Obama didn't push to codify Roe "to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue"

[867-5309.]

At a news conference marking his first 100 days in office, President Barack Obama answered a question about the Freedom of Choice Act, a law that affirms abortion rights.

"As a candidate, you vowed that one of the very first things you wanted to do was sign the Freedom of Choice Act," the reporter said. "Do you still hope that Congress quickly sends you the Freedom of Choice Act so you can sign it?"

Obama reiterated his support of abortion rights as well as his sympathy for those who oppose it.

"Now, the Freedom of Choice Act is not my highest legislative priority," Obama concluded. "I believe that women should have the right to choose, but I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on. And that's where I'm going to focus."...


https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/501/sign-the-freedom-of-choice-act/

I've seen this brought up and did a little googling for the history. I love you Barack, but damn.

[Skittles]

1. so, he tried playing the middleman

how did that work out?

[867-5309.]

2. Those bastards would never accept him regardless

and he tried so damn hard. Heartbreaking in a way.

[Skittles]

6. yup

it always disturbed me that he wasted so much valuable time playing footsie with people who were NEVER going to accept him

[SoCalDavidS]

3. Some Things Never Change

This is why I do not expect any of the major players from 1/6 to be indicted or charged.

Time to tamp down the anger, and move on. Because that's what America does.

[questionseverything]

9. That's what the owners want

[Irish_Dem]

4. We are like abused wives who tip toe around so as not to anger the abuser.

Keep playing the peace maker and smoothing things over.

Our actions are fear based trying to avoid being beaten up or killed.

It is not working. Not working at all.

[brush]

5. He obviously knew there were not 60 votes in the Senate for that.

[Demsrule86]

16. Of course there were not 60 votes...we had conservadems ...big tent which is the only way

we will ever have a strong majority.

[867-5309.]

18. Then I guess we're screwed

The only way we have enough Dems for a super-majority is if we have Dems that won't support something as basic as abortion rights? Maybe the country isn't far enough left to put a legislature in place to do it.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

7. When I see how much we're struggling to get things done now with 50 votes...

I really wish we had done a fair bit more when we had 59-60. Maybe it wouldn't have worked (those 59-60 senators included a bunch from red states), but we should have tried.

[Demsrule86]

17. We got the ACA through and Obama got judges through too...back then the 60 vote thing was

strongly in force...and two years later our voters stabbed Obama in the back for not getting a public option. Now some want to rewrite history and blame Obama? Bullshit. We don't vote in midterms...we don't show loyalty to the party or our candidates...What do we expect to happen? And the same bullshit cycle has been repeating itself this year...hope Roe and January 6th hearings help us out this year. But it would be nice if we could trust Democratic voters to vote Democratic. Loyalty matters.

[qazplm135]

8. Unless there were 60 votes to pass this

and Obama said no, what's the point?

Congress doesn't need the President's permission to pass a bill last time I checked.

[Autumn]

11. Thanks for pointing that out. Says as much about Congress as it does about Obama.

[Gaugamela]

12. Obama had 60 votes in the Senate until Teddy Kennedy died, about

eight months into his first term. Obama ran on the issue.

And yes, a bill has to be signed into law by the President, unless it passes by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

[qazplm135]

13. Let me restate it again

unless he had 60 votes on THIS ISSUE in the Senate, what does it matter?

Having 60 votes does not mean all 60 Senators were pro choice, in fact, they weren't.

[Demsrule86]

15. No he did not...have you forgotten the conservadems both in the House and the Senate?

This thread is just wrong...blaming Democrats once more. You should delete. I suggest you look at who was in the Senate and the House...before you set out to smack Obama around.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. K&R. Threats to Roe were as reliable fundraisers for Demorats as they were for Republicans.

All of our email inboxes can attest to that.

[Pete Ross Junior]

14. I will not blame President Obama for not being clairvoyant. n/t