Jim Wallis dropped the ball this morning.

on CNN he was debating the healthcare bill from a religious perspective with some guy from the American Family Association.

The debate was first framed by "sticking to what's in the bill", and it was point out by the opponent that abortion was not specifically prohibited in the bill. The rest of the discussion was about abortion, and concluded with both sides agreeing that abortion should specifically be mentioned in the bill that comes out of committee, with a half-hearted agreement from the other side to help those without coverage or access to care.

Wallis has made some good points in the past http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/truth-telling-and-respons_b_254237.html">in support of the Public Option. You'd never know it from watching him this morning. Once again, religious groups with progressive views are late to the dance and standing by the punch bowl. We need their support, and their presenting healthcare to other Christians as a moral obligation.

we need to look in the mirror.

And have been from Day One. We're usually early to the dance, but we're doing the hokey pokey when everyone else is two-stepping.

wanting the government get between a woman and her doctor regarding reproductive issues. It's bullshit. Why is it anyone's fucking business if a woman gets a damned abortion.... that's between her and her doctor!! I don't want to have to pay for friggin viagra... maybe I don't want my tax dollars to pay for in vitro!! I'm sure jehovah's witnesses wouldn't want THEIR tax dollars paying for blood transfusions or organ transplants.... I mean... wtf!! WE ALL pay into the system. why should these religious nuts get to decide whether I can get a legal medical procedure done. it's none of their damned business. it shouldn't be any of their damned business. you can't have it both ways. government doesn't belong in the position to make moral decisions about my life or anyone else's. If you don't believe in abortion... then don't friggin get one. End of story. And if tax dollars end up paying for the procedure... too fucking bad. My tax dollars are paying for two wars..... the death of how many innnocent iraqi's and afghanis!! I don't get to say that i don't want my tax dollars going to pay for that!! I don't want my tax dollars going to fund anything having to do with religion.... but I don't get a say in that either. That's how it is.... and these jerks shouldn't get to legislate their ideas about things anymore than I should be able to decide whether someone gets in vitro or viagra... anymore than a jehovah's witness should decide whether I get a blood transfusion or organ transplant.

every time I see another right winger piously pronouncing their undying belief in privacy and their right to make their own medical decisions.

Do they really not see this?

paying for abortions except to save the life of the mother, rape, or incest. The Hyde Amendment still stands.

The debate is immediately sidetracked by the extremists with a hot-button issue--and never comes back.