The Hill: 41 Senators Vow to Opppose Planned Parenthood Rider

[flpoljunkie]

41 senators vow to oppose Planned Parenthood rider

By Alexander Bolton - 04/04/11 12:33 PM ET

Forty-one senators have pledged to filibuster any bipartisan spending bill that includes an amendment to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood, threatening an impasse with House conservatives.

The group, led by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), includes thirty-nine Democratic senators and two Independents, Sens. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and Bernie Sanders (Vt.).

It’s just large enough to sustain a filibuster to block any spending bill that cuts Planned Parenthood funding from passing the upper chamber.

Congress is trying to reach an agreement on a spending bill for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. The current continuing resolution keeping the government operational runs through April 8.

more...

[Shiver]

1. Lieberman is actually standing up for something good?

Is this an example of the proverbial stopped clock?

[Fearless]

2. Until he gets a Fox News gig I bet.

[phleshdef]

3. This isn't new. He has a very good record on pro-choice and gay rights issues.

He is a hawk on foreign policy and has some serious issues of personal character. But lets be accurate. On issues of civil rights, especially when it comes to women's rights and the right of GLBT folk, he has consistently been on the right side. His siding with planned parenthood isn't a surprise in the least.

[Shiver]

4. Looking up more on him

I wouldn't say he's been perfect on these issues, but he has more often than not fallen on the right side of things. It's a shame about the other stuff that make him so detestable is so often in the forefront.

[phleshdef]

10. Like a lot of politicians, the real person is more complex than the mythological character.

From my best analysis, I'd say his 2 biggest problems stem from having a politically vindictive nature (I think he opposed a public option and a medicare buy in just to punish the left for opposing him and for no other reason) and, because of his heritage, he is extremely pro-Israel. Now there is nothing inherently wrong with being Pro-Israel, until it hits the point that you are so pro-Israel that you refuse to acknowledge when Israel's government is doing something wrong or hurtful to others. Lieberman has allowed his pro-Israel stances to get the better of him and I'd say those stances are entirely responsible for his hawkish nature when it comes to foreign policy.

Basically if he'd just back off and look at Israel more objectively and stop being a spiteful dick towards people who have opposed him politically, he wouldn't be such a bad guy. But those flaws go a long way.

[starroute]

6. That's weird

Planned Parenthood (and NARAL) endorsed Lieberman in 2006, which got a lot of people upset. Jane Hampsher at FireDogLake has been complaining for years about Lieberman trying to have it both ways on abortion, and she's far from the only one.

So maybe Lieberman is feels he has to return the favor in some strange way? :shrug:

[rpannier]

12. He's always had high marks on civil rights and the environment nt

[madfloridian]

5. What about the other Democrats?

[flpoljunkie]

9. Good question.

[xxqqqzme]

7. I am so happy Barbara Boxer is

my senator.

[Mojeoux]

11. Me too! Go Boxer!!!

Leiberman-Shleberman!

[progressoid]

8. Yea!

[rpannier]

13. Also from the article

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) wrote a letter to Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) stating their belief that “Planned Parenthood provides vital services to those in need.”

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has also said she would oppose elimination of Title X funding.

That makes 44

[flpoljunkie]

14. Thanks.

[GameOn]

15. only 41? and people wonder why Obama is conservative. nt