Rep. Bart Stupak, who played the role of left-wing pariah and right-wing darling during the health care debate until the 11th hour when the roles reversed, will announce today he is retiring from Congress.

Last night Fox News host Sean Hannity was in Stupak’s homestate to campaign for interview Stupak’s would-be opponent.

With and increased threat of violence towards members of Congress after passing health care reform, Chris Matthews had on two subjects who were intended targets – Tom Perriello and Bart Stupak (D-MI) on Hardball last night. But it was Matthews summation of the “right wing” that is certain to raise eyebrows, the video of which is after the jump:

It’s hard to discuss the passing of the recent health care bill without getting heated arguments from both sides. The media would like to make it easier for you: “Democrats = happy! Republicans = crazy, frothing at the mouth racists who are about to take up arms against Capital Hill.” Either way, here is your Daily Obsession on the ugly side of the health care discussion, courtesy of Newsweek.com.

So all that stuff about Bart Stupak holding out on the health care bill until Barack Obama agreed to sign an executive order prohibiting federal money to go towards abortions? Well it turns out that that language was already in place in our current legislation. So when Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked today whether or not the order just reiterated a law that was already in place or whether the president actually acquiesced to a new restriction on federal funding, his answers got kind of…murky.

Its not news that the Health Care bill sparked tensions on both sides of the debate. However, it is news when a reports surface that up to ten members of the U.S. House of Representatives have requested additional security for fear of violent actions being threatened to them, their spouses and even their children. Are threats of violence absolutely reflective of a larger political movement? Of course not – but there only needs to be crazed action for tragedy to strike.

So for awhile there this afternoon there was some debate about who Republican Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer was directing his comments to when he called the health care bill “a baby killer.” And while we confirmed that Neugebauer had called to apologize to Bart Stupak – the MI Democrat who held out on his “yes” vote until the bill was amended to restrict federal funding on abortions – tonight’s Situation Room gave us some actual video of the Texan explaining his remarks.

Which Republican Congressman went all Joe Wilson last night and yelled “baby killer” about Rep. Bart Stupak?

It’s been more than 12 hours and we still don’t know – which is kind of surprising. Let’s do some digging and see if we can narrow down the options. Update: Mystery solved.

According to MSNBC’s Luke Russert, pro-life Democrat Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who held out until the last minute for more restrictive language on federal funding for abortion, was called a “baby-killer” as he spoke on the House floor tonight. The video of the report after the jump.

This is the game-changer, folks: Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak held a press conference at 4 p.m. today saying he’s voting yes on the House health care bill, with President Barack Obama signing an executive order that places restrictions on federal funding that can go to abortions in order to get the necessary voting bloc that Stupak brings to the table.

At 1 pm today, MSNBC was reporting that Democratic House member Bart Stupak was voting “yes” on the health care bill, via a chyron on the bottom of their screen, even as the hosts were saying he was “close to” a deal. C-Span repeated the same story. At 1:20 pm Stupak told reporters that he’s still planning on voting no, but “getting there.” So how did a major news org end up reporting otherwise?

Will Washington survive this weekend’s health care vote? The news has been packed with stories this morning about the pressure the Dems are under to pull together enough Yes votes for this Sunday’s epic Health Care vote. Double that for Bart Stupak who is holding on to his No vote come hell or highwater. No Air Force One rides will sway him! Or will they?

Nancy Pelosi sat down with Rachel Maddow last night. The interview provided a number of interesting exchanges about both Eric Massa (whom Pelosi didn’t seem too eager to chat about) and Maddow favorite Bart Stupak. “Every bill is a heavy lift,” says Pelosi. “Let’s talk about someone who is trying to make it heavier,” says Maddow.

When Rachel Maddow is done with him Bart Stupak may not have either leg to stand on. Last night Maddow calmly continued her fisking of (crusade against?) the congressman who is trying to hijack the health care bill with threats that he and his “group of twelve” will not vote for a bill that doesn’t comply. Except, notes Maddow, who are these twelve congressmen? Do they even exist?

The latest chapter in the Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) surprise departure (‘retirement’) from Congress unfolded yesterday when Massa announced during a radio show that the ethics inquiry into Massa is actually the result of the Democratic Party wanting to get him out of the Health Care vote. Also? Rahm Emanuel once pushed him around naked in a shower. Update: Beck exclusive interview tomorrow!

Now that Congressman Bart Stupak is back in the national conversation thanks to his announcement yesterday that he would hold up the health care bill unless stricter language regarding government funding of abortion was added, he is also back in the sights of Rachel Maddow! He may not be too thrilled with the results.

With the House’s passage of a health care reform bill that includes the now-infamous Stupak Amendment, abortion has become a hot topic this week. As a result, the RNC was embarrassed to find out that it’s health insurance plan has covered elective abortions since 1991. Pro-life Democrats, then, might be interested to know that Rep. Bart Stupak (D – Mi) has received large campaign contributions for years from 2 group that make money selling insurance that covers elective abortions.