I’m surprised more reporters and wonks haven’t picked this up, but this just tells you again how blind they are to the abortion holdout in health care.

I’m told that Stupak met with Pelosi yesterday, but didn’t cave to her demands.

Today, Roll Call reports Pelosi called an emergency meeting of women-only members-only Democrats. The only purpose of this meeting would be to see what sort of abortion compromise they would be willing to accept, which could only come down to one of Stupak’s proposals.

Two things are very clear then: Pelosi does not have 216 votes without the Stupak coalition of pro-life Democrats, and the only way she can get enough of them to switch their votes is if the pro-abortion women Democrats give in. This is the only path I can see for Pelosi and co. to reach Magic 216.

— Thomas Peters is the communications director for the American Principles Project, where he also blogs.