Pro-Life Democrats Critical in Retaking the House and Senate

Democrats for Life ^ | November 9th, 2006 | Democrats for Life

[Dave Burns]

Written by Administrator Friday, 10 November 2006 Democrats for Life of America Protecting Life. Strengthening. Re-Building. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Kristen Day November 8, 2006 202-220-3066

Pro-Life Democrats Critical in Retaking the House Pro-life Democrats to move to leadership positions WASHINGTON, DC – Democrats For Life of America applauded the Democratic leadership today for recruiting pro-life Democrats to run for key Congressional races in this week’s history making elections.

“Right after John Kerry’s loss in 2004, the Democratic Party finally started talking about including pro-life Democrats in the big tent of the Democratic Party. They put their money where their mouths are and assisted pro-life Democrats. Their inclusion helped pro-life Democrats win and played a significant role in handing over control of the US Senate and House. In addition to adding Bob Casey to the Senate, Democrats will see 6 new pro-life Democrats in the House,” said DFLA’s Executive Director Kristen Day. The new pro-life faces in the US House include: Heath Shuler of North Carolina, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Brad Ellsworth of Indiana, Charlie Wilson of Ohio, Chris Carney and Jason Altmire both of Pennsylvania.

“We’ve said for years that when we expand the big tent of the Democratic Party, Democrats win. Tuesday night is proof. Now Democrats need to continue to allow pro-life Democrats to help set the agenda in the 110th Congress,” said Kristen Day, Executive Director of Democrats For Life of America. “We look forward to working with Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi and the new leaders of the House to promote an agenda that will dramatically reduce the abortion rate in America. We applaud Congresswoman Pelosi understanding that Democrats need to govern from the center and that we must put our words into action by promoting common ground as a way to solve the problems we face.”

Democrats For Life of America’s top priorities for the 110th Congress are: passing the Pregnant Women Support Act, introduced by Congressman Lincoln Davis and received bipartisan support, fully funding the National Cord Blood Inventory Act which will save lives and passing the Child Custody Protection Act.

Several pro-life democrats will assume leadership positions in the new Democratic majority in the House. Rep. Jim Oberstar will chair the Transportation Committee, Rep. Collin Peterson will chair the Agriculture Committee and Rep Ike Skelton will head the Armed Services Committee. Several other pro-life democrats will chair House subcommittees.

Democrats For Life of America was founded in 1999 to mobilize Democrats at the local, state, and national levels. Their primary mission has been to elect pro-life Democrats, support pro-life elected officials, promote a pro-life plank in the Democratic Party platform and achieve legislation that fosters respect for human life. Democrats For Life of America currently has 41 state chapters with plans to expand the group into additional states by the end of the year. In addition to the grassroots support across America, the group has several Members of Congress who are actively promoting the group’s mission.

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[goldstategop]

Yes, Virginia, there ARE pro-life liberals. Not many of them but they exist.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[claptrap]

What is this another stupid joke?
Democrats are pro death so stop with the Hoo-Ha.

[goldstategop]

We should welcome it. If the Democrats want a Big Tent, they need to welcome people who are not just pro-abortion. They've figured out if they exclude pro-life people, they're doomed to remain a minority. I'm for working across party and ideological divides to establish and strengthen a culture of life in America.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[jmaroneps37]

This business about "pro life Democrats" is pure bull shiite. It is nothing but show business. Since the rat controls the agenda we can be very sure there will be NO votes of life issues. The so-called "pro life Democrats" will slither back into the woodwork and the people that voted for them will be laughed at behind closed doors.

The rat has cynically used the "pro life" which means nothing to them to perfect advantage. It's like saying "I for statehood for DC by a Republican to swing Black voters in the past congress. It would never come up so why not say you are for it?

[US Navy guy]

"Democrats for Life" oh now THAT is a good one!

[Kieri]

I wish them a lot of luck, and will be watching to see how they do. I'm all for the cord blood act -- I offered to donate when my daughter was born, but there was no system in place in 1993.

There have been pro-life democrats in the past (John Bonior was one, believe it or not), but they've never been allowed to be vocal about it.

These democrats shouldn't get hammered by us for their willingness to speak out on being pro-life. They need to be told when they're doing something RIGHT!

[rjp2005]

It's the beginning of a wave that wipe the abortion lobby out of majority control in their party, and eventually, all together wipe it out.

Yes, some of them are more pro-life in name only - voting for a PBAB here but not supporting Parental Notification there. But the movement in their ranks is gaining strength, no doubt. It is only a matter of time. This is the last gasp of the abortion lobby.

The only thing remaining is an about face by a well-known abortion pushing politician. When that happens - boom - the walls will fall in their ranks as if flooded. Pray for it!

[madprof98]

Clearly, selecting pro-life candidates for conservative districts was a winning Democrat strategy. But, of course, these same officials-elect will now vote for pro-death leaders and pro-death policies. In other words, these people may be "personally pro-life," but they aren't likely to do anything to further the cause.

Besides, in no case this election, as far as I can tell, did a pro-life Dem actually defeat a pro-death Republican. The net result is that the Congress will be even less pro-life than it was in the past.

[Dane]

LOL! Their first vote in the new House will be for pro-abortion nancy pelosi.

[mware]

The test will be when and IF the Democrates will even allow a vote on life issues in the next two years.

I think I know the answer to that one.

[Dave Burns]

There are many Districts were the Democrats will run a candidate to the right of our candidate and win. These are what I call CINOs, Conservatives in name only. If the Republicans want a conservative majority they have to do a better job in these districts instead of complaining about Lincoln Chaffee. We are never going to have a Conservative senator from Rhode Island.

[goldstategop]

The majority of the American people are pro-life. There is NO support for the radical abortion on demand plank that is still a fixture of Democratic Party platforms. Its one that's gone nowhere and brought the party no political gains.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Dane]

These democrats shouldn't get hammered by us for their willingness to speak out on being pro-life. They need to be told when they're doing something RIGHT!

Uh yes they should, since they vote for a pro-abortion leadership(ala nancy pelosi).

[mware]

Casey v. Santorum is an example. Casey's old man was as pro life as they come, but he was denied the opportunity to speak at the last convention he attended before his death.

[KoRn]

Ever since republicans got into the business of winning elections on fringe issues, this type of democrat has always been a worry. They take on a few conservative positions like abortion and gun control, effectively neutralizing the main issues republicans use when running against democrats. This leaves the campaign down to wealth redistribution and taxes, and since republicans have lost their way on pushing a small government agenda, the republican is left flailing.

[goldstategop]

Their campaign commercials in those districts were forthright and effective in stating how much they identified with the people's conservative values. If only the GOP had acted like a real conservative party it would still hold the House today.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Gumdrop]

Oberstar is from NE Minnesota, a Democratic stronghold, and was thus able to continue as a pro-life Democrat without having to cvompromise his principles.. Similar is Colin Peterson from NW Minnesota, whic is more conservative. Peterson is a blue-dog Democrat. The problem is that the positions they are being assigned to will have absolutely no impact on legistlation whic affects pro-life legislation.

I think the group of so-called Pro-life Democrats are simple-minded if they think having pro-life chairmen in charge of Agriculture and Transportation Committees is significant in the culture war against abortion, infanticide, embryonic stem cell resaerch, gay marriage, etc..

This is nothing more than delusions.

[goldstategop]

Yeah - the question is whether this crop of Blue Dog Democrats means real changes are in the offing among the Democrats to push the party back to the American mainstream or if its simply camouflage designed to give cover to the radical leftist agenda of the party's leadership. We'll find out over the next 2 years which way the Democrats are going to head in Congress.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Recon Dad]

Ditto..............