Say "See Ya" to Stupak; Hello, Saltonstall?

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-04-09 10:13:00 UTC
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This morning, we heard that anti-choice Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) will not be seeking reelection.

I don't think it's any secret that we aren't big fans of Stupak on this blog; my support was already for pro-choice contender Connie Saltonstall. I find do it particularly ironic that word on the street is that the pressure for him to resign came from anti-choice forces, when he's done nothing but tried to strip away women's reproductive rights. (He, of course, cites wanting to spend more time with his family, but the death threats and "baby-killer" attacks he's been getting must have had an impact.)

RH Reality Check reported yesterday that Stupak has been anti choice from day one: among his first acts as a Congressperson was to vote against the 1994 Freedom to Access Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which created federal penalties for violence and threats from clinic protesters. And it was a much-need bill to provide protections for reproductive health clinics (while not doling out any federal dollars for abortion): soon after the bill passed, a doctor, a clinic escort, and two receptionists were shot down in separate extremist anti-choice incidents. The recent murder of Dr. George Tiller is also being investigated for conspiracy by the FBI under the FACE Act.

Senior Democrats tried to convince Stupak to stay, citing concerns that his resignation would open up a chance for Republicans to take back the seat. But here's the thing: for women, Stupak is already doing us just about as much good as a Republican. If he had managed to defeat health reform by insisting on additional abortion restrictions, when strict bans on federal funding were already in place, that would have been a severe disservice to the country. Meanwhile, anti-choicers who he might have seduced away from the Republicans refuse to see the reality that he's on their side, and won't be giving him their votes. The smart strategy is to start campaigning for Connie Saltonstall, bringing out true liberals and defenders of women's rights to the polls.

Photo credit: U.S. Congress

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.

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