Oh Yes We Can!

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to pull a $200 provision for contraception programs from his $825 billion stimulus package after pro-lifers, Catholics and Republican congressmen voiced criticisms of it.

CNN reports that Obama himself called House Democratic leaders to ask them to remove the provision.

Apparently, despite comments by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that preventing children from being born to poor people will help to save money - didn't Margaret Sanger, the mother of Planned Parenthood, say something about preventing the poor and other undesirables from breeding? - Obama said the provision did not focus on creating jobs as quickly as possible.

In addition, it has drawn fire from Catholics, and pro-lifers, and the GOP.

If it had been approved, the provision would have provided contraception to low-income families. It also would have removed a requirement that states seek permission from the federal government to provide family planning services for Medicaid recipients.

If this doesn't fall through, this is a small, but still tangible victory for pro-lifers. We spoke out loudly, and he backed down.

For now.

Still, we can say, Oh Yes We Can.

This news comes on top of reports that supporters of the horrible Freedom of Choice Act, which would have undermined all national and state limits on abortion (including the ban on partial birth abortion, and state provisions for such things as parental notification and waiting periods), have decided that it is drawing too much flack to promote this year.

Though its chances were small in the first place, Obama had made it clear that he would have signed it if it had passed. Now he won't get that chance.

For now.

Such victories are only temporary. These ideas will likely surface again unless we keep watching and keep up the pressure.