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Michelle Obama Skips Abortion Reference In Latest Health Care Sales Pitch
First Lady Michelle Obama, struggling with a cold, touted the Obama administration health care plan Friday afternoon at a White House event targeted at senior women. What the ultra-cautious, controversy-averse Mrs. Obama did not say was as interesting as what she did say in her speech: She made no mention of the contentious abortion issue that is now part of the negotiations over health care.
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Mrs. Obama's 10-minute speech was a sales pitch intended to generate pressure on Congress to pass White House health care legislation. Sounding a bit congested, Mrs. Obama didn't have to say much in the way of explanation for her stuffiness to the all-female audience in the East Room. "I've got children, and now I have a cold," she said to laughter. "It goes along with the territory."
Mrs. Obama's session came as the House late Saturday night passed a health care bill with a provision dealing with insurance coverage of abortions, and who would be eligible to purchase a policy. The Senate is drafting its measure and it is not clear yet whether the restrictive House language on abortion will be embraced by the Senate.
Once the Senate passes its bill -- and it will take a lot of wrangling to keep the 60 Democrats together, since every one of their votes may well be needed -- both chambers have to vote again on the final language.
The Obama White House and Democratic House and Senate leaders hope to strip the anti-abortion provision from the final version or water it down. Still, as my Politics Daily colleague Jill Lawrence reports, the abortion rights lobby, surprised by the amendment, is gearing up for a fight.
Once the Senate passes its bill -- and it will take a lot of wrangling to keep the 60 Democrats together, since every one of their votes may well be needed -- both chambers have to vote again on the final language.
The Obama White House and Democratic House and Senate leaders hope to strip the anti-abortion provision from the final version or water it down. Still, as my Politics Daily colleague Jill Lawrence reports, the abortion rights lobby, surprised by the amendment, is gearing up for a fight.
Against this backdrop, Mrs. Obama's event addressed what the White House perceives as the concerns of not just females over 65 but middle age women who are still raising their families and not old enough for Medicare, the national health insurance program for seniors. Seniors, who have high voting turnout rates, are being told by the Obama forces, and Mrs. Obama on Friday, that their Medicare benefits will not be eroded.
Mrs. Obama had to acknowledge that a lot of the details are still up in the air. "Now, I can tell you -- I can't tell, actually, what the bill that will ultimately land across my husband's desk will look like -- none of us can," she said. Mrs. Obama said she is up against "a lot of misinformation on this topic," and echoed her husband's promise that essentially Medicare coverage won't be eroded.
Mrs. Obama had to acknowledge that a lot of the details are still up in the air. "Now, I can tell you -- I can't tell, actually, what the bill that will ultimately land across my husband's desk will look like -- none of us can," she said. Mrs. Obama said she is up against "a lot of misinformation on this topic," and echoed her husband's promise that essentially Medicare coverage won't be eroded.
Mrs. Obama also echoed pledges that have become the health care mantra of the Obama White House: a person's insurance will not automatically change; out-of-pocket expenses will be capped, and insurers could not deny coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Now, it will be interesting to see in the weeks ahead if Mrs. Obama, in her continuing promotion of health care legislation, leaves her comfort zone to discuss the abortion issue that threatens her husband's most important domestic policy initiative.
Now, it will be interesting to see in the weeks ahead if Mrs. Obama, in her continuing promotion of health care legislation, leaves her comfort zone to discuss the abortion issue that threatens her husband's most important domestic policy initiative.
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Lynn Sweet
Lynn Sweet is a columnist at PoliticsDaily.com and writes the Daily FLOTUS blog on Michelle Obama. She is also Washington Bureau Chief of the Chicago Sun-Times.... moreRelated Articles
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Comments (90)
oxbow99
9:31PM Nov 13th 2009
Her silence on the matter, is deafening.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(29)
(29) 
Stella
10:16PM Nov 13th 2009
The ONLY misinformation about health care reform is coming out of the White House and the Democratic factions in Congress. How can you possibly create over 111 NEW government entities to oversee this program, yet claim that this will REDUCE our deficit? Just one of many SHEER fairy-tales to pass this monster.
If the Democrats REALLY wanted to reduce health care costs and have true competition and choice, they would allow health insurance to be purchased across state lines, allow small businesses to pool together, and implement TRUE and SERIOUS tort reforms--not little silly " state pilot projects". Government needs to stay OUT of the administration of health care. It is a lose/lose situation.
If the Democrats REALLY wanted to reduce health care costs and have true competition and choice, they would allow health insurance to be purchased across state lines, allow small businesses to pool together, and implement TRUE and SERIOUS tort reforms--not little silly " state pilot projects". Government needs to stay OUT of the administration of health care. It is a lose/lose situation.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (45)
(45) gnmk09
12:11PM Nov 14th 2009
I'll lay odds that Barry told her to sit this one out...and let Mama Pelosi handle this one....
RATE THIS COMMENT: (16)
(16) ddiscipio
6:12PM Nov 14th 2009
Her silence says it all...After all she is just starting to like America..
RATE THIS COMMENT: (13)
(13) donnal777
5:18PM Nov 18th 2009
Michelle probably agrees with her husband. Remember Obama's remark during his presidential campaign "I wouldn't want to see my daughter "punished" with a baby"? He has voted in the past against legislation in Illinois that would save babies who survived botched abortions. Then, he had the nerve to deny it during the campaign. He is not pro-life
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(2)
(2) researcher13th
9:44PM Nov 13th 2009
...meanwhile piloting a program to horde our school aged girls into girl-power courses, possibly at the threat of ostracism. you know how things are looking.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (18)
(18) garry402
9:49PM Nov 13th 2009
The ultra-cautious, controversy-averse Mrs. Obama made no mention that she was really proud to be an American. Whenever Hillary got into trouble, her handlers would pose in front of the Lincoln portrait pretty in pink. There are no reports from the East Wingers why Mrs. Obama is posing pretty in yellow.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (27)
(27) crossrabbswitch
6:49PM Nov 14th 2009
Well, doesn't she have 26 people to advise her how to dress? So, that means that they have at least one advisor to go check the color of the upholstery of the chair that she is sitting on, the color of the stain of the very nice wood floor, the drapes and columns and whatever they are using for the backdrop. Then, they pick out something that doesn't clash and she looks good in. Her clothes, shoes, etc. are professional grade decorating. So that is one thing where the taxpayers are getting something for their money. And a far cry from her gardening clothes of a few months back. But if you think her advisors are not checking the details, check the design of her skirt and the design of the upholstered chair she is sitting in, then check the clothes of the person on her left.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (5)
(5) bob
10:35PM Nov 13th 2009
What the ultra-cautious, controversy-averse Mrs. Obama did not say was as interesting as what she did say in her speech: She made no mention of the contentious abortion issue that is now part of the negotiations over health care.
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Ultra-cautious controversy-averse? Is that code for well-calculated sales pitch?
Look, let's cut the crap here. We all know this thing is going to end up covering abortions and illegal immigrants after it's all hashed out. Heck, if it doesn't end up covering "gender reassignment" surgery it'll be a surprise.
This is the one thing the Obama Administration has going right now that has any momentum so if there's an opportunity to score points with rabid feminists, the GLBT community and any other minority that feels that it's gotten the short shrift up to this point by including coverage to appease them, it'll be in there.
Heck that's the easy stuff- just ramrod it through. The real sticky wicket is going to be figuring out how to throw a bone to the insurance companies, particularly those with home offices in states with Democratic representation (like the one I'm in) while championing the "public option".
****************************
Ultra-cautious controversy-averse? Is that code for well-calculated sales pitch?
Look, let's cut the crap here. We all know this thing is going to end up covering abortions and illegal immigrants after it's all hashed out. Heck, if it doesn't end up covering "gender reassignment" surgery it'll be a surprise.
This is the one thing the Obama Administration has going right now that has any momentum so if there's an opportunity to score points with rabid feminists, the GLBT community and any other minority that feels that it's gotten the short shrift up to this point by including coverage to appease them, it'll be in there.
Heck that's the easy stuff- just ramrod it through. The real sticky wicket is going to be figuring out how to throw a bone to the insurance companies, particularly those with home offices in states with Democratic representation (like the one I'm in) while championing the "public option".
RATE THIS COMMENT: (35)
(35) Dandee
11:33PM Nov 13th 2009
Would someone PLEASE tell this woman HOW to dress. She seems to think she MUST have something very tight around her waist. Doesn't she realize how much bigger her rear end is with that done? Someone tell her to back up to a mirror and take a real good luck. Then, maybe she will stop dressing this way.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (27)
(27) daballofire
12:16PM Nov 14th 2009
Please don't have her dress like the rest if the girls on the south side if Chicacgo.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (8)
(8) bj4gsus
12:26AM Nov 14th 2009
Michelle Obama shuts Her Big Mouth when she should open it and Keeps it Closed when she should open it. Guess the Administration Finally told her to keep her America Hating views to Herself and leave them to her LOSER Husband. She is also the Biggest Hag to ever be First Lady, Just Sayin.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (25)
(25) kathy
12:49AM Nov 14th 2009
Okay, Michelle looks good in the photo above. So I dont see what all the nitpicking is about. No I did not vote for Obama, but personally there are times that Michelle looks Great! Take them to task over their agenda, not nitpick at every single dress she wears.
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(-15)
(-15) befair
1:37AM Nov 14th 2009
I agree--all the catty comments about Michelle Obama's appearance detract from the impact of comments about health care issues. She seems to dress appropriately for the situation, for the most part, and there's nothing wrong with her having her own personal style, so people should leave the poor woman alone! (I also did not vote for Obama.)
The government needs to get its own house in order before it tries to take over ours (health care). Their idea of controlling the national deficit is to raise the debt ceiling, and they do not seem to have done the math on the cost of the various health care "reforms" they're trying to shove through.
The government needs to get its own house in order before it tries to take over ours (health care). Their idea of controlling the national deficit is to raise the debt ceiling, and they do not seem to have done the math on the cost of the various health care "reforms" they're trying to shove through.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (7)
(7) gvpal52
7:33AM Nov 14th 2009
Red neck fashion experts? She lacks no matter what she wares hate is hard to hide. The news is about the customization of the message to fit the people in the room. It is the signature of this administration. Tell them what they want t hear, get the vote, and then take there money. That's it that's all!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (9)
(9) BOstinks
1:09AM Nov 14th 2009
WOW!!!
It looks like she mustered up all of her willpower for that beauty of smile.
It looks like she mustered up all of her willpower for that beauty of smile.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (12)
(12) BOstinks
1:12AM Nov 14th 2009
.......Beauty of a smile.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (4)
(4) maggie
1:26AM Nov 14th 2009
Poor thing. Has a cold. Gee, hope it isn't swine flu. Oh, nevermind. THEY all got their shots. Silly me for thinking otherwise.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (16)
(16) oxbow99
1:33AM Nov 14th 2009
7 years after 20 muslims commit the worst terrorist act on American soil, idiotic democrats elect one for president.....Y'all must be proud.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (16)
(16) oxbow99
1:44AM Nov 14th 2009
If there are still any doubters of Bo's Islamic roots and beliefs, just click on Wade's site.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (15)
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