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sillyTopic: Lib Loser Stories
Members of Democrats for Life of America, a group of pro-life Democrats, must feel like second-class citizens in the Party. That could change, at least on paper, as Howard Dean proposes some official recognition of the group. We are about to see if Chairman Dean is serious about giving pro-lifers an equal voice or if this is just lip-service. Smart money says this prompts a backlash from the pro-abortion majority of the Party which, contrary to Howard Dean's comments, is one of the key constituencies of the Democratic Party. I see a march back to the far left extremes as the 2006 mid-term fundraising and organizing really kicks in.
Democratic Lawmakers Urging DNC To Establish Official Relationship With Democrats for Life of America
Democratic lawmakers are urging Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean to establish an official relationship with the antiabortion group Democrats for Life of America, The Hill reports. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Reps. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) are leading the effort, which also is supported by minority leaders Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
The legislators hope to make the Democratic Party more inclusive and less identified with abortion-rights issues, according to The Hill. Dean on Thursday held a meeting with DFLA officials and House Democrats to examine an official relationship, which would involve, among other things, posting a link to DFLA's Web site on the DNC Web site.
Following the meeting, Dean said he would explore building a stronger relationship with the antiabortion group and would consider establishing the Web site link. DFLA representatives are scheduled to meet with Pelosi this week, according to The Hill (Bolton, The Hill, 7/26).
Dean Says Democrats Should Embrace Antiabortion Candidates, Voters
Dean on Friday said that the DNC needs to have a "big tent" and "welcome pro-life Democrats into this party," the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports (Barrett, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 7/22). Speaking to about 700 students at the annual conference of the College Democrats of America in Washington, D.C., Dean defended the party's support of Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey Jr. (D) -- who opposes abortion rights -- in his challenge of Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) in the 2006 Senate election (Burchfiel, Washington Times, 7/23).
Although former Rep. Joe Hoeffel (D-Pa.) and former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer (D), both of whom support abortion rights, previously indicated that they might challenge Santorum, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee recruited Casey to run in the Senate race against Santorum, who also opposes abortion rights (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/7). "I think that we must be absolutely firm in being the party of individual freedom and personal freedom, which means that, in the end, the government doesn't get to decide. We do," Dean said.
However, he added, "You have to respect people's positions of conscience. I think Bob Casey's position is a position of conscience" (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 7/22). Dean also said that Democrats need to "talk about this issue differently" because Republicans have portrayed the Democratic Party as a "pro-abortion party," adding, "I don't know anybody in America who is pro-abortion" (Ertelt, LifeNews.com, 7/21).
Kaiser Network.org ~ Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation ** Democratic Lawmakers Urging DNC To Establish Official Relationship With Democrats for Life of America
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at 1:04 AM EDT
