And pro-life activists are pissed. Via Washington Post.
The battle against Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kans.), President Obama's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has gone better than many pro-life activists had hoped. Yes, it's true that Sebelius is expected to be confirmed after an eight-hour debate and cloture vote are held in the Senate today. It's also true that activists have not managed to dislodge the support of Sebelius's home state senators, Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, both Republicans -- an embarrassing setback that has prevented the Sebelius nomination from becoming quite the abortion rights showdown that they had hoped for. But they can count some small victories.
They feel so powerless, they are even making up stories. Via The Hill's Blog, the newest meme seems to be that the swine-flu epidemic is actually a cover-up to the confirmation of Sebelius. CWA President Wendy Wright states her case that, "Some people think that declaring a state of emergency about the flu was a political thing to push the Sebelius nomination through," Naturally, Tony Perkins runs with this and puts out the following email (full text from Hill's Blog):
Sebelius: The Real Public Health ScareWhat do sick pigs have to do with widespread, taxpayer-funded abortion? More than you might think. This week, as panic spreads over a potential swine flu pandemic, liberals are already scheming how they can use the health scare to win the confirmation of pro-abortion extremist Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kans.) as Secretary of Health and Human Services. No doubt the empty seat at HHS was keenly felt this weekend, as Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, stepped into the void at HHS and declared the swine flu a "health emergency." Although the Senate leadership will use the urgency of the flu to try to force Sebelius through the chamber, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the government's response to the outbreak "has not been hindered by the lack of a secretary at HHS."
Tomorrow the debate over the Kansas Governor, which is loaded with interesting subplots, begins in earnest. According to the schedule, senators will have eight hours to deliberate over the nomination-and considering the controversy surrounding it, they may need every last second. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., senators will have to weigh plenty of unflattering evidence against Gov. Sebelius, including her political relationship with George Tiller, tax evasion, her dishonest testimony at the Senate Finance Committee hearing, her eleventh hour veto of a bill that would have advanced women's health in Kansas, and her support of third-trimester and taxpayer-funded abortions.Although Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is confident that his party can find the 60 votes she needs for confirmation, a lot will hinge on the swing votes-Sens. Sam Brownback (R-Kans.), Pat Roberts (R-Kans.), Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and Susan Collins (R-Maine), as well as pro-life Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Nebr.) and Bob Casey (D-Penn.). With the debate looming, your senators need to hear from you! Please help us by redoubling your efforts over the next 24 hours. Call your senators and remind them that a vote for Kathleen Sebelius is a vote well outside of the American political and policy mainstream.
Also, stay tuned tomorrow as FRC hosts a morning press conference on Capitol Hill with a coalition of pro-life and pro-family leaders along with members of the Senate and House who all oppose Gov. Sebelius's nomination to America's largest government agency. We'll keep you updated with video and media clips as the event unfolds. While you're on the FRC webpage, check out our new ad on Sebelius questioning her priorities and appearing tomorrow in Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper.
Sheesh, at least our radical lefty conspiracy theories are actually grounded in reality and quantifiable evidence!
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Elections have consequences. I will be happy to have her represent the wishes of the majority of Americans.
How refreshing to potentially have the head of the department of health and human services (that includes women naturally) no longer pandering to the radical right and their oppresive agenda.
-Sophia
you guys are acting like women are about 1/2 the population and their health care is important and that reproductive health care is part of overall well being and health and is very important! PSSSSHTTT
CWA President Wendy Wright states her case that, "Some people think that declaring a state of emergency about the flu was a political thing to push the Sebelius nomination through"
I think my boss is wondering why I just started laughing at my desk. On a more serious note:
Dear Wendy,
In the future, please read up on topics like this and try to learn about them before you start making comments in the public forum. Otherwise, understand that the only substitute for brains and/or common sense is silence.
No love,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Microbiologist
Of course, declaring a state of emergency about the swine flu isn't about keeping U.S. citizens safe and healthy, it's all a ploy to get someone into office. *Eyeroll* Just goes to show the state of our politicians today...all worried about politics/elections while forgetting about the people they're *supposed* to serve.
The Mexican pork flu, most likely, no more than advertising dodge of druggists and manufacturers of medicines.