To follow-up on Ann's post about the support for contraception for poor women (and Obama's attempts to strip the provision from the bill), this is unfortunately instructive not only about how unserious Republican claims to be "pro-life" are (uh, shouldn't you be trying to reduce unplanned pregnancies then?) but is also bad news about Obama's political instincts. Not only would this be wrong on the merits, as Matt says, what's even worse is that the Dems seem to be getting absolutely nothing in return. Indeed, Obama should be moving in the other direction; since at this point it's obvious that there's essentially no chance that the Republicans will vote for the bill, and it will make no difference to any future election how many Republicans vote for it (voters will give Democrats the credit or blame irrespective of the final vote), the Dems might as well pass the best bill they can.
--Scott Lemieux
