Hotline After Dark -- Abortion Injected Into the Health Care Debate

"World News" led with the investigation into the Ft. Hood shootings and featured an interview with Pres. Obama. "Evening News" and"Nightly News" led with the investigation into Ft. Hood.

Obama sat down for an interview with ABC's Tapper 11/9.

Obama, on the Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-MI) amendment: "I laid out a very simple principle, which is this is a health care bill, not an abortion bill. And we're not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions."

More Obama: "And I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test -- that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices. ... I think that there are strong feelings on both sides. And what that tells me is that there needs to be some more work before we get to the point where we're not changing the status quo" ("Nightline," ABC, 11/9).

After the jump, pols and pundits weigh in on the latest in health care reform and Obama also discusses 11/3 election results.

(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX & ABBY LIVINGSTON)

ANATOMY OF THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE

CNN's Crowley, on whether Obama will get a bill by the end of '09: "The president is still, I believe, likely to get something, maybe not by the end of the year. I still think the odds are good he'll have it by the end of the year. ... If you even just look at the politics of this, and if you look at it from the standpoint of public opinion, which shows that that public does want some form of health care. And guess who's in charge? The Democrats" ("AC 360," 11/9).

Sen. Min. Leader Mitch McConnell, on whether he expects the Senate bill to be "a squeaker": "Yes, it won't be a landslide. They'll be lucky to be able to pass it. I think passing it is very much in doubt in the Senate, you know? All of the Republicans are opposed to it. Many of the Democrats are opposed to it. It'll be interesting to see how they try to get 60 votes because they're going to have to convince a significant number of Democrats to take a bullet for the team."

CNN's Bash, on Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) saying the House bill is DOA in the Senate: "I think he is right and I think that Democrats from the White House to Capitol Hill have known that from the beginning that the House bill is never going to pass the Senate and the House bill is I think ... a way forward and now it is history" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 11/9).

BUCK STOPS HERE. OR NEAR.

Obama also discussed the 11/3 elections in his interview with ABC's Tapper 11/9.

Obama, on the 11/3 races: "The American people are looking at over 10 percent unemployment and they're nervous and they're worried and they're anxious. And they want to make sure that the people here in Washington are fighting for them. ... They want to see results. And if they are not seeing results on the jobs front, which is the thing that people feel most acutely, ... they're going to hold me -- rightly -- responsible" ("Nightline," ABC, 11/9).

Un-aired parts of the interview were available in a transcript online.

More Obama: "Now, in these state races, I think those were pretty unique. Virginia has its own political culture and so does New Jersey. The New York 23 race, I do think, sent an important signal, because Bill Owens, the Democrat in a traditionally Republican district, a district that had been Republican for 100 years, did not shy away from saying he supported health insurance reform, that he supported the Recovery Act and the progress that we have made there and ended up winning."

Obama, on indies and the economy: "I think that they are convinced that I am doing everything I can. But they want to see results. And if they are not seeing results on the jobs front, which is the thing that people feel most acutely, most immediately -- their neighbors, their friends, themselves seeing their hours cut or their -- their jobs at risk, then they're going to hold me -- rightly -- responsible."

More Obama: "And they're going to hold Congress appropriately responsible and they're going to hold their respective governors responsible. Look, we were dealt a tough hand and I think everybody understands that. But ultimately, it's my job to dig us out of this hole. And we are going to keep working" (ABC, 11/9).