Tim Ryan, Pro-Life Impersonator

So it turns out that Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan is partially responsible for the attempted deception over abortion in ObamaCare.

Just a reminder: It’s in there.

Since he’s such a darling of Ohio’s far-left loonysphere/thugosphere, this item is required linkage:

Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) is currently playing a key role in assisting the pro-abortion lobby, and the White House, in resisting genuine pro-life amendments to the Obama-backed health care bills. You can find more information on this subject in these sources:

1. The August edition of National Right to Life News contains a detailed report on the ongoing fight in Congress, one section of which is devoted to Ryan’s role in attempting to undercut the efforts of pro-life forces. The article quotes NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson as saying, “When Tim Ryan calls for ‘common ground,’ you know he has a memo from Planned Parenthood in his pocket.” The article includes a color photo of Mr. Ryan over the caption, “Tim Ryan (D-Oh.), impersonates pro-life lawmaker.” You can view or download the entire article (PDF format) here.

2. John McCormack, an editor at The Weekly Standard, posted a piece on Ryan on August 4 under the title, “A Pro-Lie Democrat?” Ryan comes off poorly in this piece, which is based in part on the public record of his recent activities on abortion-related issues, and partly on an interview Ryan gave to McCormack on July 31. (Sample: Asked by McCormack, “When do you believe life begins?,” Ryan replied, “That answer’s above my pay grade.”)

3. He earned that hug: To view a photo taken at a July 23, 2009, press conference on Capitol Hill, showing Congressman Tim Ryan being hugged by pro-abortion Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Ct.), the former executive director of the pro-abortion PAC called EMILY’s List, click here. In the photo, Ryan is flanked by top officials from NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and by Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fl.), who has voted pro-abortion without exception throughout his congressional career. The press conference was called to promote a so-called “common ground” bill introduced by Ryan and DeLauro and endorsed by a coalition of pro-abortion groups, including Third Way, which admits to having written the bill.

Ryan is part of the reason why abortion really is in there:

On July 21, with much fan-fare in the media, Ryan released a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (who is solidly pro-abortion) calling for a “common ground solution” regarding the health care/abortion issue. Days later, in a House committee, the approach promoted by Ryan was offered in a House committee by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Ca.), a legislator who has voted on the pro-abortion side 74 times and never on the pro-life side. The Capps Amendment was narrowly adopted over the objections of the pro-life members of the committee. The Obama-backed bill will create a nationwide “public option” insurance plan. Under the Capps Amendment, which Ryan endorses, this government plan is explicitly authorized to pay for any and all abortions. Abortionists would send their bills to the federal agency and receive payment checks from the federal agency. Moreover, the bill creates a big new program of federal subsidies to help low-income families buy health insurance — and the Capps-Ryan amendment explicitly authorizes these subsidies to flow to plans that cover elective abortions. The amendment contains phony bookkeeping requirements that do nothing more than provide a political smokescreen behind which this system of government-operated and government-subsidized abortion coverage would operate. In short, the “restrictions” in the amendment are as phony as Ryan’s pro-life credentials.

The Capps-Ryan amendment has been condemned by pro-life groups.

There’s much more at the link, and at the Weekly Standard.

He’s not even original, uttering the same “it’s above my pay grade” blather about when life begins as candidate Obama did at Rick Warren’s Church last year.

That ignorant answer proves that being a congressman is above his mental capacity.