The AP is reporting that the candidate who had been planning to challenge Stupak in the Democratic primary, Connie Saltonstall, is not pro-life.

If Saltonstall or some other pro-choice candidate gets the Democratic nomination and happens to beat the Republican candidate and win the seat ... I’m curious whether folks on the pro-life side will still consider Stupak’s retirement a victory.

Here is your 30 pieces of silver.

Thank you for helping get it done. Now we are a bit closer to being the kind of society the prophets envisioned.

Dear Bart, Thank you for your service to our nation and your state. I am praying for you and your family, may God bless you in all your future endeavours. @Jimmy, Preston and Paolo: just leave Bart Stupak alone. He held out, he stood strong and perservered as long as he possibly could, almost killing the whole bill. If you can do all that he does, withstand immense and constant pressure by media and fellow statesmen, to face 100’s of thousands of letter from consituents, to have to choose between your heart and your mind, your career and your conscience, by all means you cast the first stone…....if not, quiet down and pray for this man, and our government. You all call yourselves christians, would Jesus call this man a coward? Youre just as bad as the people who condemned Jesus, you liked him at first, then, when he does one or two things you dont agree with, you turn on him and condemn him, you all make me sick!

Shaun:

I think it’s better to have an enemy who admits he’s your enemy than an enemy who pretends to be your friend and then stabs you in the back.

Besides, this November is going to be a bloodbath for Democrats. Stupak could have avoided participating in it, but he chose to sell the country out to Nancy Pelosi instead. I doubt very much that another Democrat is going to take that seat.

Jonny, did you even read my comment?

What would I say to Bart Stupak?  Good bye, and this November?  Please get it right:  vote PRO-LIFE.

Shaun G, I don’t know that pro-lifers consider Rep. Stupak’s resignation a ‘victory’.  I’m a pro-lifer and I surely don’t.  I will be heartened if his successor is pro-life, but a pro-life ‘victory’ is defined in much larger terms than one man’s resignation.

Johnny Catholic wrote; “you all make me sick”

Good luck getting that treated under the U.S. Postal Health Care system.

What makes me sick is the killing of the weakest and most vulnerable.

Mr. Stupak, not only have you sold out unborn babies and the pro-life movement, you sold out your own party and all hopes for a pro-life Democratic counterweight for a generation.

Pro-lifers long disenchanted with the GOP’s lame record over the last few decades have learned a painful and indelible lesson: As bad as the GOP might be, the Dems, even the ones that look like white knights, are always incalculably worse.

It doesn’t matter what you thought you were doing. You helped pave the country’s road to hell. I pray for your soul.

Meanwhile, instead of slinging names like “hypocrites” at the people stung by your betrayal, you should be praying for them and making reparation for the occasions of sin that your betrayal constitutes to others, both by scandal and by offense. The vituperation you so richly deserve could possibly become an occasion of grace for you, if you took it in the right spirit; for many on the giving end, I fear it will not be.

Mr. Stupak, I was almost ready to thank you.  You almost killed the whole bill and almost defended the unborn.  You stood strong until almost the very end.  You were almost pro-life.

If a small group of “pro-life” Republicans had decided it was more important to have tougher abortion language in the health care bill rather than to defeat all health care reform, they could have made a deal with the Democrats.  Stupak got the best deal he could—it would have been better if a few Republicans had the guts to work with him.

So those who voted against this bill (including some truly pro-life Democrats) are now the ones responsible for the expanded taxpayer funded abortions that are included in this bill?  Wow Dave, your Uncle Screwtape must be proud.

I agree with Steven, as a pro-lifer I was extremely encouraged by the emergance of a pro-life democrat force in congress last year. (I say that as a registered republican)  What might have actually come of two parties grappling over the pro-life vote?  We could actually force the republicans in congress to pay more than lipservice to the pro-lifers.  Well I must trust that God will bring good out of even the worst situations.  I only pray that we don’t sacrifice any more innocents.

I wonder how many among these responders is actively participating in pro life activities? I am sorry Bart Stupak caved but I know someone on the inside who said that Pelosi lied to him…and we know how she threatened and manipulated to get her way…could she have threatened his family in some way? What I do know is that she convinced him that she had the votes needed to pass health care without him…and that if he wanted anything at all, he better accept an executive order…of course, if she had truly had the votes - and insiders say she did not - then she would not have had to offer Stupak anything. She is the one responsible for so much evil, not Stupak. There but for the grace of God go I…who among us would have been able to bear up under hateful, frightening attacks on all sides as Stupak did for so long? Truly, as someone else has said: “Let the one among us without sin cast the first stone!”  I am praying for Bart Stupak and his family…praying too that when Dems realize how Pelosi and Obama deceived them they will come out and let the truth be known about strong arm tactics Pelosi used…threats, lies, was there even blackmail involved???? I don’t put anything past Pelosi…now she cries over ‘threats’ she is receiving…every prominent politician receives such threats…Tea Partyers have not only been threatened, but they have been physically attacked…but they keep going…no tears and whining there…let us pray that the Lord will raise up real pro life warriors in our country…and let’s pray for Bart Stupak who held out far longer than most of us would have been able to I bet…

A.M.D.G.

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Bart, “close enough for government work” doesn’t make it when lives are on the line!  And, how dare you for taking MY money to kill the innocent!

Sam: I haven’t prayed as many rosaries in front of aboritoriums as I ought, nor have I shied from the fight. Stupak was under heavy threat to personal life, and yet, he relented for a mere executive order, signed in a hushed, private session, that can (and will likely) be rescinded with little fanfare The Bishops were charitably clear on this deficiency. Sorry, but in the end, he caved. The most weak and vulnerable won’t care about the details brandished here.

I am constantly on the front lines of the pro life battle…and still, it is not enough. I honestly don’t think Stupak’s vote would have made a difference…remember, Obama and pelosi hadn’t even read the bill…they both admitted that. So there would have been enormous loopholes no matter what was decided…remember, Kathleen Sebelius, who was a supporter and colleague of George Tiller the baby killer - late term abortions - will have tremendous authority from Obama to decide how to get money for abortions to people…and remember too..there is are tremendous forces of evil fighting for abortion and abortion coverage…it is not up to me to judge Bart Stupak…perhaps he really believed he got the best he was going to get…perhaps his thinking was no longer clear after his long battle and his tremendous fatigue…and he was in touch all along with Church leaders…yes, he caved…the reason why he did is known only to God…I often wonder if I would have the courage and the love to give my life for Christ?  I honestly don’t know…we are asked to give our lives in so many ways each day…it’s so important to look at our own responses and challenges of Christ’s love…remember St. Peter betrayed Christ 3 times…Judas also betrayed Christ…Peter repented and asked for forgiveness and despite that terrible betrayal, Christ anointed Peter the first Pope…Judas did not, it seems ask for forgiveness, afraid perhaps or feeling unworthy and we don’t know if he was forgiven…Bart Stupak is facing his Lord…and so we have to pray for him and increase our efforts and our prayers for the unborn…for our Church and for our country…we are all in need…we all fall short…we all betray Christ in one way or another…we all need forgiveness…and we should pray for each other and leave the judgement up to God…

“You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it.”

Saving the unborn was obviously less of a priority to Republicans than hurting Obama.  They would rather make political points by refusing to work for improvements in the bill.  It was never about being pro-life for them, it was about political calculation.  Stupak did what every politician who believes in something should do, he worked it.

I would say: Thank you for fighting so long. I know it can’t have gained you anything and obviously cost you much. On behalf of prolifers everywhere, I apologise for the horrible vitriol spewed in your direction after your vote - vitriol that began before you had even issued a press release or made a statement. Despite taking a principled stand for as long as you did, you were treated worse than any pro-abortion politician out there. Since then you’ve said some stupid things, but I understand how tempting it is to get angry when your veracity and sincerity are questioned with such venom.

I know how badly you wanted to see health reform pass and how hard you tried to have your pie (health reform) and eat it too (pro-life clauses). I’m sorry you couldn’t have that.

In my opinion, you and Joseph Cao are the heroes of this whole debacle. I am sad that your principled stances (each of you ultimately falling on a different side, but fighting for the same goals) have cost you your public office and will very likely cost Cao his. The parties are dysfunctional, and the Catholic who seeks a moral government and society of solidarity for the poor and the ill is caught in a terrible place.

Good luck and God Bless.

Kate
Charitably seeking to see the best in others costs us nothing and can save souls - both ours, and the others.

good riddance

My message to Stupak is: I love you and God bless!

Thank you, Bart!  For your vote on Health Care.
Surely there is joy in Heaven at your courageous act.  For, you have cared for the least of our brethren.  As the Lord wants us to. [Matthew 25:40]
We know there is joy on Earth.  For, by your fearless action we are, now, finally, become a civilized nation.  A nation which takes care of all of its people. 
Well done thou good and faithful servant!
And, as you retire on the wings of your glorious deed, the thoughts and prayers of the millions and millions who are indebted to you for providing them with Medical Coverage, go with you. Via con Dios.

“A nation which takes care of all of its people”

Aborting a living being is not providing medical care.

Your calumny is vile. What’s the biblical passage on calumny?

“the thoughts and prayers of the millions and millions…” of aborted babies since Roe vs. Wade. I do pray they pray for us in heaven against this verbal abuse.

Bart: Goodbye and Good Riddance!

To Kyle David,  Abortion is a vile.
My heart cries for every child that is aborted.
Sadly, the Republicans who controlled the Presidency [George W Bush], the House, and the Senate, allowed 4 million babies to be aborted during their watch.  During the 108th and 109th Congresses.
They did not lift a finger to repeal Roe vs Wade when they had total control of the Executive and Legislative branches of the government of these United States. 
Shame on the Republicans!  Shame on them for shedding crocodile tears for the aborted.
When they had the chance to do something about abortion, about Roe vs Wade – they didn’t give a damn.
Unlike Bart Stupak who did.  And by his single, courageous, fearless, act provided Medical Coverage to millions and millions.
Wish the Republicans had those kind of guts.

I’d call him a hero.

Egbert; what is the “Mexico City Policy?” Who signed the order into effect and who rescinded it?

It is astounding to see people excuse what was arguably either a protracted piece of political theater or faltering cowardice on the theory that insurance will be magically conjured up by the government.

“And by his single, courageous, fearless, act provided Medical Coverage to millions and millions.”

Really? Look at the government. The Post Office is broke, Medicare is broke, Social Security.

I used to be a Medicare/Medicaid auditor. I know what government healthcare is all about-minimizing choice, making patients and doctors subject to mountains of insane red tape.

How long will it be before some court discovers a requirement to pay for abortion in the “unenumbrated penumbrae” of the constitution?

Mr. Stupak. I am heartbroken!

For Bart, there was a good fight there for a while, that’s for sure.  I was very proud that he could stand up to “the others” in his party with such gusto.  Nevertheless, I have to say that siding with the Pelosi train in the end was not what the doctor ordered.
Pelosi most likely wouldn’t have begged for the vote if she didn’t need it, nor Obama sign an executive order he most adamantly didn’t want to sign.

My question is…What does Pelosi have on Stupak tha Pelosi would tell Stupak she had enough votes with out him… that would cause him to shock everyone and cave in to her demands to pass the HC bill…that would make him give unreasonable excuses for leaving…and then what??  Obama and Pelosi beg him to stay??!!  Eventually these layers of lies and nonsense will be uncovered to reveal the truth.  Let’s not have another Massachusetts.

Good bye and good riddance.

Repent, confess, and do acts of reparation for the babies that will die because of you.

ps. Has anyone else noticed the change in Stupak’s countenance and demeanor since the cave-in? What a quick descent to defensiveness and anger! Careful, your conscience is showing!

None of us has any real idea the kind of pressure Mr. Stupak was under. He had held firm for the pro-life cause for so long (God bless him!), that when he finally caved, it felt like a PERSONAL betrayal.  That’s why some people are reacting with such anger. 

I wouldn’t compare Mr. Stupak to Judas; he’s more like Peter.  Probably any of the Apostles could have seen the handwriting on the wall that Judas might betray the Lord, because he had been betraying Him in smaller ways for some time.  But PETER!  He was the Apostle who was willing to jump out of the boat to walk on a stormy sea with only a beckoning from the Lord!  He was the Apostle who declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God!  He was the one who, when he didn’t understand Jesus’ teaching that they all must eat Jesus’ body and drink his blood, spoke for all the Apostles (as opposed to many, many of Jesus’ other followers, who abandoned Jesus at that point), saying, “to whom else could we go?  YOU have the words of Eternal Life!” He was both a natural leader and the appointed leader of the Apostles, and he was the one who so recently had sworn that he would die for Jesus. So naturally, he was the one that Satan wanted the most, and his “betrayal” (denial) would have stung Jesus more than if any of the other Apostles would have done the same thing (except that Jesus, in his divinity, saw it coming).  Stupak is like Peter in that he really was both faithful and courageous (about his pro-life convictions), and he had held firm for so long and was a leader among the other precious-few “apostles” (read: pro-life Democrats in the House), so his “betrayal” felt very personal.

I think that if ANY Democrat could have held firm under that kind of pressure, it would have been Bart Stupak.  Look at Senators Ben Nelson and Bob Casey—they were supposedly pro-life Democrats, but they caved sooner than Stupak did.  I think it all goes to show you that in the current political climate, the Democratic Party—which enshrines pro-abortion language right in its party platform—will not allow one of its own to be true to pro-life convictions.  I think Mr. Stupak was courageous in his decision to retire: I think in doing so, he’s sending us a clear message that if we truly believe that the murder of 4 millions babies a year is the biggest social injustice that needs correction in our society (which it is; it really does trump all other issues because of not only the scope, but also the seriousness of the injustice), then we can’t really count on ANYONE who chooses to remain in the Democratic Party.  I really had hopes that that wasn’t the case, but when Stupak sold his vote, all hopes that I ever had that Democrats could be truly and unequivocally pro-life, died. 

I’ll pray for you & your family, Mr. Stupak.  I think you made the right decision for the sake of your soul to retire.  May our Merciful Savior give grace to you.  God bless you.

Bart Stupak ‘fought the good fight’. He saw to it that the House of Representatives included the Hyde Amendment in their version of the healthcare bill. He then extracted an Executive Order from Obama that is likely to prevent federal funds being used for abortions. He faced threats and abuse from all corners of the political spectrum. He stayed in Teddy Roosevelt’s arena, bloody but unbowed. While those yelling from the cheap seats will never recognize that the perfect is often the enemy of the good, Stupak did and acted accordingly.

To Kyle David – The Mexico City Policy requires that NGOs [Non-Governmental Organizations] cannot [1] use Federal funds to pay for Abortions here and abroad,  And, as a recipient of Federal funds, cannot, also, [2] advocate or promote Abortions here and abroad.
Republicans Presidents have instated the Policy.  Democratic Presidents have rescinded it.
But, the Mexico City Policy is a nothing burger.  It impacts only a teeny-tiny fraction of the Abortions performed in these United States.
And, yet, when it came to the whole enchilada – neither, Republican President Ronald Reagan [1981-1989], nor, Republican President George Bush [2001-2009], showed any interest in overturning Roe vs Wade.
Some 16+ million babies were Aborted during their combined terms.
Neither Reagan nor Bush shed a tear.
So, I am quite at a loss to understand the crocodile tears that the Republicans continue to shed for the Aborted.
Bart Stupak did what he saw as right.  The Republicans have not.

At least he tried. When you’re up against the devil it takes a great deal of courage.  At least he tried.

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Egbert: your fealty to the Democrats is impressive but your dissembling on their behalf is troubling, as well as your assertions about “Crocodile tears,” as well as your testimony about who cares about what. Calumny remains a sin.

Since the Mexico Policy was a “nothing burger,” this suggests you tolerate spending public funds towards killing the unborn. Unless you mean abortion is more tolerable when the nascent are not in the womb of US citizens?

I say the universe as less worth than a single soul, I suspect that’s an orthodox belief.

To Mike Pearle – I would much rather have a broken Health Care system which covers everybody than an efficient one which covers the rich.

To Kyle David – I have no fealty to either the Democrats or the Republicans.  Nor, do I support abortion – whether funded by Federal dollars or private money.
I do have fealty to the truth.  And, the truth is this – neither, Republican President Ronald Reagan [1981-1989], nor, Republican President George Bush [2001-2009] – over a period of 16 years—showed any interest in overturning Roe vs Wade.
For the Republicans to be carrying on and on and on about the Sanctity of Life is sheer hypocrisy.

Saying good-bye might be a litte premature…the “word out of Washington” is that Mr. Stupak might be in line for greater rewards than that of being re-elected a US representative…in the Obama administration. That would only be fair as it was his vote that saved this Administration from total annihilation.  Stay tuned is what the wags say!!

Lets face it—you caved in because you knew you didn’t have a chance to be reelected. Calling pro-lifers and bishops hypocrites shows your true character—vindictive and unworthy of the office. Remember, when you point your finger when accusing others, your other three fingers are really pointed in the right direction. May God have mercy on your soul.

The day after Rep. Stupak caved I sent a campaign contribution to Dr.Benishek’s campaign for Congress. The day Bart Stupak announced his retirement, I sent another contribution to Dr. Benishek since the most likely Democratic candidate is rabidly pro-abortion.

This is what happens when you back stab. Good bye, good luck and I hope your spine heals.

Mr. Stupak, in the immortal words of Dick Cheney, go @(#&$ yourself!

Dear Egbert, please tell us, since you’re so wise, what it was that a Republican majority not large enough to pass a constitutional amendment SHOULD have done to overturn Roe v. Wade — which gave us a Supreme Court-invented constitutional right. 

Have you noticed the changed makeup of the Supreme Court?  Is that nothing?  Do you remember Robert Bork? 

And it’s reassuring that you have no difficulty dismissing abortions outside of the US as unimportant, that way we won’t have to worry about them or the pressure from the current administration on countries where abortion is still (from what you suggest, apparently unnecessarily) illegal.  That’s a relief.

“For the Republicans to be carrying on and on and on about the Sanctity of Life is sheer hypocrisy.”

I’m cool with being called a hypocrite by people like yourself. I don’t self-identify as a republican, but in your case, I’ll make an exception. Your preening over “those ewwwwwwwww! stinky!” republicans say more about yourself than your rhetorical target.

Your abuse of language to support a political agenda is more repugnant than one’s inability to live up to one’s goals. I hear the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association needs a few good men, your liberation theology will stead you far.

Being a Democrat does mean having abortion canonically enshrined in your party platform, and, with the passing of the bill and the worthless executive order, you and your party are consistent with a woman’s right to choose… abortion.

But, hey, you can posture about what “goodies” you are with your shiny new bill, killing babies with state funds.

Sadly, I knew you would cave….are those airports worth it, going back on your conscie.nce? Will you be able to sleep well knowing you have caused the biggest increase of baby deaths from abortion in the history of the US and beyond?  Very sad and will be praying for your repentence and know there will be forgiveness from He who Is

Bart,  how could you POSSIBLY think that this president, with his clear record of wanting to kill babies as fast as possible,would actually SIGN that executive order the minute he got what he wanted?

Does the word “LIAR”  mean anything to you at all?

“Hey Bart, let’s go have a beer. Nobody’s perfect, especially the ones who think they are.”

I think about St. Peter and how he failed Jesus.  Rep. Stupek you will be able to turn to St. Peter when and if you recognize the harm done and find forgiveness.

Why?

RUN, don’t walk, to confession - if you haven’t already!

@JohnnyCatholic.  Good for you for not throwing stones! None of us knows what happened behind the scenes. I shudder to think.

Bart Stupak is, I believe, a good man who was lied to ... by Obama, Pelosi and Reid. How many of us could have stood as strong for as long as he did…I am 100% pro life and I prayed for him but it seemed he was worn and battered…I wish him well with all my heart.