Monday, May 11, 2009

Pro-Life Movement: Democrats Need Not Apply?

That's the impression pro-life Democrat Tim Shipe seems to get.

Here's my reply to Tim:
Let me preface this by saying that I think the pro-life movement MUST become bipartisan if our efforts are to succeed. As long as abortion is seen as a partisan issue, it will be almost impossible to effect lasting change.

That said, the blame for your predicament rests squarely on your fellow Democrats.

First, and foremost, you have chosen to associate yourself with a party that sees "a woman's right to choose" as sacrosanct. Don't blame pro-lifers if they are reluctant to back candidates who choose to do business with that party.

Second, you should probably blame the pro-life Democrats who have gone before you. We often hear about how Republicans only pay lip service to the pro-life cause, which, in many respects, is absolutely true. But how much moreso have pro-life Democrats paid lip service to the pro-life cause only to get to the statehouse or to Capitol Hill and either vote party line with their pro-choice leadership or, worse, "grow" in office and become pro-choice in order to get key committee appointments and/or to continue to get re-elected by Democrat voters.

The facts are that pro-lifers have been burned by BOTH parties, but have been burned far too often by pro-life Democrats who say one thing at home and then vote with the party's leadership. I think what we need to see are some pro-life Democrats who will CONSISTENTLY buck their party leadership on key votes (and maybe even vote against people like Nancy Pelosi for leadership positions). What we need to see LESS of is Sen. Casey voting against reinstating the Mexico City Policy.

In short, pro-life Democrats need to EARN the trust of pro-life voters and pro-life organizations. It's there for the earning, in part, because the Republicans have done much to lose that trust. I hope and pray, for the sake of the unborn, that pro-life Democrats (as well as pro-life Republicans) will do what needs to be done to earn that trust.
Definitely read the entire thread. Very interesting.


UPDATE
You can read my follow-up comment here.

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2 Comments:

At 5/11/2009 9:52 AM, Blogger Sir Galen of Bristol said...

I think what we need to see are some pro-life Democrats who will CONSISTENTLY buck their party leadership on key votes (and maybe even vote against people like Nancy Pelosi for leadership positions). And if I see this, I'd also want to see these people getting away with it, and not be punished with committe appointments (or lack thereof) and primary challengers on the next midterm.

 
At 5/12/2009 12:30 PM, Blogger matthew archbold said...

Sen. Bob Casey spoke a good game and now he's killing us. This is why it's difficult to jump in with both feet.
And in Tim's case, it seems that pro-lifers already had a pro-life Republican. Yeah, he might not be introducing legislation but there's no way pro-lifers would dump a pro-life Republican who's in office for a pro-life Dem who's not in office.

 

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