Why is Bart Stupak retiring?

[DearAbby]

If it is because of the death threats...why did he Oppose FACE Act Sanctions on Anti-choice Terrorists?



The vitriol hurled at Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) over his months-long obstruction of the congressional health reform bill looks pretty familiar to those on the front lines of the reproductive justice movement.

Death threats. Insults. Stalking. Harassment.

The same types of intimidation that are commonplace for many women's health care providers, clinic escorts and patients.

Which leads to some interesting contrasts with a long ago vote cast by Stupak, then a freshman lawmaker from tiny Menominee, Mich., and his more recent health care line-in-the-sand demands as an 8-term congressman.

In one of his earliest floor ballots as a new federal lawmaker, Stupak voted against the landmark 1994 Freedom to Access Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) that set federal criminal sanctions for violent acts, threats and commercial interference by protesters at abortion clinics and churches.

.
More:

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2010/04/08/stupak-opposed-face-sanctions-antichoice-terrorists

[FBaggins]

1. When both republicans and democrats are pi$$ed at you...

...you run out of options.


OTOH... all this changes if he shows up a few months from now with a WH appointment.

[n.michigan]

15. He is being called to Rome?

[catbyte]

2. I have a hunch...

I suspect it has something to do with his sweetheart deal with C Street and the IRS investigation. That whole thing stinks to high heaven, and I hope Rachel Maddow keeps digging. Also, Connie Saltonstall would be a formidable primary opponent. If he is wimping out because of those threats, shame on him, I thought Yoopers were hardier than that!

:rofl:

Diane

Anishnabe in MI

[michreject]

9. Stupak had an NRA rating of A

That's one of the main reasons Stupak won. That section of MI has tons of hunters and without a high NRA rating, she doesn't have a chance. That's not a slam on her, just a fact.

[TlalocW]

3. Who cares as long as he leaves

Just a few more months of his trying to hog the camera.

TlalocW

[CTyankee]

4. That sniveling coward bastard...get the hell out.

I never want to see your ugly face again, you miserable scum...

[Blue Owl]

5. to spend more time with "The Family"

n/t

[Enrique]

6. he's going back to Michigan and starting a militia

:shrug:

[brendan120678]

7. So he can try to get the USSC nomination!

Kidding - I have no idea why either.

[gratuitous]

8. Isn't it odd, Rep. Stupak?

Your erstwhile allies in the anti-woman movement, who delight in pushing around scared teen-agers, shooting doctors from ambush, and setting off bombs, would actually turn these same attentions to you when you did not sufficiently hew to the party line. Did you think you had inoculated yourself? It probably feels real bad, doesn't it? Does it give you any insight as to how someone might feel as they try to avail themselves of a legal health procedure but have to face down, in person, crowds of your former pals? You couldn't even handle their e-mails and phone messages.

[Kber]

10. +1

Deserves it's own OP, imo.

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Very astute.

[LaPera]

11. Support & donate to democrat Connie Saltonstall for that seat-Because the republicans believe

that seat will now belong to them & their idiot teabaggers.

Read why Connie Saltonstall is running for that seat in the first place - Huffington Post...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/connie-saltonstall/why-i-decided-to-challeng_b_520971.html

Act Blue - http://www.actblue.com/

[SoCalDem]

12. I'm guessing that his wife & family laid down the "law" to him

the "C-Street" stuff is probably a factor too, and the fact that his job is relatively low-paid to come with the current "risks".

With everyone kvetching at him and the loonies he is closest to philosophically, issuing fatwas on him, I guess he thought it was "time to spend more time with his family"..

The only sad part, is that "the orange one" may be replacing Nancy Pelosi:(

[madamesilverspurs]

14. He aimed for fame and misfired,

shooting himself in the foot, instead. He'd still be there if he hadn't made himself the focus of media attention. How the heck did he stay in DC so long and not figure out that the spotlight comes with a magnifying glass?!


-

[Kaleva]

16. He's been thinking of retiring for the past 6 years.