sorry, but there is no sane to get me to believe that the Governor of Kansas is the most pro-choice governor in the nation. Maybe she's prompted the most to stand by her convictions, but I find it hard to believe she comes out on top in anything other than a right-wing fever dream. Besides, do they want her in the Senate? Honestly, this appointment basically gives a Senate seat to the GOP. And they are still whining about it? Granted its one they already have, but it was Sebelius' for the taking. Posted by: BStu on March 2, 2009 at 7:04 PM | PERMALINK
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