“Obama has joined the pantheon of progressive presidents. Some of them, such as the ruthlessly cheerful Franklin Roosevelt, were politically dominant. Others ended as political failures: Woodrow Wilson, cold, cerebral and unloved; Lyndon Johnson, passionate, prideful and broken. But each tested the limits of executive power, changed the relationship between citizens and the state, and inspired generations to love or disdain. Obama now belongs in this company.” Read the rest here.

It looks like this video was recorded last Fall before the House passed its version of healthcare reform. What it reveals is that Bart Stupak never intended to see his “pro-life” stand through to the end. I was mistaken about him before. His was never a principled pro-life position. (HT: The Corner)

The longer I look at this the worse it looks. The executive order that Stupak is relying on to bar federal funding for abortion clearly isn’t going to work. As Bill Burck and Dana Perino have noted, “Executive orders have the force of law only within the executive branch and only to the extent they are consistent with legislation.  Stupak believes that the Senate bill does not do enough to prohibit the use of federal funds; what he apparently does not realize is that the executive order can do no more to prohibit use of federal funds for abortion than the Senate bill does.” Could Stupak really have been duped…

Here is Planned Parenthood’s reaction to the Executive Order that has secured Bart Stupak’s vote for healthcare reform: “While we regret that this proposed Executive Order has given the imprimatur of the president to Senator Nelson’s language, we are grateful that it does not include the Stupak abortion ban.” I hope Stupak is getting a sinking feeling in his stomach right now. In this late hour, he needs to reconsider.

Bart Stupak will hold a press conference in the House gallery at 4pm presumably to announce that he will vote in favor of healthcare reform. Stupak announced earlier today that he was close to a deal: Stupak said he engaged in talks late into Saturday night.

The Washington Post reports that, “House Democrats are working with the White House to craft an executive order that would clarify President Obama’s intention to maintain a long-standing ban on federal funding of abortion, congressional Democrats said.” Stephen Dillard reports at First Things that Bart Stupak has agreed to vote “yes” on healthcare reform contingent upon adequate wording in an executive order. Kathryn Jean Lopez is also reporting that agreement has been reached on the executive order approach. If this reporting bears out, then healthcare reform will indeed pass today. How are pro-lifers evaluating this approach? The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Right to Life Committee, Americans United…

Bart Stupak still insists that he has 12 votes. He met with the “Stupak Dozen” on Tuesday morning, and he says that his group is solidly opposed to healthcare reform as long as it provides for tax-payer funded abortions. I guess we’ll know Sunday whether or not his group stays true. “Stupak: Health fight has been ‘living hell'” – Jeffrey Young and Bob Cusack (The Hill)

Many people have wondered whether Tim Tebow’s Superbowl Ad really accomplished anything. I know I had my doubts. But apparently those doubts were unfounded. This testimony on a Focus on the Family Website shows that the Ad wasn’t aired in vain:

Michael Gerson writes in today’s Washington Post on the Healthcare Bill making its way through the House: “Those who support the Senate bill are participating in what is effectively the largest expansion of federal involvement in abortion since the Hyde Amendment limited that role in 1976.” Gerson is right on the money in this statement. Nevertheless, there are some who are claiming that the Senate bill doesn’t cover abortions. Ruth Marcus, for instance, argues that abortions will decrease under the Senate Bill and that there isn’t that much difference between the House and Senate bills. But here’s a question she cannot answer with credibility. If there isn’t very much difference,…