What would have been the level of outrage if abortion rights advocates tried to pull a Stupak?

[Bleacher Creature]

I'm a staunch supporter of abortion rights and I believe that the existing government policy toward federal funding of abortion is wrong. I believe firmly that federal money for health care shouldn't be withheld from a valid, legal medical procedure just because some people disagree with it. That said, never in my wildest dreams would I have ever considered using HCR to re-open a 30 year-old policy. I do believe that the time will come for that, but it's not now. But here's my question -- how would the issue have been portrayed if pro-choice Democrats tried to do what Stupak is now doing -- i.e., using HCR to renegotiate the Hyde Amendment? I guarantee you that the media would be infinitely harder on them than they are on Stupak and his ever-dwindling gang.

Even now, the fight with Stupak is being treated as some kind of debate, and that's just wrong. Look, I can't imagine what abortion rights opponents have to complain about in terms of the existing compromise. Nevertheless, this isn't a "debate". Abortion rights supporters are not in any way advocating for re-opening existing policy. The fact that this isn't being pointed out more is infuriating and insulting.