Politico broke the story late Thursday and within hours, the RNC was in damage-control mode.
"I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled," Chairman Michael Steele pledged in a statement.
Hot Air's Allahpundit called the news "a needless political headache," especially now that abortion funding has become a critical issue in the health care reform battle. The House version of the bill includes an amendment by Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak that forbids any public insurance option from covering abortion.
"The current policy has been in effect since 1991, and we are taking steps to address the issue," RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho told Politico.
Not good enough, said one outraged conservative blogger. Whoever made the decision on the RNC insurance plan (apparently back when Lee Atwater was in charge of the party) must be "summarily fired," wrote RedState's Leon H. Wolfe. And until that happens, he said, "No pro-lifer in good conscience can give them a dime." Wolfe called it an "almost unspeakable" betrayal for the RNC to allow even a small portion of donations to fund an employee benefits package that pays for abortions.
On the other side of the blogosphere, True/Slant's Rick Unger accused the GOP of "hypocrisy or incompetency at the highest levels."
Meteor Blades of Daily Kos described it as a case of IOKIYAR -- It's OK If You Are Republican. But in this case, the blogger said, "hurrah to the hypocrites," arguing that all women deserve health care coverage that includes abortion.
Despite Chairman Steele's assurance, Washington Monthly's Steve Benen said the matter won't be "settled" even after the RNC opts out of the abortion coverage in its policy with Cigna. It will still be writing checks to a company that includes abortion coverage in other policies, which he said means the party "has rejected the reasoning of the Stupak amendment at a fundamental level."
Whether the amendment will be included in the final bill -- and whether it will be the decisive issue -- remains to be seen. Abortion foes have vowed to reject a bill without the Stupak amendment, and some pro-choice lawmakers have threatened to vote "no" if the measure is included.
President Barack Obama said in an ABC interview that Congress needs to change the abortion language in the bill in order to preserve the status quo. But Stupak warned "there will be hell to pay ... if they double-cross us."
