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Democrat Wears Scorn as Medal in Abortion Fight
New York Times ^ | January 7, 2010 | JODI KANTOR

Posted on 01/07/2010 4:59:52 AM PST by rhema

MENOMINEE, Mich. — Representative Bart Stupak often endures things others find unbearable. He crisscrosses a Congressional district so vast that some constituents live eight hours apart and so cold that the beer at his beloved football games sometimes freezes. Years ago, as a state trooper, he blew out his knee chasing a suspect, and he has since had so many operations that he now returns to work the same day, toting crutches and ice.

After his younger son committed suicide in 2000, using the congressman’s gun, Mr. Stupak soon resumed his predawn commute to Washington and his solid voting record with the National Rifle Association.

Now he is enduring more hatred than perhaps any other member of Congress, much of it from fellow Democrats. His name has become a slogan: “Stop Stupak!”

Scott Schloegel, his chief of staff, said wearily, “I can’t tell you how many New Yorkers have called me up and yelled at me about this Stupak guy.”

With final negotiations on a health care overhaul beginning this week, complaints about “the evil Stupak amendment,” as the congressman dryly called it over dinner here recently, are likely to grow even louder. The amendment prevents women who receive federal insurance subsidies from buying abortion coverage — but critics assert it could cause women who buy their own insurance difficulty in obtaining coverage.

Mr. Stupak insists that the final bill include his terms, which he says merely reflect current law. If he prevails, he will have won an audacious, counterintuitive victory, forcing a Democratic-controlled Congress to pass a measure that will be hailed as an anti-abortion triumph. If party members do not accept his terms — and many vow they will not — Mr. Stupak is prepared to block passage of the health care overhaul.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: abortion; obamacare; prolife; stupak
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1 posted on 01/07/2010 4:59:56 AM PST by rhema
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To: Caleb1411; cpforlife.org; Salvation; narses; MHGinTN; wagglebee
Mr. Stupak says his stand is a straightforward matter of Roman Catholic faith, but it also seems like the result of a long, slow burn. As dinner progressed, the congressman described years of feeling ignored, slighted or marginalized by his party for his anti-abortion views.

“We’re members without a party,” he said. “Democrats are mad at you, and Republicans don’t trust you.” . . .

In the primary, he beat a candidate who supported abortion rights. But when he tried to hire Democratic political consultants for the general election, they refused — with expletives, he says — to work for a candidate with his views.

Mr. Stupak won anyway, and his freshman year in Washington, he requested but did not receive a seat on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. “I had one or two members tell me I’d never get on because I’m right-to-life,” he said.

2 posted on 01/07/2010 5:02:55 AM PST by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
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To: rhema

I like this guy, if how he is portrayed in this article is for real.


3 posted on 01/07/2010 5:12:03 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts ma'am, just the facts)
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To: rhema
I sometimes wonder why Dems like Stupak stay Dems. How is he on other issues?

His treatment by his own party shows just how obsessed Democrats are with abortion. It isn't rational.

Abortion is elective surgery and very few insurance companies cover elective surgery. And taxpayers sure as hell shouldn't be on the hook for it.

Further, pregnancy isn't hard to prevent.

There is the rape issue and sometimes medically necessary abortion which I think is covered even where a birth control abortion isn't.

4 posted on 01/07/2010 5:15:26 AM PST by NEPA (Give me liberty, not debt)
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To: rhema

A politician with principles? This must be a mistake! /sarc


5 posted on 01/07/2010 5:23:45 AM PST by Neverforget01 (Never, ever, ever, ever, ever....)
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To: rhema
If party members do not accept his terms — and many vow they will not — Mr. Stupak is prepared to block passage of the health care overhaul...

... Until they find his price.
There are no more men of principle in Washington.

6 posted on 01/07/2010 5:23:51 AM PST by grobdriver (Proud Member, Party Of No! No Socialism - No Fascism - Nobama - No Way!)
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To: NEPA

The opposite is true Blue Cross and CIGNA in my area cover Abortion as part of the standard policy, the Catholic Archdiocese has to opt out of abortion coverage and they make an ammendment to the Policy. THE USCB staff didn’t know they claim they could opt and had been paying for abortion for a decade or more..


7 posted on 01/07/2010 5:25:54 AM PST by philly-d-kidder (....Nothing is more powerful than a man who prays...(St. John Chrysostom))
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To: rhema
Mr. Stupak insists that the final bill include his terms, which he says merely reflect current law

Ya Right!

You are a RAT Stupak, you WILL sellout!

8 posted on 01/07/2010 5:32:17 AM PST by sausageseller (If you want to cut your own throat, don't come to me for a bandage. M, Thatcher)
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To: NEPA; rhema
I sometimes wonder why Dems like Stupak stay Dems.

Exactly my thought. If he is as the article portrays, he's a better Republican than half of the Republicans in Congress (and I've read articles that portray Arlen Specter as a "conservative Republican" so I take anything I read about Dems / Rinos with a large grain of salt).

9 posted on 01/07/2010 5:33:17 AM PST by Hardastarboard (Maureen Dowd is right. I DON'T like our President's color. He's a Red.)
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To: rhema; Knightsofswing; TMSuchman; Elendil; Mid-MI Student; Lunar; JedHozz; Flashlight; ...

He's scorned.
He's hated.
He's pro-life.
And he's still standing.

Bart Stupak needs your support.

A former state trooper...Just doesn't believe in killing babies ...Despised by the abortion-enthusiasts in the Democratic party...Makes "big name" Republican leadership nervous... AND HE'S WILLING TO KILL THE HELLCARE BILL FROM HELL.

Please contact Bart Stupak with you support. Please do it now. Bart Stupak Contact Information --- Phone and Fax District Offices.

Me? I'm sending roses.

10 posted on 01/07/2010 5:33:52 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o (In theory. there's no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is. -Yogi Berra)
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To: NEPA
"I sometimes wonder why Dems like Stupak stay Dems. How is he on other issues?"

My guess is he's a lot like the democrats around my area of South Western Pennsylvania. The ones Obama talked about clinging to their guns and bible. These type of democrats are pro life, members of the NRA and own lots of guns.

They are super conservative on social issues. However, they have long traditions of union membership and are distrustful of the rich and have a more social view of economics.
11 posted on 01/07/2010 5:37:40 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: philly-d-kidder
I just got BC/BS Bluecare Direct and abortion isn't covered. My local office is in Wilkes Barre.

It's a "cheap" (cheap being relative) policy though. I pay 100% out of pocket so I was looking for something I could afford and I can barely afford a crap policy.

Maybe a more expensive one would cover abortion.

12 posted on 01/07/2010 5:38:13 AM PST by NEPA (Give me liberty, not debt)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Unlike these pathetic cowardly morons who actually hope Stupak screws us, I’ll support him for doing the right thing.


13 posted on 01/07/2010 5:47:43 AM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: Old Teufel Hunden
The D's up here around Scranton are somewhat similar. There isn't as much union influence but there are old time Catholic dems who are social conservatives to a point, certainly not to the extent they once were, but they remain Dem because dems are for the little guy and republicans are only for the rich.

They have had they BS hammered into their heads for generations and it's more important to them than abortion or guns not to mention their inability to deal with reality of the elitism of the democrat party.

14 posted on 01/07/2010 5:49:48 AM PST by NEPA (Give me liberty, not debt)
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To: cripplecreek

If Pelousy neede his vote for anything,he’d cave just like they all do.


15 posted on 01/07/2010 5:51:03 AM PST by pistolpetestoys (Outside of a dog a book is a mans best friend;inside a dog it's too dark to read.)
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To: Old Teufel Hunden

Stupak’s district is the upper penninsula which would be hard red conservative if not for the college and prisons (union labor). Lots of pro gun democrats in Michigan.


16 posted on 01/07/2010 5:55:12 AM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: rhema

How often does he vote with Pelosi?


17 posted on 01/07/2010 6:01:53 AM PST by LeonardFMason
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To: rhema
"After his younger son committed suicide in 2000, using the congressman’s gun, Mr. Stupak soon resumed his predawn commute to Washington and his solid voting record with the National Rifle Association."

Love this line. They take a potshot at him over his personal tragedy. Because his son committed suicide with a gun, Stupak was supposed to pull a Carolyn McCarthy. I wonder if his son had committed suicide by hanging himself if the NY Times would demand that Stupak come out against "Big Rope"....
18 posted on 01/07/2010 6:03:58 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Please explain how this reconciles with Stupak’s support for John Edwards’ presidential campaign and was Edward’s campaign mgr. in Michigan (A+ rating from NARAL)? Some people will do anything to stay in office - screw the country in every other way, but Stup’s against abortion, so bless him. Big Wup! Can’t you all do better up there in the UP???


19 posted on 01/07/2010 6:05:05 AM PST by Sioux-san
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To: pistolpetestoys

I’m guessing you won’t be encouraging him to do the right thing.


20 posted on 01/07/2010 6:07:13 AM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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