The real issue is that the government is trying to force people who are morally opposed to abortion – I am one of them – to spend tax money so others can practice something I find morally objectionable. I am happy to have a very thorough debate about why this is a moral issue, if need be.

You mention a woman’s rights, personal freedom, etc. None of those things are in jeopardy. This legislation does not in any way, shape, or form affect the legality or safety of abortions – only the funding of them.

You can disregard moral arguments, but you have no right to tell me (and the majority of the rest of the United States) that abortion is not a moral issue. And you realize that there wouldn’t really be much of a fight to get the rest of this silly bill passed if you just didn’t give more money to abortions, right?

Furthermore, the healthcare reform debate in this country must not devolve into a “moral”
prioritization and preference one. I, for instance, oppose the practices – enjoyed by many -of smoking, over drinking, and over-eating – all of which claim millions of more lives than abotion ever will and cost this country billions in healthcare costs annually. If my “morality” prevailed, my tax dollars wouldn’t pay for treatments associated with these “conditions” – but, as we all know, they are used for those purposes daily – if not hourly. As long as treatments for these conditions are legal – as abortions are – then individual preference and morality must not play a role in creating laws that cover their insurance coverage.

Boxer’s larger point is that we shouldn’t use individual moral judegments around individual (legal) medical procedures when regulating and passing new healthcare reforms. Period. Her claims are far from “stupid” or “ludicrous” – in fact, they resonate with millions of Americans (and, apparently, a majority of US Senators) who support pro-choice policies and an objective (non “moral”) approach to reform and show a great understanding and sensitivity to the wide range of complex issues that surround abortion policy.