Party of death on, Bart Stupak
Bart Stupak is the new Democrat Party It Guy. Roll Call reported this morning…
What better way to celebrate passing history-making legislation than kicking back at a dive bar famous for its cheap beer and taxidermy-heavy décor? A large group of House Democrats defied cigar-and-champagne stereotypes by partying down until the wee hours after the health care vote at the decidedly downscale Tune Inn on Pennsylvania Avenue.
HOH spies say the gaggle of jubilant Democrats included Rep. John Larson (CT), who got a roar of welcome when he entered the bar; Rep. Joe Crowley (NY), who was briefly spotted standing behind the bar, handing out drinks; and Reps. John Boccieri (OH), Melissa Bean (IL), Tom Perriello (VA) and Jerry Costello (IL).
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who had been the center of attention all weekend after resisting the abortion-related language in the bill but ultimately voting for the package, was among Tune Inn’s revelers. An HOH spy says Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) planted a giant kiss on Stupak’s cheek….
Why did Stupak cave? Lots of opinion ranging from duping us to duping himself.
But I think the pressure to conform just became too great – good, old fashioned peer pressure, which we’ve all experienced, but his on steroids.
Don’t forget Stupak was dealing with a Speaker and President we may disdain but he is politically inclined to like and want to please. Plus, Stupak has repeatedly stated he supports socialized healthcare….
Amy Sullivan at Time agrees with my latter point, but my former point answers the “why now” she doesn’t get…
It’s really hard to interpret this as anything other than Stupak caving in order to end up on the side of supporting health reform. There’s nothing wrong with that… but it’s difficult to see why he dragged this out for months if he was going to settle for the Senate language in the end.
Stupak’s health care dance may well have made it even harder for pro-life Democrats to have their concerns taken seriously going forward….
[Photo via the Associated Press]
Back in the 1970s one of the leaders of our right-to-life group made the astute observation about some so called pro-life Democrat supporters and politicians in our area by stating, “They are Democrats first and pro-life second.”
Raymond, I have to say that’s true of some Republicans, too.
But Jill you miss one important distinction. It doesn’t MATTER if a republican is a repub first and pro-life second. Because the republican platform is pro-life so there is inherent harmony of the 1st and 2nd tier no matter their order. I fought tirelessly for weeks hoping the pro-life democrat myth was actually true. We now know with all certainty it is a myth of giant magnitude.
Yeah, Jill…but Republicans flip-flop’d way earlier…Stupak gave in to the “30 pieces of silver” at the last minute…was it his plan all along? Only God and Stupak knows…
Or maybe there was an old fashioned threat (They made him an offer he could not refuse)that if he did not vote this way, an investigation into his living arrangements at that certain place would commence, followed by a Justice investigation, followed by an indictment, followed by ….
The Executive Order ruse is so flimsy. But he had to have something.
Just like the Scottish nobles who sold out for the lands and titles in Braveheart, Stupak sold out for a bowl of porridge.
I think that Judas Stupak was just holding out to see how much of an offer the Herod-In-Chief would make. He already fit the definition of a democrat, i.e., a person of utter moral bankruptcy who will peddle his soul to any high bidder; in the end, like the other prostitute in the tired old joke, he just wanted to haggle about price.
Hey, Stupak – how do you work, with all that blood dripping from your hands?
Will pro-lifers and pro-life organizations stop putting their faith in lawmakers now? Sheesh.
They aren’t saving lives. Abortion-regulation laws (consent, fetal pain, ultrasound, partial-birth) aren’t saving lives. It’s the grassroots efforts converting the culture (education, activism, pregnancy centers, BLOGGING) that’s saving lives.
Cranky, I hope you’re right that blogging his helping to make a difference. I do sometimes wonder.
That said, there is value in laws regulating abortion, just as there is value in all other components you mentioned. None are the sole solution. Altogether they help comprise the solution.
To be pro-life would be to support legislation to END abortion. Stupak never said he wanted to make abortion illegal. Did he? So why did anyone ever consider him pro-life? Claiming to want to limit federal funding for abortion is politicizing for personal gain. Time for true pro-lifers to stop putting their faith in politicos.
I don’t know what it would be like to be Mr. Stupak. I am very blessed that when I had to choose between life and death for one of my children because I chose life–which meant an adoption plan for her since I was unable to care for her. I didn’t cave. Not when my choice was marriage, nice home etc if I would abort by the father–or nothing if I chose life. And I did receive nothing! I ended up completely abandoned by him and alone except for friends, co-workers who supported me and the GOOD LORD who showed me signs and such love when it seemed I was alone… I didn’t cave. Thank God. I guess that has to be the period on this. I followed God’s plan for my child and Stupak didn’t. This isn’t God’s plan for our country. It simply isn’t.
It was scary and I still carry some pain but there is a girl who will be 17 this Christmas in New Jersey that wouldn’t have been. I thank God I was given the strength not to cave and take my 30 pieces of silver…
No matter what happens in my life I can always look in the mirror and know that no matter what I mess up in my life–this was MY MOMENT to KNOW I did the right thing. I will always have this and boy I have needed it at times!
Poor Mr. Stupak will not ever get to say that. I mean I guess it will matter if it ever did matter…Maybe this was all planned–to see his smiling face staring into the Presidents eyes…it hardly seems from that picture that he will be bothered.
Maybe it was all a big game. I don’t know. I would hate to be him if it wasn’t.
Therese, thank you for choosing life for your child! I’m an adoptee, and I pray that you and all mothers who have relinquished a child find peace in this life and receive a HUGE reward in the next. God bless.
Wonderful ‘testimony’, Therese. God Bless You for your courage! :)
Therese, congrats on having the faith to do the right thing. Mr Stupak caved at an important moment and it will haunt him and he will have to answer to that on judgement day. I do believe if I did not visit the right to life blogs periodically I would go mad in this secular world. Also, action helps. I am going on Fr. Pavone’s conference call tomorrow night with many thousands of other pro-life very disappointed people. However, we have to have faith, mover forward and elect real prolife legislators. We can do it, and we will. Stupak had his last hurrah, Na Na Na Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey Hey Hey, good bye….
Eileen,
What conference call from Fr. Pavone? WOuld you have the link?
God bless you Therese! Absolutely you did the right thing.