Disappointment Of The Day: E.J.Dionne

So shocking that this normally esteemed writer and figure would pen (or type rather) something so horrendous today

In his Washington Post column today, E.J. Dionne claimed that pro-choice lawmakers and advocates are overstating how detrimental the Stupak amendment would be to women’s access to abortion:

The Michigan Democrat’s measure — passed 240 to 194, with 64 Democrats voting yes — would prohibit abortion coverage in the public option and bar any federal subsidies for plans that included abortion purchased on the new insurance exchanges. [...]

Whatever else is true, Stupak’s amendment is unlikely to have a significant effect on the availability of abortion. And most abortions are not paid for through health insurance.

But Amanda points out what TP's Wonk Room expert Igor Volsky says

The problem is, Dionne understates Stupak’s reach. Restricting women’s ability to purchase abortion coverage with private premium dollars is not a mere “skirmish” that Democrats “can learn to live with.” To the contrary. It’s the worst restriction to access since the passage of Hyde in 1976 and it disproportionately disadvantages low income women who can’t afford to buy their own health insurance coverage. Stupak is an attempt by the pro-life movement to use health reform as a vessel to ration access to reproductive health services. Dionne is dismissing these concerns by arguing that women (especially poor women) should “learn to live with” health reform reform that leaves them behind.

And for one of Dionne's usual fine common sense, it is indeed a brutal shocker.

Shamefully for him, he joins the "Some males really are ignorant to women's struggles" crowd (in addition to over looking the attack on the poor yet again).

Never thought I would see him be apart of such a wrong crowd.