The behavior of Bart Stupak over the last several months, but particularly the last few weeks, in the hcr debate has been deplorable. He refuses to acknowledge the reality that his crusade is built on a lie--the lie that there is federal funding for abortion coverage in the Senate bill. Now that he's not the center of leadership attention anymore, he's escalating his lies and his crusade.

First he attacked Henry Waxman saying Waxman's argument against his effort was to tell Stupak "But we want to pay for abortions." Then, in an interview with NRO, levelled this bizarre accusation against his colleagues:

Stupak notes that his negotiations with House Democratic leaders in recent days have been revealing. “I really believe that the Democratic leadership is simply unwilling to change its stance,” he says. “Their position says that women, especially those without means available, should have their abortions covered.” The arguments they have made to him in recent deliberations, he adds, “are a pretty sad commentary on the state of the Democratic party.” What are Democratic leaders saying? “If you pass the Stupak amendment, more children will be born, and therefore it will cost us millions more. That’s one of the arguments I’ve been hearing,” Stupak says. “Money is their hang-up. Is this how we now value life in America? If money is the issue — come on, we can find room in the budget. This is life we’re talking about.”

Many Democrats in the House do believe that a person should not be denied a legal, medical procedure because of her gender and her economic circumstances. There is broad opposition in the party to the Hyde amendment that has enshrined that cruel discrimination. Stupak's saying that this is actually the Dems being anti-baby because they cost too much is a lie worthy of Glenn Beck. But he sure as hell knows how to play to his audience.

But here's what Stupak's real problem is: “They’re ignoring me." Since his bluff was called, he's not the center of attention from leadership and the White House any more. The limelight is fading, and the only attention he's likely to get now is over the issue whether the years he received subsized rent at the living in The Family's C Street house violated House rules.

And the politics of the issue are pretty rough. “This has really reached an unhealthy stage,” Stupak says. “People are threatening ethics complaints on me. On the left, they’re really stepping it up. Every day, from Rachel Maddow to the Daily Kos, it keeps coming. Does it bother me? Sure. Does it change my position? No.”

Poor, poor Bart Stupak. My heart bleeds.