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Steven Waldman

It turns out that in terms of happiness, the big divide in America is not between believers and non- beliefers, or Christians and non-Christians — but those who are certain and those who aren’t. A recent study by Grand Valley State University found that ardent atheists were just as happy as ardent believers. Those nonbelievers…

The Obama campaign in 2008 talked much about the work ethic of Obama’s mother but precious little about what she actually did with her life. One can assume that this was partly because being a professional anthropologist — living in villages in Java — would not resonate as a traditional American job (though it would…

Pro-life activists have opposed the current heatlh care bills in part because they would seem to leave the determination of what might be in a basic benefits package, for a public plan, up to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. To pro-lifers, this is proof that these bills all-but guarantee that abortion is covered.…

Richard Doerflinger, Associate Director of Pro-Life Activities at the US Conference on Catholic Bishops — and a key player on health care reform and the Catholic Church — posted this comment on the WSJ.com version of my modest proposal: ” I think Steve Waldman’s proposals on abortion neutrality are well worth considering, though I’d also…

Bill Donohue, the very-anti-abortion head of the Catholic League, responded to my trial balloon of having the basic public health care option not cover abortion but then offering consumers the ability to buy with their own money a rider that would cover abortion. Donohue’s reaction: “This is certainly a vast improvement, and it could break…

I earlier threw out some ideas for how we could keep the abortion issue from blowing up health care reform. I suggested having the basic plan not cover abortion but allow people, with their own money, pay for a rider that would cover abortion. Here’s the full proposal. Meredith Simons at Slate offers an even…

Much surprise has been expressed that Barack Obama has struggled to convey the benefits of health care reform. This is attributed to the inherent complexity of the topic. I may be in the minority here but I always thought that during the 2008 primaries, whenever the topic was domestic or economic policy, Hillary Clinton bested…

Letter to Congress from Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, the Chairman United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities August 11, 2009 Dear Representative: As you continue deliberations on the “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act” (H.R. 3200), I urge you to consider the overall priorities and concerns presented by the U.S. Conference…

Lost in the vitriol about abortion is a surprising development: key pro-life and pro-choice leaders both say they don’t intend to use health care reform to shift the balance of power in their direction. Activists have said health care reform should reflect the status quo in the abortion stalemate. Less surprisingly, while both sides agree…

Having criticized Democrats for failing to neutralize the abortion issue on health care through effective “common ground” provisions, I must point out that the pro-lifers have fared no better. When the issue came up before the House Energy and Commerce Committe, the pro-life forces offered up an amendment declaring not only that taxpayer funds wouldn’t…
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