The Plank

Mike Capuano's Profile in Courage

A day after blasting Martha Coakley, the frontrunner for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, for saying she would have voted against the health care bill because of the abortion amendment, Mike Capuano, who voted for the bill, now says he did so only "to keep the health care debate alive"--and that he'll vote against a final bill that includes the abortion funding provision. The interesting question here, I suppose, is how would Kennedy have voted? Did he want health care reform badly enough to swallow the restrictions on abortion funding? It does seem like the sort of compromise he was famous for making. Maybe that's an argument Khazei or Pagliuca could make. Or maybe Capuano can flip-flop again. The campaign is still young.

COMMENTS (2)

11/11/2009 - 12:29pm EDT | jacksondyer

I was thinking of voting for Coakly in the primary. I am disappointed in her comments on the health care bill. Even if the bill passed with the abortion provision it can be and should be amended later on to allow for abortion services in case of need.

I can't see the Supreme Court upholding a ban on abortion since the medical procedure is legal and was so ruled by a previous supreme court.

Getting even an imperfect health care bill passed is better than no bill.

11/11/2009 - 12:48pm EDT | csmiller

Michael Capuano, my representative, is a total douchebag. This is a guy who swore up and down that the lobbying "reforms" from a few years ago would rob him of the post-Congress livelihood (lobbying) he so richly deserved. He's the worst sort of political hack whose only concern is his political future and a big payday that surely awaits him after years of selfless public service.

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