Saltonstall: Stupak successor must be pro-choice

[Kber]

Saltonstall: Stupak successor must be pro-choice

Charlevoix County Commissioner Connie Saltonstall told POLITICO Wednesday she won't back a Democratic nominee in the race to succeed Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) who opposes legalized abortion, a decision that could complicate the party's efforts to consolidate the Democratic base behind a nominee.

"A lot of Democrats in this district have compromised based on the theory that the alternative is worse. I'm not willing to compromise on that anymore, because as long as we continue to compromise, they'll continue to nominate pro-life Democrats," Saltonstall told POLITICO.

"I am convinced that a pro-choice candidate can win and I am determined to say to the Democratic party we want Democratic candidates that represent the platform of the Democratic party," she said.

"Women are going to have to stand up and say, if you're the Democratic party and you say in your platform this is what you believe in, don't flip on us,"


Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/36521.html#ixzz0mVdrO2hK

[Cha]

1. Thank you for keeping us

informed..regarding Connie's canididacy, Kber.

Hope she pulls it off.

[SoxFan]

2. What a pissy assclown

"If I don't get my way, I'll sit in the corner and pout".

Fine, Connie. When you help elect an anti-labor, anti-environment, anti-health care, anti-financial reform troglodyte, I'll remember what you did.

[Kber]

3. Well, she's being honest about where she stands

If she's too liberal or progressive for her district, she won't win the primary.

Otherwise, I'm not going to bash a democrat for acting like one.

[SoxFan]

4. She's not "acting like a Democrat"

She's acting like a holier-than-thou jerk, who puts a single issue ahead of the greater good.

If a pro-life Democrat pulled this sort of a stunt, there would be howls of outrage. A pro-choicer doesn't get a free pass.

[Lars39]

5. She's acting like someone with a uterus should act.

Which explains your "issues".

[Kber]

6. A "pro-life" democrat did try to pull this off

I believe his name was "Bart Stupak", and yes the howls were pretty loud.

However, if you are concerned about the "single issue" issue, I refer you here

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/4/28/861523/-Connie-Saltonstall

[SoxFan]

7. Look at this from my perspective

I am, to a large extent, pro-life (NARAL gave me a "mixed" rating as a state legislator, meaning I supported parental notification but not the crazy shit that the fringe right dragged in). With only a few exceptions, I have always supported Democratic candidates with whom I have disagreements on the abortion front. There just aren't that many "seamless garment" liberals out there.

While I might disagree with Barack Obama, Paul Hodes, or Carol Shea-Porter on some abortion-related issues, I also understand that they are going to be there on health care, arms control, protecting the environment, promoting human rights, eradicating poverty, creating jobs, etc. I don't let one set of issues demolish the larger progressive goal.

[The Magistrate]

8. In Describing Others, Sir, One Must be Careful Not To Describe Oneself Instead....

Ms. Saltonstal is a candidate in the primary, and entered it before Stupak did his disgusting exercise in betrayal and self-promotion. She has a right to use any leverage she can in competing for primary cash and votes. She has a good chance of taking the primary, it seems. It would be selling the Democrats of the distict short to assume they will not vote for a Democrat who supports the Party platform, and the President.

[SoxFan]

10. So, you would be fine with her pouting out the general if she loses the primary?

What if the nominee is a candidate with a solid record on civil rights, education, labor issues, and environmental matters, but who is moderately pro-life, a David Bonior or Tim Kaine type? Would you be ok with Saltonstall and her backers allowing a far-right Boehner drone take the seat?

I hear progressives complain all the time that the party only wants their votes and dollars but not their input. Well, pro-life Dems often feel the same way. We constantly put aside our differences on the abortion front and get behind pro-choice candidates with whom we agree on the other 99% of the issues, but their is rarely if ever any reciprocity.

Remember, it was pissy pro-choicers who sat out the 1996 US Senate race in NH and allowed ultraconservative Bob Smith to squeak past Dick Swett, who wasn't even really all that "pro-life". How'd that work out?

[The Magistrate]

11. Nonetheless, Sir, There Is This Difference: The Party Platform Supports Abortion Rights

The danger of anti-abortion zealots in elected office to the goals of the Party were amply demonstrated by the contemptible actions of the despicable wretch Stupak.

[PassingFair]

9. That "pissy ass clown" would definitely get MY vote.

If I lived farther north.

Stupak was the idiot that bent the party AND
meaningful health care reform over the chair.