Stupak's Replacement: Another Anti-Choice Man

When Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) announced his retirement, there was a brief glimmer of hope. A major anti-choice blot on the Democratic Party was on his way out, and there was already a pro-choice candidate to take his place: Connie Saltonstall. Yeah, I was annoyed at the efforts made by the Democratic Party to keep Stupak from signing off, but with the potential of another pro-choice woman in Congress, I was feeling at least somewhat charitable. But now they've really made asses of themselves by backing another anti-choice man to take Stupak's place, essentially forcing Saltonstall out of the race.

Saltonstall stated that Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer "made it clear I wouldn't have the support of the party. I wouldn't be able to raise the kind of money I would need. He's subverting the primary process. Voters should choose their candidate, not Mark Brewer."

Amie Newman on RH Reality Check asks, "Should we chalk it up to sexism? A Democratic party that seems to value compromise as the end goal, instead of as a means to an end? Or a desire to maintain a status-quo that works for a few and certainly not for most?" One thing is clear: women's rights aren't getting the attention they deserve.

So whose the anointed replacement? State Representative Gary McDowell has been endorsed by the anti-choice group Right to Life, a reproductive rights opponent from the same mold as Stupak. Even though women's rights advocates have pointed out that both Barack Obama and Gov. Jennifer Granholm, pro-choice candidates, won in the district, the Democratic Party can't to see the possibility that Saltonstall could win with her strong reproductive justice record. Or maybe just doesn't want to.

Photo credit: SarahDeer