An assortment of anti-abortion groups on the right have spent the last few weeks circulating suggestions that a Sebelius nomination would spark an embarrassing battle over abortion. The issue here is not any specific legislation Sebelius passed or vetoed: She opposed attempts to ban late-term abortions arguing that the bills offered were unconstitutional (she was probably right about that), but everyone knows that won't be sufficient to derail her nomination. The hope was that George Tiller would be.George Tiller is, in the words of the Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody, a "late-term abortionist." Closing his clinic has been a main goal of of the Operation Rescue folks. In 1993, in fact, Tiller was shot twice by an anti-abortion activist who'd decided picketing was inefficient. So what does this have to do with Sebelius? She's met him. Worse than that: She's had him over for dinner. As the Concerned Women for America wrote, Sebelius "held a private party in the governor's mansion for notorious abortionist George Tiller." That, of course, is the sort of detail that can matter amidst nomination fights. Maybe Sebelius could be blocked. But this fell apart rather quickly: Tiller and his staff won the evening in a fundraising auction. Nothing personal, but their invitation was, well, nothing personal. Barack Obama knew WIlliam Ayers a whole lot better than Kathleen Sebelius knew George Tiller. Beyond that, abortions fell during Sebelius's tenure as governor of Kansas and her state's two Republican senators -- which include the staunchly pro-life Sam Brownback -- have both endorsed her for the position. At this point, the Tiller connection looks like a non-issue for her confirmation hearing. But keep an eye on it. Health reform will include provisions related to abortion -- the most controversial of which will be what is and is not covered in the basic insurance package -- and there's already talk that the right will use Sebelius's presence as a way to activate the pro-life community against the bill. THE SEBELIUS SCANDAL?
An assortment of anti-abortion groups on the right have spent the last few weeks circulating suggestions that a Sebelius nomination would spark an embarrassing battle over abortion. The issue here is not any specific legislation Sebelius passed or vetoed: She opposed attempts to ban late-term abortions arguing that the bills offered were unconstitutional (she was probably right about that), but everyone knows that won't be sufficient to derail her nomination. The hope was that George Tiller would be.George Tiller is, in the words of the Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody, a "late-term abortionist." Closing his clinic has been a main goal of of the Operation Rescue folks. In 1993, in fact, Tiller was shot twice by an anti-abortion activist who'd decided picketing was inefficient. So what does this have to do with Sebelius? She's met him. Worse than that: She's had him over for dinner. As the Concerned Women for America wrote, Sebelius "held a private party in the governor's mansion for notorious abortionist George Tiller." That, of course, is the sort of detail that can matter amidst nomination fights. Maybe Sebelius could be blocked. But this fell apart rather quickly: Tiller and his staff won the evening in a fundraising auction. Nothing personal, but their invitation was, well, nothing personal. Barack Obama knew WIlliam Ayers a whole lot better than Kathleen Sebelius knew George Tiller. Beyond that, abortions fell during Sebelius's tenure as governor of Kansas and her state's two Republican senators -- which include the staunchly pro-life Sam Brownback -- have both endorsed her for the position. At this point, the Tiller connection looks like a non-issue for her confirmation hearing. But keep an eye on it. Health reform will include provisions related to abortion -- the most controversial of which will be what is and is not covered in the basic insurance package -- and there's already talk that the right will use Sebelius's presence as a way to activate the pro-life community against the bill. 
