Stupak is "chagrined...discouraged...downbeat," whines to NRO about others on his team caving

[jefferson_dem]

:bounce:

‘They Just Want This Over’

Sitting in an airport, on his way home to Michigan, Rep. Bart Stupak, a pro-life Democrat, is chagrined. “They’re ignoring me,” he says, in a phone interview with National Review Online. “That’s their strategy now. The House Democratic leaders think they have the votes to pass the Senate’s health-care bill without us. At this point, there is no doubt that they’ve been able to peel off one or two of my twelve. And even if they don’t have the votes, it’s been made clear to us that they won’t insert our language on the abortion issue.”

According to Stupak, that group of twelve pro-life House Democrats — the “Stupak dozen” — has privately agreed for months to vote ‘no’ on the Senate’s health-care bill if federal funding for abortion is included in the final legislative language. Now, in the debate’s final hours, Stupak says the other eleven are coming under “enormous” political pressure from both the White House and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.). “I am a definite ‘no’ vote,” he says. “I didn’t cave. The others are having both of their arms twisted, and we’re all getting pounded by our traditional Democratic supporters, like unions.”

Stupak says he also doesn’t trust the “Slaughter solution,” a legislative maneuver being bandied about on Capitol Hill as a way to pass the Senate bill in the House without actually voting on it. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” he says. “I don’t have a warm-and-fuzzy feeling about what I’m hearing.”

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.”

<SNIP>

“Throughout this debate, even when the House leaders have acknowledged us, it’s always been in a backhanded way,” he laments. “I’m telling the others to hold firm, and we’ll meet next week, but I’m disappointed in my colleagues who said they’d be with us and now they’re not. It’s almost like some right-to-life members don’t want to be bothered. They just want this over.”

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.”

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MzU0MDYxMWEyOTdiNGU1OGU3ZjYzYmE3Y2ZlZDQ5NTY=

here's the link to stupak's very downbeat comments http://ow.ly/1irMs #tcot #hcr
12 minutes ago via web

more stupak: "It’s almost like some right-to-life members don’t want to be bothered. They just want this over.” #tcot
half a minute ago via web

“I’m telling the others 2 hold firm,& we’ll meet next week,but I’m disappointed in my colleagues who said they’d be w/ us&now they’re not."
1 minutes ago via web

“Itwould be very,very hard for someone who is a right-to-life Democrat to run for office.I won’t leave the party,I’m more comfortable here..
2 minutes ago via web

if obama care passes, stupak says...
3 minutes ago via web

.. and we’re all getting pounded by our traditional Democratic supporters, like unions.”
4 minutes ago via web

stupak: “I am a definite ‘no’ vote. I didn’t cave. The others are having both of their arms twisted..."
4 minutes ago via

web nro just talked to stupak. he sounds very, very discouraged
7 minutes ago via web

http://twitter.com/RichLowry

...........................................................................................................................

[quiet.american]

I don't believe the "they say it's about the money" b.s. for a moment.

Can't stand this guy. How dare he attempt to control not only what women do with their bodies, but what we do with our own money. That reminds me. I need to go check out his Democratic primary challenger.

[tabatha]

1. Nancy doing her job.

[jenmito]

2. Is he aware that the Dem. party platform is pro-choice? He obviously considers

his own platform, a "pretty sad commentary on the state of the Democratic party.” :rofl:

[Control-Z]

15. Exactly!

He is personally entitled to choose the anti-choice position, but the democratic party is pro-choice, and only a fool would believe that his opinion had the power to change one of the party's core stances.

'“I really believe that the Democratic leadership is simply unwilling to change its stance,” he says.' Duh.

'“Their position says that women, especially those without means available, should have their abortions covered.”
Yep. See, that is the major difference between Republicans and Democrats.' Dems help people. Repukes kick people, especially when they're already down.

You really have to wonder what Stupak is doing in the democratic party when he so willingly rallies against the most vulnerable of women.

[Beetwasher]

3. What A Whiny Douche

Fuck off Stupak.

[Froward69]

4. I Second that

[Cha]

32. Rachel outed his hypocritical ass ..

..asking who paid the rent on his cozy C street digs?

[Zoeisright]

42. Exactly.

Kick that dipshit to the curb.

[jefferson_dem]

5. Stupak says his bloc of votes is cracking (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/86527-stupak-says-his-bloc-of-votes-is-cracking

[Kber]

27. Interesting quote in your article

"At this point, there is no doubt that they’ve been able to peel off one or two of *my* twelve," he said. "

Bart - they aren't *yours* any more than my uterus is *yours*. They don't answer to you; they are supposed to answer to their constituents.

If you remembered that maybe you wouldn't be facing a primary challenge.

Patriarchy at it's worst.

[tallahasseedem]

6. Suck it Supak...

The party you claim to be a part of believes in a woman's right to choose.

[Nancy Waterman]

7. He is incredibly stupid

The bill doesn't allow federal money for abortions. Stupid Stupak.

[DrToast]

13. This guy shouldn't be in the party

I don't object to pro-life Democrats, as long as they realize that the party they're a part of is pro-choice. And when it comes down to voting for the party's signature issue (health care) and you're willing to kill it over something that the party supports (choice), then what the hell are you doing in the party?

[olegramps]

53. Their only concern is playing to whoever can get them elected.

That is their sole concern. Get elected and suck up the benefits that only the richest of their fellow citizens can afford. If he has to suck off a few of hierarchy, so what when his privileged life style is in jeopardy.

[dmr]

8. Intellectually dishonest whining

Federal money won't be used on abortions. That is current law.

He's just mad that he isn't the anti-choice poster boy by taking away the right of people to spend their own money on insurance that would cover abortions.

[ellie]

9. He should switch parties

and get it over with.

[progressoid]

10. It would do him (and us) a lot of good. n/t

[raging_moderate]

11. Stupak is.....

....as Stupak does

[madamesilverspurs]

12. Somebody needs to hand Stupak a calendar,

he apparently thinks we're still living in a time when men owned women.

--

[The Magistrate]

14. Happy To Hear The Wretch Is Taking It Hard, Sir

[annabanana]

37. Mercy, Honorable Sir!. . That was uncharacteristically pointed!. . .. .n/t

[freddie mertz]

16. I know just how he feels. Nancy?,,,, nt.

[BeyondGeography]

17. K&R

[MelissaB]

18. K&R from Michigan in Stupak's district.

Well, actually I'm sitting in Canada while my daughter has piano lessons right now, but ya know...

[NC_Nurse]

19. Good. Now if only his primary challenger can trounce him. That would be sweet!

[Kber]

20. Oh fer cripes sake!

Did he really think that by blocking the signature issue by grandstanding on his pet project (which happens to be a major infringement on MY rights, by the way) we were going to do what? Carry him around on our shoulders? Thank him for showing us the error of our ways?

His active supporters in his district have made it clear FOR MONTHS that he was risking their support.

Cry me a river.

[HughMoran]

21. Selfish arrogant misogynist

What an ass he is.

[Cha]

35. "misogynist" is really it..along with

all his other highly undesireable traits.

[backscatter712]

22. What, no violins for Stupak? Let me provide some...

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[Blue Owl]

23. Go suck on your corporate dickbag and shut up

n/t

[rasputin1952]

24. "'They're ignoring me,' he says..." No kidding...

you're a fool.

Your position is idiotic, there is no basis for it, except that you wanted your "camera time", you got that, and showed the nation you are a fool.

Now sit sit down and remember, "even a fool can seem wise, if he keeps his mouth closed".

[Cha]

34. And, that's the deepest cut.. we know how stupak

loves his 15 minutes.

[Supersedeas]

25. when a DINO fully expose their true self--it's ugly: are Blanche and Kay Hagan the next ones to

do an interview with NRO?

[jefferson_dem]

26. Now Sludge has linked to the story and twitter has gone haywire.

Also, apparently, Stupak has served up some more totally outlandish bullshit accusations toward the Democratic Leadership, which I won't dignify by posting here.

The dude is cracking up...total bunker mentality.

[City Lights]

28. How pathetic!

:rofl:

[ashling]

29. sad commentary

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.”



Well, Bosco, feel free to leave at any time!

[old mark]

30. Fuck you, Stupak, you arrogant son of a bitch. You better have another job

lined up after you lose your highly paid position in congress.

mark

[Cha]

31. Abandoning bart stupak? That can't

be bad!

[Cha]

33. Right..he doesn't cave to sanity.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

38. Imagine that Nancy Pelosi...

listening to all those unions and Democratic voters and stuff like that.

What a tool!

[lunatica]

36. Say 'stupid Stupak' three time fast

I dare you not to spit while you're doing it.

[Kber]

43. I got through 2 and a half times

before I cracked up!

:)

[RainDog]

39. does his primary challenger have her web fundraising site up yet?

I will go to Michigan to help work to unseat this asshole.

I hope anyone who can will also go to Michigan to go door to door and make phone calls from where ever you are to get this man out of office.

[jefferson_dem]

41. Yes.

Go Connie Saltonstall! :bounce:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Connie-Saltonstall-For-Michigan-District-1/387576425329

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/help-connie-saltonstall-defeat-bart-stu

http://www.actblue.com/page/conniesaltonstall

[Kber]

45. I hadn't seen the crooks and liars blog

Thanks for posting.

If you go to Connie's hub, she's raised about 23K in the past week, compared to 14.5K for Bart for the past year.

I hope she can keep up this pace. She's in for a very tough race and will need whatever resources we can provide.

I am also praying that the UAW endorces her again. When she ran for the statehouse, the UAW gladly threw their weight behind her, but I don't know if the will get involved in the primary.

[jefferson_dem]

46. Connie has an uphill battle, as all challengers do.

But Stupak is up shit creek and I think he knows it. He's in the process of total self-destruction. How can he expect to make it through a Dem primary after alienating unions and women? Labor has already said they will work against any legislators who obstruct reform. A formal UAW endorsement would be mammoth.

[cutlassmama]

40. Fucking nutjob. Kennedy was Catholic and I bet he would have voted for HCR.

[Kber]

44. Health Care reform was his passion

He would have voted for it for absolutely certain.

[Spazito]

47. Geez, what a pouty, whiny POS...

that pic of him is perfect.

[neverforget]

48. Poor Stupak. Betty White has something to say to him:

[DeepBlueC]

49. LEAVE MY ABORTION ALONE!!!

I had to say it. Need a few signs now. I'M MAD AS HELL etc etc. Bastards ain't going to out-gripe me...I am an experienced malcontent.

[Hippo_Tron]

50. As I've said before, here's a suggestion for Mr. Stupak

If he wants his abortion language he should convince Senate Republicans to allow an up or down vote on the bill that the House initially passed.

[donheld]

51. K & R only because of the Ha Ha.

:D

[olegramps]

52. Bart Stupid: The Papal Patsy

The brainless twerp doesn't have the balls to think for himself.

[Sheepshank]

54. The idea that he is trying to hold the entire bill hostage...

....because of a personal preference? How is that representing his constituents?

Yeah, Stupak should be ignored. He has become increasingly and exceptionally irrelevant as a Political leader that understands and promotes his party's agenda.

[Arugula Latte]

55. I suggest mandatory castration of Stupak.

Hey, he wants to control women's bodies, we should be able to control his.

[stevedeshazer]

56. When you lay down with Blue Dogs, you get fleas.

Not even to mention the C Street thing.

Jeez, what did he expect would happen? Flowers and candy?