The Only Ones Surprised

NBC's Chuck Todd, another self-annointed pooh-bah of Washington's elitist journalistic corps, is belatedly coming to the realization that fighting abortion still matters to Republicans. After months of listening DC talking heads telling us how social issues have fallen by the wayside in light of the poor economy, news today that a deal to pass a budget is hinging in a large part on whether or not to block funding for Planned Parenthood seems to have shocked the insiders. Go figure.

From MSNBC's First Read:

From the look of things, many are acting as if we’re in the midst of a modern-day Kennedy-vs.-Khrushchev showdown. But instead of a standoff over nuclear missiles in Cuba, Democrats and Republicans are on the brink of a government shutdown over the difference of a few billion dollars, Planned Parenthood, and abortions in Washington, DC. (We somehow missed how Planned Parenthood was an issue in last year’s midterms. We also somehow missed the complaints when Dems voted for previous legislation with a DC abortion funding ban.) It’s all ridiculous -- something which House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer acknowledged on “TODAY” this morning. But just like it’s always darkest before dawn, it always looks the most ridiculous before the deal. The question Dem and GOP lawmakers need to ponder: Are they really going to shut down the federal government over $300 million for Planned Parenthood? That’s what the debate has really come down to.