The President is hosting a signing ceremony for his Executive Order on abortion today.

Greg Sargent wrote a fascinating post about the incredible lengths the White House went to in order to woo the anti-abortion Democrats to support the health care bill, with endless personal entreaties, meetings and accommodations.

The pro-choice Democrats, on the other hand? Well, the White House released the final language of the Executive Order on abortion to the press (before 4pm, per TPM). Shortly after that, they gave the final language to Dianna DeGette of the pro-choice caucus for her approval (at 4pm, DeGette told HuffPo) – just as Bart Stupak was giving his press conference to announce the agreement.  DeGette said she read the final language and finally signed off on it as Stupak was gassing on before the cameras.  The pro-choice caucus was furious about it.

Quite a step away from July 17, 2007 when Obama spoke to Planned Parenthood (video):

The first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act

And then there was this:

“Obama does not support the Hyde Amendment,” his campaign staff told RH Reality Check in response to a questionnaire from the reproductive rights group. “He believes that the federal government should not use its dollars to intrude on a poor woman’s decision whether to carry to term or to terminate her pregnancy and selectively withhold benefits because she seeks to exercise her right of reproductive choice in a manner the government disfavors.”

Obama’s executive order enshrines the Hyde Amendment, which had to be re-authorized every year in the appropriations bill.

Details: Guests Invited to Abortion Executive Order Signing March 24, 2010

Senator Bob Casey

Representative Bart Stupak

Representative Kathy Dahlkemper

Representative Marcy Kaptur

Representative Nick Rahall

Representative Jerry Costello

Representative Chris Carney

Representative Steve Driehaus

Representative Charlie Wilson

Representative Jim Oberstar

Representative Alan Mollohan

Representative Brad Ellsworth

Representative Henry Cuellar

Representative Mike Doyle