A Democratic Party?: Anti-abortion Group Seeks DNC Web Link

Roll Call ^ | June 2, 2003 | Josh Kurtz

[nickcarraway]

Washington, DC -- The Web site of the Democratic National Committee links Internet users to the sites of 279 political and advocacy organizations, labor unions, religious groups and government agencies.

The list, divided into 28 categories, includes everything from

the Willie Valasquez Institute to the Oneida Indian Nation to the

National Association of Social Workers.

But the DNC is resisting adding a 280th link.

For almost a year, an organization dedicated to electing

Democrats to national, state and local offices has been pressing

the national party to add its Web site to the DNC's list of

linkable sites. The problem is, the organization is dedicated to

electing Democrats who oppose abortion rights.

So far, the DNC, whose quadrennial platform in 2000 included a

plank affirming the party's support for a woman's right to have

an abortion, has refused to respond to the query by the group

known as Democrats for Life of America.

"The request is under review," is all DNC spokeswoman Deborah

DeShong will say.

But Democrats who buck the party orthodoxy on abortion are saying

plenty.

"I think that the Democratic Party is the party of inclusion,

according to their mission statement - the big tent party," said

Carol Crossed of Rochester, N.Y., president of Democrats for Life

of America. "We've always embraced a more expansive

interpretation of human rights. Surely we can embrace a diversity

of opinions on this issue."

The organization is now turning to high-powered allies for help.

In the past month, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) has written to DNC

Chairman Terry McAuliffe urging the party to add the Democrats

for Life link to its Web site. In addition, 17 House Democrats

wrote to McAuliffe defending the anti-abortion-rights group.

In their May 14 letter, the House Members said the DNC's refusal

to add the Web link amounted to "ostracism" of loyal Democrats

and contradicted the party's abortion plank in the 2000 platform,

which said in part, "We respect the individual conscience of each

American on this difficult issue."

"Actions speak louder than words," the 17 House lawmakers wrote.

But the DNC apparently does not know how to respond.

In this era of sharply divisive political discourse, abortion

rights groups have come to represent one of the Democratic

Party's strongest constituencies - and one of its best sources of

fundraising.

The DNC Web site offers links to seven organizations devoted to

the support of abortion rights, plus links to 48 women's groups,

most of whom are known to be defenders of abortion rights.

"We weren't asking them for a change of the platform," Crossed

said. "We were simply asking for an acknowledgment, a

recognition."

Inevitably, she likened the party's reluctance to include the Web

site link to the party's refusal to let then-Pennsylvania Gov.

Bob Casey (D) speak at the 1992 Democratic National Convention

about his opposition to abortion. The late former governor, who

went to work for anti-abortion-rights organizations after he left

office in 1994, has become the patron saint of the anti-abortion

wing of the party.

"I love the Democratic Party, but to be quite honest, I was

embarrassed about what happened to Bob Casey," Crossed said.

She argued that the Democrats may have lost Senate races in

Missouri, Georgia and Minnesota in 2002 because of the party's

absolutist position on abortion, which, she said, turned off

swing voters who might otherwise have been receptive to the

party's positions on other issues.

But a national Democratic strategist with close ties to women's

organizations called that thesis - and the anti-abortion group's

push for a Web link - "a teapot looking for a tempest."

"It seems to me like this is a fringe group desperately in search

of a little publicity here," the strategist said.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[MHGinTN]

For almost a year, an organization dedicated to electing Democrats to national, state and local offices has been pressing the national party to add its Web site to the DNC's list of linkable sites. The problem is, the organization is dedicated to electing Democrats who oppose abortion rights.

So far, the DNC, whose quadrennial platform in 2000 included a plank affirming the party's support for a woman's right to have an abortion, has refused to respond to the query by the group known as Democrats for Life of America.

The democrat party has become the party of abortion, so the group in question have the proverbial 'snowballs chance' of being included int he already fractured, factioned party. To admit the group in question would be tantamoung to admitting the killing is contrary to issues of life, tantamount to admitting that the democrat party holds clearly duplicitous positions ... the unborn are not yet human beings thus they may be killed by a woman's choice--like removing a tumor; the unborn are due protection from killing because they are human beings.

[roderick]

"It seems to me like this is a fringe group desperately in search of a little publicity here," the strategist said.

Fringe? Poll after poll shows a slight pro-life tilt in general and +70% opposition to partial birth infanticide. I hope the 'rat leadership continues their elite, absolutist views, it's a sure loser in the presidential election.

[nickcarraway]

Leader of the Democrat Party

[Desdemona]

THey just don't get it.

[MHGinTN]

Kate has a dead look, doesn't she? Ghoulish, simply ghoulish.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

"I think that the Democratic Party is the party of inclusion, according to their mission statement - the big tent party,"

No, that's the other party.

[Slyfox]

The democratic party has a litmus test?

I am shocked, I tell ya, shocked.

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping

[Mr. Silverback]

"It seems to me like this is a fringe group desperately in search of a little publicity here," the strategist said.

Well, a pro-life group would have to be on the fringe of the party of partial-birth abortion. But they're not on the fringe of the American electorate, as you Dem strategists will find out in the next few years.

[Mr. Silverback]

2n ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[Mr. Silverback]

I noticed the end of the url for that photo is "sp_image_katewelcome.jpg". She sure doesn't look welcoming does she? If that's the look she has for her supporters, what kind of expression would she have if she ran into me?

[MHGinTN]

Chuckie Schumer thinks that if he is first to use the term 'litmus test' to describe a nominee to the judiciary (as in 'the republicans use a litmus test on abortion to decide whom to put forward), then he is immune to accusation that he is applying his pro-Roe litmus test tot he nominee. It is the crimnal enterprise democrats that use a litmust test ... look at the moderate positions of Souter and Breyer, bit Republican administration nominees (if memory serves), as well as others!

[ConservativeMan55]

Chuckie Shumer goes to church with Julian Phillips and Julian dares to call himself an objective journalist.

[F.J. Mitchell]

If the DemonRATS party were honest, their symbol would not be that jackass, (Even though it perfectly symbolizes their bone headed stupidity and stubbornness) their symbol would be a dismembered, aborted human baby. Their favorite agenda is defending the right of sexually irresponsible adults, to murder the innocent ones that their sex acts create.

Democrat politicians are in lock step on philabustering Judges appointed by Bush for only one reason-The slugs are convinced that Bush's appointees, would properly decide against Roe vs Wade and in favor of equal rights for all, under the law, as clearly set forth in the Constitution of the USA. The Dims oppose them just as they opposed Judge Bork-THey fail the DemonRATS litmus test for Judges. To please the Rats, a judge must not judge, but instead enable the Rodents murderous agenda.

Why Pro lifers would vote for DemonRATS, only God knows-or maybe he is waiting to hear their explanation too.

[goldstategop]

There are pro-life liberals just there are pro RKBA liberals. You should be able to be a good liberal and still believe in positions that any person who champions human rights for all and who believes in freedom can embrace. The problem is the collectivists who run today's Democratic Party reject both. The leaders of the party are not so much liberals as they are Stalinists. If you don't agree with the party line 100% as its articulated by them, you aren't a Democrat, period. And they wonder why the party keeps on losing ground. Some big tent party, that they can't accept differences of opinion among their members.

[Kuksool]

So much for the RATS dedication to "diversity."

[nickcarraway]

Schumer goes to church?