Using Stupak to Our Advantage

I'm of the opinion that the Stupak amendment banning funding for abortion in Obamacare was a strategic error on the part of pro-lifers since it paved the way for the passage of the whole bill. Now that the deed is done Erick Erickson at RedState suggests we now use the Stupak language as a baseline demand for future legislation, such as the Senate bill:

The GOP and outside interest groups should now agitate for the “Stupak Minimum,” i.e. the Stupak amendment language must be the baseline for pro-life language in the health care legislation. Anything less should be opposed.

The Democrats will never go for it. But above all else, we must remember the strategy must be to kill the bill, not improve it.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) is already doing the GOP's job for them and pushing to add the Stupak language to the Senate version of the bill. I think Erick is offering a sound strategy provided that we don't fall into the trap of assuming that the Stupak language is in the bill it's okay to go ahead and vote for it.

The ultimate goal is the demise of Obamacare, not Obamacare that bans abortion funding.