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ALEGRE'S CORNER
We're not finished folks - not by a long shot!

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This is the Kind of Garbage That's Driving Women From the Party

by: Alegre

Mon Oct 27, 2008 at 17:30:06 PM EDT


I'm sorry but Democrats running from the job of defending my right to choose simply to win an election makes me sick.  THIS the reason many women are being driven from our party.  I haven't left yet but reports like this one have me looking for the door.  What gets me is this article seems to be written from the perspective that cowardice in the face of attacks on our rights is a good thing.   For me, that couldn't be further from the truth even if we are talking about a seat in Alabama.  The rat bastids...

Democrats Carrying Anti-Abortion Banner Put More Congressional Races in Play
The anti-abortion pitch is standard fare in Alabama's Second Congressional District, a deeply conservative area that President Bush carried twice and that has been represented in Washington by a Republican for four decades.

What makes the spot unusual is that Mr. Bright is a Democrat. And that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has been pushing hard for Mr. Bright's election, paid for it.

In fact, Mr. Bright is one of a dozen anti-abortion Democratic challengers the party has recruited to run for the House this year and has aggressively supported with millions of dollars and other resources in culturally conservative districts long unfriendly to the party.

That is the highest number of anti-abortion candidates the party has fielded in recent memory to run either for open seats or against Republican challengers, according to party strategists and a leading anti-abortion organization. It is a strategy that that has received little attention in an election year dominated nationally by a grim economic picture and an unpopular president.

The party - the DNC and the DCCC - is putting money into these races.  They're using our donations to the party to help elect people who will come to DC and actively oppose the basic human rights of over half the population.

All I can say is that if these are the kinds of candidates my own Rep. - Chris Van Hollen - is recruiting as head of the DCCC, it's a damn good thing he's thinking of stepping down from his post.  Because as a Democrat, he's failing miserably in finding ways to win elections with Democrats, running on DEMOCRATIC values.  You don't get more basic where human rights go than a woman's reproductive rights and leaving such personal and life-changing decisions about her health to her rather than a confederacy of dunces like these jerks.
Alegre :: This is the Kind of Garbage That's Driving Women From the Party
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This is the Kind of Garbage That's Driving Women From the Party | 41 comments
Ever Feel Like Screaming? (4.00 / 2)
This is one of those times for me.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner
I've been in one long scream for months. (4.00 / 2)
I've just about lost my voice.  On November 4th, I'm sure I will have been stolen from me.
[ Parent ]
It is why we are crushing the GOP (4.00 / 2)
Our coalitions have never been homogenous. Look at the odd coalition of NE Liberals and Southern Dems in '60 and '64.

I am TOTALLY against the death penalty, but realize that it is a losing issue for us right now. I am also TOTALLY pro-choice, but understand that don't fly in some districts.

It is the cold reality of national politics going local.

I do think these are healthy debates that we can have inside the party, so we do not repeat the mistakes that led to our fall in 1994. I always feel guilty for that year, as if I could have done more.

We need to make sure that we hold on to this new majority in 2010, 2012 . . . etc.

One day I plan to write a diary on how our job, as Clinton supporters (I date back to canvassing for Bill in '91) is to make sure the party learns from the mistakes of '94 and '00.

[ Parent ]
The reason we are crushing the republicans is the economy. Choice doesn't have much (4.00 / 2)
to do with it this year.
[ Parent ]
It Was True in '92 (0.00 / 0)
and it's true now...

It's the economy stupid!

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

[ Parent ]
Message disciplne . . . (4.00 / 1)
Bill won because Carville's slogan was really about message discipline. The economy stupid slogan really meant message discipline.

Say what we will about O's campaign . . . Plouffe has run a tight ship with few leaks.

[ Parent ]
Don't reward the party for betraying your interests (4.00 / 3)
The reason why this happens is that the party doesn't think it has to do anything to hold on to the base. If we'd stop enabling this behavior with our votes and our dollars, they'd stop doing it. If we don't hold them accountable, we can just expect more of the same. I've already voted. I didn't vote for Obama, because that would've justified his flips on FISA, campaign finance, and NAFTA, as well as the execrable campaign he and his misogynistic band of thugs have waged this year.

I neither contributed to nor voted for my Democratic Senate candidate, either, in spite of the fact that I've been a strong supporter of his for years (he's my Congressman). He decided to sell out the Fourth Amendment and vote for telecom immunity, as well.

I will not aid those who betray me. It's as simple as that.

I'm Voting Topless This Year (4.00 / 3)
Top of my absentee ballot will be returned blank.

I just can't give them my vote - not this year.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

[ Parent ]
PS (4.00 / 2)
I'm proof you don't have to be a woman to feel this way.
I'm not surprised. The Dems... (4.00 / 1)
have a standard bearer this election who, for all intents and purposes, also does not support Choice.  No wonder his Entourage at the DNC is giving Dem money to these people.

The bigger the number of anti-choice Dems, the easier it will be to throw us all under the bus one last time.

It's called Realpolitik, Alegre.. (4.00 / 1)
I take a back seat to no one in my pro-choice creds but I have no problem with what the DNC and DCCC has done.  In the deep South, Alabama in paticular, pro-choice candidates are doomed before they file for election.  If some of these candidates are elected they will broaden the congressional majority and be of use on other issues.  And with a Democratic president appointing judges and hopefully a fillibuster proof Senate, I won't lose any sleep over women's rights.

As for women and the party, every poll I've seen shows a majority of women going Democratic this cycle.  As you point out below, here in my adopted state of North Carolina we have a plethora of Democratic women on the ballot.  I voted for all of them today when I pulled the lever for a straight Democratic ticket. It felt sooooo good.  

It won't always be a democratic president. (0.00 / 0)
Most of these congresspeople once they get in, will be in there for a lot longer than 8 years.
[ Parent ]
And, as you well know, Supreme Court (0.00 / 0)
appointments are for life.
[ Parent ]
Oh I Know Exactly What It's Called (4.00 / 1)
I'm sick of being sold out by my own party.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner
[ Parent ]
How is this different from Democrats voting for McCain to prove a point (0.00 / 0)
they have? They are not defending your right of choice, either anyway you look at it.
This year (4.00 / 1)
it's kind of like a lose/lose proposition.
[ Parent ]
I have never voted for a pro-life candidate,and I don't intend to. (0.00 / 0)
The Dem woman opposing the pug rep in the House in my district is anti-choice to the extreme.  No way will I vote for her, despite the opportunity to get another woman in congress.  She is no better than he is.

It's a  write in for Hillary, most  likely, and a skip over of the house race for me.

D.I.N.O. (0.00 / 0)
Democrat
In
Name
Only

If someone's not pro-chioce they're nothing more than a Rethug in Dem's clothing.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

[ Parent ]
Better a DINO than a REPUG (4.00 / 2)
If someone's not pro-chioce they're nothing more than a Rethug in Dem's clothing.

So should we concede all districts that are 'culturally red' - and lose a vote for SCHIP?!

Come on!!! Think big picture. Those RED districts are not going to vote for a pro-choice candidate. Would you rather have a 100% Repub, or a Dem that gives you the vote needed for things like SCHIP and Wall ST reform?!

[ Parent ]
Like I said above, those anti-choice congress people will still be there (0.00 / 0)
most likely even when there is a Repug again in the white house.  Republicans don't give a shit about health care, and will not be  pushing SCHIP.  Pugs have other things on their minds and would love to have a bunch of anti-choice people in there along with them.  That is looking at the big picture, not just what is happening at the moment.
[ Parent ]
Who Said Anything About Conceding? (0.00 / 0)
I want them to fight for our rights - even in the red districts dammit.

If they won't, who the fuck will?

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

[ Parent ]
Come on . . . (4.00 / 2)
Would you rather keep throwing out sacrificial lamb candidates that are pro-choice, but will lose in a dark red district . . . or would you rather have a DEM with a fighting chance . . . albeit a DEM that we disagree with on a few issues?!
[ Parent ]
You Don't Get It (4.00 / 2)
I want them to work with groups like Planned Prarenthood to effing fight for my rights.  They're my party - Democrats used to stand for something.

THis is a fundamental human right.  If our party doesn't stand for that and stand firm then we got nothing.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

[ Parent ]
What makes you think (4.00 / 1)
that an anti-abortion candidate that would get elected in a Red district would be voting for SCHIP anyway?

Everyone, including Clinton, g*d love her, is celebrating the idea the idea of Democratic gains in Congress.  But if it's just increasing the number of Blue Dogs, who do not vote for liberal policies anyway, what does it matter?

This blindly voting for Democrats without asking what kind of Democrats they are has got to stop.  It's the reason why they have a majority in the House and yet have done not one blessed thing to get out of Iraq and why we now have legislatively-sanctioned telecom spying.  At least if it's a Republican in office everyone knows not to drool and faint over their every statement, or rationalize the most reactionary policy statements just 'because a Democrat said it.'

[ Parent ]
Circular firing squad (4.00 / 2)
I will leave the infighting to the closed tent GOP in chaos. Here is a great example tonight from sexist Fred Barnes :

I realize that I am to the left of a centrist nation. I don't mind a big tent Dem party. It is better than sitting on my liberal soapbox going nowhere.

[ Parent ]
Going Nowhere? (0.00 / 0)
Give me a break.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner
[ Parent ]
Scream "I want" real loud (0.00 / 0)
and it still won't be heard in Alabama. Dammit.  
[ Parent ]
This is exactly why (4.00 / 1)
I will not give a dime to the DCCC or the DNC; I have no desire to underwrite the campaigns of  people like this.

Isn't it ironic?  Hillary's reluctant supporters had abortion held over their heads incessantly.  Now our right to choose is being threatened by our own party.  

The DNC Won't Get A Dime From Me (4.00 / 2)
No way - never.

I'll donate directly to candidates here and whenever I hear of someone like Kay Hagan, Al Franken or Jeanne Shaheen.

As long as thugs are running the party - they're not worth supporting.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner

[ Parent ]
Kay Hagen, a neighbor of mine btw, (4.00 / 1)
is pro-choice but if she pushed the issue she would lose.  She's not pushing it.  North Carolina is not Alabama or Mississippi or Louisiana but it's still a state with a large GOP fundie base.   Democrats here are avoiding the issue like the plague.  And that's a wise thing to do.
[ Parent ]
same here. (4.00 / 1)
my decision to stop giving to the DNC, DCCC, etc. is looking smarter and smarter. those people don't stand for anything anymore, except getting elected... which makes it really difficult to distinguish them from republicans. i support democratic candidates whose policy positions i agree with.

Barack Obama's election proves that any male can grow up to be president, provided he's willing to use misogyny as a campaign strategy.
camp...does anyone know if there has been... (4.00 / 1)
a reported drop-off in DNC contributions since/during the primary.  I have a sense that a lot of us are sending back NObama empty envelopes (got one today form Biden.  It goes back tomorrow!).

(It may not be possible to tell if downticket Dems have had support through this Obama venue.

[ Parent ]
That's Make for an Interesting Diary Here (0.00 / 0)
There's got to be a way to check on the most recent fundraising numbers.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner
[ Parent ]
If the numbers proved that we had an effect... (0.00 / 0)
that would make us feel proud, too.  And not like old worn-out Dems who have been tossed aside.

[ Parent ]
Yes!! I would love to know about that. (0.00 / 0)
If it turned out we'd significantly reduced the money flowing to DNC coffers, I'd laugh in delight, and feel the leverage building.  That would be totally awesome.
[ Parent ]
just how much are you willing to give up (4.00 / 3)
to elect someone with a D behind their name?  What will the qualifications to be called a Democrat look like in future elections?  Why would you assume that they will vote for SCHIP? universal healthcare (with all those annoying contraceptives that the government will have to pay for)? privacy? affirmative action? title nine? gay rights? civil rights? torture? rendition?

and there is the added delight of what they will force pro-choice candidates to give up in negotiations to get their votes on those bills.  want me to vote for rolling back the tax breaks for the uber wealthy?  make sure you take out those tax credits for daycare and job training and you can forget the bit about legalizing that new contraceptive.  you want that anonymous hold removed from your bill? how about co-sponsoring this new "anti-terrorism" bill, wink-wink, nudge-nudge.

sorry, this is exactly how Rove and the NeoCons took over the Repugs.  pander to the religious right and every other "fringe" element of the party every chance you get but when it comes down to the end game the only thing that really matters is that Halliburton gets another multi-billion dollar unbid government contract.

I'm kinda thinking it might be time for at least a minimum requirement to get that D behind your name.  being warm doesn't qualify in my book.  

Death Penalty (4.00 / 1)
I am 100% AGAINST the death penalty, and even more against 'death-qualified' (stacked) juries!

I also understand that Hillary & any DEM with National ambitions must support the death penalty.

I am willing to avoid playing the GOP game that wants to divide us. Call their bluff like Bill did, and triangulate.

[ Parent ]
Exactly. n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Exactly! (4.00 / 2)
As far as I can see, if a Dem won't stand up for basic privacy rights of a woman's body, what's to stop them from, you know, voting for the the FISA ...

Oh.

Wait.

[ Parent ]
I'll prepare to get clobbered but (4.00 / 2)
pro-choice is not a litmus test for being a Democrat.  In our big tent, we can include people who disagree on this issue.  20 years ago I recall that there was already a very large pro-life/anti-choice contingent in my home state of MN.

I've also known of pro-choice Republicans.

This issue crosses party lines.

It Is For Me Liz (0.00 / 0)
I respect your take on all this, but as far as I'm concerned, if someone's not out there fighting for the rights of ALL of us then they're a democrat in name only.  They're selling us out and they're full of shit.

Invest in Women - Change the World
http://twitter.com/alegrescorner
[ Parent ]
This is the Kind of Garbage That's Driving Women From the Party | 41 comments

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