Free Republic

One of the most annoying things for me has been the fact that every time a vote has been held in congress in the past, the top half of Michigan would be shown in blue on a congressional vote map, along with the Detroit area. If anything, the top half of Michigan is more like the nation’s south, than it is like the state’s southeast. We are resourceful, tolerant people who have finally had enough. I live in the First District of Michigan, and am involved in the primary elections which are quickly approaching, next Tuesday. There is one Democrat...

It's hard to comprehend that intelligent people believe Obama speaks the truth. A simple question: If an individual encourages coldly tossing a barely breathing infant into a laundry room to die and uses the upholding of the original intent to kill the baby as an excuse, is it logical to assume such a person has a high regard for truth? Barack Obama supports killing the unborn and if by chance the infant should happen to "burden the original decision of the woman and the physician to induce labor and perform an abortion" by refusing to die, Barry disagrees with providing...

Last spring, President Obama managed to corral the votes of a half dozen formerly pro-life Democrats in the House of Representatives for his takeover of health care. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) had been a staunch supporter of pro-life initiatives for nearly twenty years in Congress. Tragically for him, and even more tragically for the country, Stupak fell in line behind the White House. For months he had held out, bravely. Then, at the eleventh hour, he caved in. He and his cohorts switched from being pro-lifers to being “faux lifers.” To help Mr. Stupak cover his nakedness, President Obama agreed...

(CNSNews.com) - Several Democrats say pro-life conservatives have it wrong: They say the $160 million taxpayer dollars going to fund Pennsylvania's new high-risk insurance pool will not fund abortion, except in cases of rape or incest, or where the "life of the woman would be endangered." As CNSNews.com reported on Wednesday, pro-life conservatives and Republicans have reacted furiously to a report that the Obama administration has approved funding for Pennsylvania’s new high-risk insurance pool, which would directly pay for abortions.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.): I think we had to have someone say this is where you can go without limiting your criminal liability or civil liability.For instance, the question is brought up, pay for all of the health care for the people in the Gulf. No, ....

I’ve been extremely impressed with how well-informed the people are. The topics we’ve discussed, the questions that have been asked, all show that the citizenry of our 1st District is paying attention, educating themselves and tackling the concerns we have about our country’s direction, head on. This renewed interest by regular Americans has been kindled by the negative impact that the current Democrat administration has had on their lives. They see that they have been caught in the cross-hairs, and they are learning how government is meant to work, not just the politics involved. They’ve asked me about the 1st,...

As Adam notes, incumbents should take Rep. Allan Mollohan's loss of his primary as a shot across the bow but there are 13 members it should terrify. Mollohan was one of the 14 Democrats who voted for Bart Stupak's amendment in November and for health care reform on final passage. Republicans are targeting this group, accusing them of flip flopping on abortion; the GOP even has a website called Stupak's Sellouts. Already Michigan's Stupak has announced he's retiring, as has Dave Obey, the powerful Appropriations Committee Chairman from Wisconsin. The National Republican Congressional Committee singled out Mollohan, the group's first...

Do you remember the final hours of the Health Care Reform debate when Congressman Bart Stupak (MI) had a half-dozen Dems with him who blocked the Reform from passing over Abortion issues? I am sure you remember it. Right? And do you remember Stupak and his gang flipping on the last minute? Well, Dem Congressman Allan Mollohan was one of them. Tonight, he lost a Primary after serving in the House for fourteen terms. Just as a flashback: Stupak announced a few weeks ago that he will not run for re-election. I see that playing a vital role in getting...

Leaving Behind 18 Years of Democratic RepresentationThis past weekend, Americans For Prosperity sponsored the “Defending the American Dream” Summit. Hearing Sarah Palin, the keynote speaker for Conservatism, was of course the highlight. It was a wonderful opportunity to be there, listen and participate in an event which is part of a broad effort to take back our country. As I listened to the words that reflected conservative principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and above all, liberty, I couldn’t help but think how desperately we needed a return to this way of governing. For 18 years, Bart Stupak represented Michigan’s...

The new ObamaCare bill will mandate funding for abortions if Congress ever fails to pass the Hyde Amendment, which has to get a new vote every year during the budget cycle. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) had led a coalition of pro-life Democrats in the House last fall that demanded and got an amendment to the bill that would have made the restrictions against federal funding of abortion permanent as part of the new law, but the Senate stripped out the language and Stupak and most of his allies settled instead for a meaningless executive order. Rep. Joseph Pitts has now...

At 4:00, on March 21st, 2010, Bart Stupak (D) MI01, informed the nation that he was going to vote yes on Obamacare. Described as a pro-life Democrat, Stupak led the media and the nation on for months and months that he would not allow the bill to pass with federal funding of abortion. He had received a useless executive order from the most pro-abortion President this country has ever seen, and Stupak’s fate was sealed. He lost the endorsement of the Michigan Right to Life, and the Tea Party Express began it’s nationwide bus tour targeting him for removal from...

The overwhelming majority of the current 1st district is infinitely different than the Traverse City area, and it is disconcerting that Allen would presume to represent most firsters. The TC area is the home of Michael Moore’s yearly film festival, and is a play spot of many celebrities and government officials. There is a valid concern that Senator Allen, a politician who has not been living the life of a person from the vast tundra of the first district, nor has he represented 74% of the district, could win his party’s nomination, and would be attacked relentlessly by the Democratic...

Senator Allen, welcome to the race...and to the district! Senator Jason Allen today jumped into the race for Congress in the 1st District, shortly after moving into the 1st District. Benishek for Congress Field Director Dan Blough offered the following statement: "We'd like to welcome senator Allen to the race for Congress and to his new home in the 1st congressional district. As soon as he actually moves in and we find out his address we'll send over the welcome wagon and perhaps some cherry pie so he won't be so homesick for Traverse City." Dr. Dan Benishek is a...

State Sen. Jason Allen is joining a very crowded Republican field for this August’s First District congressional primary. “He going to get in it,” said Allen’s Chief of Staff Norm Saari Friday, who added that the necessary paperwork to form a campaign committee and start raising money should be filed by “early next week ... hopefully it’s Monday.” Allen, who had previously been eyed as a potential Lieutenant Governor candidate this fall, became the subject of Republican speculation as a potential candidate within a just a few days of Rep. Bart Stupak’s announcement that he would retire from Congress.

In 1992, incumbent Republican Congressman Bob Davis chose not to run for re-election in the Michigan 1st District because he was one of the top five politicians implicated in the House “check kiting“ scandal. Davis had represented the district covering the northern Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula since 1978. Poor decisions made then by a state Republican establishment alienated many of the district's grass roots "true believers," opening the door for a former one-term Democrat state Representative, who won and went on to an 18-year Congressional career. Fast forward to 2010: The 1st District seat has once again...

The vote seemed suspicious enough. At the 11th hour of the notorious health care vote, 11 "pro-life" Democrats who were adamant in their opposition of the President's legislation decided to vote with him. The stated reason for the shift was assurances from the Administration that the law would not be used to federally fund abortions, even though the legislation clearly allows for such. In order to bolster his claim, President Obama even signed an Executive Order prohibiting such funding. However, Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI), the leader of the pro-life Democrat coalition, knows that the same pen that prohibits abortion funding...

n 1992, incumbent Republican Congressman Bob Davis chose not to run for re-election in the Michigan 1st District because he was one of the top five politicians implicated in the House “check kiting“ scandal. Davis had represented the district covering the northern Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula since 1978. Poor decisions made then by a state Republican establishment alienated many of the district's grass roots "true believers," opening the door for a former one-term Democrat state Representative, who won and went on to an 18-year Congressional career. Fast forward to 2010: The 1st District seat has once again...

First brought to my attention by Saul Anuzis, former Michigan Republican Party chair back on March 26, 2010, the Benishek campaign set a goal of raising $219,000. Described as $1000 for every vote for the monstrous, unconstitutional “healthcare” bill, the “money bomb” was directed at defeating Bart Stupak. The day Stupak folded, the Benishek Campaign hit it’s mark. Money Bomb Hits Its MarkBenishek Hits Goal of Raising $219k to Dump Stupak on Same Day Stupak Backs Out of Race

It's been nearly a month since Obamacare became law, and Americans of all political stripes are scrambling to understand its life-changing ramifications. For anti-abortion advocates, the new law, by subsidizing abortion with taxpayer dollars, represents the largest expansion of abortion since the Supreme Court handed down its infamous Roe v. Wade decision nearly 40 years ago. But while Obamacare marks a unique development in abortion funding, it is hardly the first time Americans have been forced to underwrite the procedure. In fact, if you pay taxes or have a certain type of health insurance, you are already paying for other...

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters today that the Tea Party movement is making some members of Congress mull retirement. “Do I think the negative atmosphere that has been created by the Tea Party and by others certainly goes into the thinking of members? I think it does. I think you have to honestly point out that it does,” he told reporters Tuesday. Hoyer was responding to questions about Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak’s decision last week to retire rather than seek another term.