Democratic Party Draws A Line In The Sand On Abortion Rights

[BainsBane]

DNC chair Tom Perez said all Democratic candidates must support a woman’s right to choose.

WASHINGTON ― Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez became the first head of the party to demand ideological purity on abortion rights, promising Friday to support only Democratic candidates who back a woman’s right to choose.

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said in a statement. “That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state.”

“At a time when women’s rights are under assault from the White House, the Republican Congress, and in states across the country,” he added, “we must speak up for this principle as loudly as ever and with one voice.”

Perez’s statement follows the DNC’s controversial embrace of Heath Mello, a Democratic mayoral candidate in Omaha, Nebraska, whose years-long history of voting against abortion rights in the state Legislature drew fire from progressives this week. Daily Kos, a liberal website that raises money for lesser-known Democratic candidates, pulled its endorsement of Mello this week after discovering his history on the issue, and NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue slammed the DNC for adding him to its cross-country unity tour.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/democrats-tom-perez-abortion-rights_us_58fa5fade4b018a9ce5b351d?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004

Perez is speaking out against efforts to move the party sharply to the right, toward promoting whiteness and patriarchy over equal rights and economic justice. I applaud him for it.

[boston bean]

1. I don't get why this is even a thing in democratic circles..

Damn, women marched on washington the day after the inaugural of the misogynistic ass hat. The largest ever march on washington and largest in the history over all.

They better start understanding it is us women doing the heavy lifting, cause we feel the jerkoffs policies acutely and personally.

[uponit7771]

2. +1, some still think money will solve most

[BainsBane]

4. Because of this

"If we are going to protect a woman's right to choose, at the end of the day we're going to need Democratic control over the House and the Senate, and state governments all over this nation," he said. "And we have got to appreciate where people come from, and do our best to fight for the pro-choice agenda. But I think you just can't exclude people who disagree with us on one issue."


But that call for pragmatism doesn't mesh with the main message Sanders has been delivering this week: a call for a more aggressive and progressive Democratic party. In the same interview, he blamed Republican gains at the state and federal level on "the failure of the Democratic Party to have a progressive agenda, to bring people into this party, to mobilize people."

http://www.npr.org/2017/04/20/524962482/sanders-defends-campaigning-for-anti-abortion-rights-democrat


We are seeing more and more men acquiesce to or promoting of the abandonment of equal rights under the guise of progressivism. It's becoming increasingly apparent that the calls for economic justice are not justice at all but an effort to promote the increased wealth of one demographic at the expense of civil rights and greater impoverishment for women.

[DURHAM D]

19. Regarding your last paragraph -

you are right and that is the same point we were trying to make at the beginning of the last Presidential primary.

His economic justice plan is nothing more than the same ole hateful trickle down economic theories of the right. iows - The white guy needs to get their needs met first and after that perhaps something will tumble down toward everyone else's feet. We know it does not work but that won't stop certain so-called Democrats from trying to shove it down our throat again.

Fuck that shit.

[certainot]

96. the identiy politics vs progressive/economics bunch of political mush and BS

the fact is liberals, democrats, progressives, the left, have been getting their asses kicked for 30 years by a few hundred think tanks scripted ignorant male racist misogynist liars on 1200 radio stations using 'identity politics' to destroy democracy and the working class. it's the only reason republicans are even in this.

there will always be racists and misogynists and assholes. identity politics vs economic is bullshit because all the issues involved are managed and distorted and pushed around by those well coordinated radio stations. when the idiots say democrats have to appeal to rust belt working class they actually don't have a clue a big part of that working class thinks clinton's emails are more important than global warming because they live in areas dominated by those radio stations - the primary listeners are the trump/teabag/talk radio base that's been the same since before the kochs gave them bus passes and tea bags, and the secondary and tertiary target audience are millions of people too apathetic or too busy to look outside of the toxic stew that surrounds them 24/7.

and the analysts and politicians have no clue because there's no written record for anyone to study, none of them have time to listen to it, and it's so off the record they don't even poll for it - even though:

Throughout 2014, the three (Roger Stone, Michael Cohen, and Sam Nunberg) fed Trump strategy memos and political intelligence. “I listened to thousands of hours of talk radio, and he was getting reports from me,” Nunberg recalled. What those reports said was that the GOP base was frothing over a handful of issues including immigration, Obamacare, and Common Core.

and the only reason it works is the left/dems ignore that classic military style PSYOPS and give it a free speech free ride. all the left had to do is stand up in front of it and scream back. like by protesting the stations and the universities that keep the whole thing going with their athletics.

Most stations average 75 hours/week of partisan Republican talk (15 hrs/day x 5 days). If the GOP paid $1000/hour for that radio infomercial/advertising time each station is worth $75,000/week. 1200 Republican radio stations across the country would be worth $18MIL/day or $5BIL/year FREE. 257 stations would be worth $19MIL/week, or more than $1BIL/year to broadcast Republican messaging.

even worse, liberals let 88 universities keep the right's best weapon going

[BainsBane]

97. Very interesting

I didn't know that Trump had mined nut job radio, but it makes perfect sense now that you lay it out.

[certainot]

99. how long has putin's bunch been piggybacking limbaugh and sons

the most successful russian trolling and hacking related work reinforced 25 years of anti hillary/clinton crap on rw radio and a lot of the same old memes anyone who knows rw radio would recognize. unfortunately most of those who know those rw radio memes are living in that alternate reality where clinton's emails are more important than climate change and obama and his shadow govt and moles still sneak around behind trump paying protestors and fabricating russian connections.

all the left has to do is stop ignoring rw radio and tie trump to it, and that alt reality will start to fall apart

[img][/img]

[MarinCoUSA]

100. Amen. Amen, Amen on this post

Every word out of Orange Pustule Hitler's mouth was curated, road tested and refined in the hate porn wing nut radio. Every fucking word! And the chatting class did not have a clue.
Shrub said in spring of 2000 re tax cuts: "It's not the Government's Money. It's your money". THis was 100% quote from the Hannity Levin bs factory and I remember thinking that it represented a new low point in our politics- a president quoting exactly the the wing nut language and also thinking that using the intellectual leverage of the hate porn talkers would not end well for a president. Now there is Trump.
God save the Republic.

[MuseRider]

41. Come to Kansas

where they guys were asking the women to take "one for the team" when they wanted another candidate than Thompson. In some places it is very hard because until now there has been no courage from our lawmakers to stand up for women and their rights to their bodies. Not even Dems in many cases. I do not like the attitude that you can't win giving women their rights so shut up and try to get this democrat in.

It is changing, it has been a long road but the Dems now have a very progressive platform here including equal rights and reproductive rights. Still, the good old boys carry on wanting us to wait for our turn.

This thing with Bernie and Perez in Nebraska is just like that. I understand what they are saying but it is completely unacceptable. I am very angry about it.

[greymattermom]

49. Leave

Kansas

[MuseRider]

52. No

Did you not read that there are improvements? That is because we stay. Why give a state over entirely? Losing strategy.

Besides, there is no way on earth I am leaving this state. My history is thick with Free Staters and I cannot give up. Maybe it is easy for you to move around but I would leave a farm I have spent 25 years working myself. Not going anywhere.

By the way, are you prepared to move and move and move as each state is given up and others become like Kansas has been?

I find your solution short sighted and insulting. Read my post, read it and tell me leaving is the best option for the state or the country.

[Demsrule86]

78. I live in Ohio...and adopted state but I have grown fond of Ohio.

I want to stay and fight for my state which went for Trump in a big way this year...so I get it.

[cheapdate]

106. Leaving your home and the place you're from is a bad solution. I agree with you. nt

[Demsrule86]

77. Women's rights are human rights.

I can't believe that any progressive person is willing to throw women's right under the bus. How dare they? One thing to hold your nose and vote for the anti-choice Democrat in an election when the other choice is a repug. I would do it...have done it. Tim Ryan was anti-choice but followed the law. He had an epiphany a few years back (which made me very happy)...can't remember exactly when. However, one should never endorse such a candidate.

[Demsrule86]

75. There was enormous push back on the DNC and Sen. Sanders for

endorsing an anti-choice candidate for the mayor race in Nebraska. The idea that woman's rights can be thrown under the bus in order to get Trump or right wing voters on-board is a non-starter. Good for Perez. Now let's end this unity tour because it is causing disunity.

"The Omaha event wasn't that notable – just one of several red state visits on the DNC itinerary — until Thursday morning. That's when Ilyse Hogue, the president of abortion rights advocate NARAL Pro-Choice America, issued a statement blasting Sanders and Perez for spending time and resources campaigning alongside a Democrat who opposes abortion rights.

"The actions today by the DNC to embrace and support a candidate for office who will strip women – one of the most critical constituencies for the party – of our basic rights and freedom is not only disappointing, it is politically stupid," Hogue said. "Today's action makes this so-called 'fight back tour' look more like a throw-back tour for women and our rights."

The article goes on to say, one can't claim that in order for Democrats to win they must have progressive candidates while giving candidates who are not pro-choice an endorsement. Mello co-sponsored several bills in the Nebraska legislature which would restrict abortion rights. This includes a 2009 measure forcing doctors to inform women wanting abortions about the availability of an ultrasound.

http://www.npr.org/2017/04/20/524962482/sanders-defends-campaigning-for-anti-abortion-rights-democrat

[killbotfactory]

3. If Mello is so horrible why is the DNC supporting him?

I've read Perez has some influence within the dnc.

[BainsBane]

5. What does the OP say?

What part of we will not back anti-choice candidates do you not get?

[killbotfactory]

18. Is mello anti choice or not?

Is he being supported by the dnc or not?

[BainsBane]

21. He is anti-choice

and the DNC fucked up by endorsing him. Now Perez is trying to remedy that. Read the article.

[ehrnst]

73. The job of the DNC is to get candidates running as Democrats elected, not define where they are

on the political spectrum of Democrats

Bernie, and not the DNC, has decided to deem some of them "worthy" and others "not so much" It appears that Bernie seeks to change the definition of "progressive" to who falls in line with his narrow economic agenda, no matter how far they wander from the social justice part of the progressive platform.

Mello is running for mayor, and he is on the Democratic ticket. The DNC never classified him as progressive - just as a Democrat.

Bernie has taken it on himself to declare which candidates are "progressive" based not on their adherence to the progressive party platform, but by how much he personally approves of their economic theories.

Bernie seems to be using the job that was given to him by the DNC to advance his own political economic agenda by bestowing the title of "progressive," on hand picked candidates, and cast doubt as to the "progressive" cred of those Democrats that he isn't sure will back his very specific economic agenda.

So, no. The DNC is not being hippocritical by refusing to label either candidate, or refusing to support either Democratic candidate. Bernie is trying to assert that a candidate that goes to the right on social justice issues is more "progressive" than one who trends left.

Is that clearer?

[Demsrule86]

83. This may be an attempt to increase the number of voters who are not

Democrats but would support him in a future run...reaching out to disaffected Trump supporters.

[Demsrule86]

87. Yeah...looks like he intends to make another run.

[dembotoz]

11. in my local cd we had a primary for the congressional candidate....1 was quite pro lie

if he would have won i do not know what i would have done. as a county co chair we are supposed to support the person who wins the primary and i knew i could not do that and sleep nights....

[bekkilyn]

58. It's a dealbreaker for me

I won't knowingly vote for any candidate who is not pro-choice. I would leave it blank on the ballot or vote 3rd party or write in someone or anything. We don't need Democrats in office anywhere who won't support basic human rights.

[ehrnst]

74. If they refuse to listen to the medical profession on the topic of health care

then that is a HUGE red flag where they get their "facts."

Same with any politician that contradicts the medical profession when they reduce women's reproductive health care to a "social issue."

[Demsrule86]

79. Yeah about that...Perez won't be at the rally.

"The DNC is doing its best to distance itself from the Mello endorsement. Party staffers were quick to tell reporters that it was Sanders', and not the DNC's, idea to hold a rally for Mello.

Perez issued a statement emphasizing the DNC's strong support for abortion rights, but staying away from the central question of whether or not Mello should be the beneficiary of a DNC rally. "The Democratic Party's platform states clearly our support for every woman's right to make their own choices about their reproductive health and to have access to safe abortion services," Perez said in the statement. "As DNC Chair, I stand by that position unequivocally, as I have my entire life."

Perez will not be at the Omaha rally, because he stepped away from the unity tour Thursday to attend fundraising events in Georgia, where Democrat Jon Ossoff is competing in a June 20 runoff to fill the suburban Atlanta House seat vacated by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. He nearly won the seat outright this week."

http://www.npr.org/2017/04/20/524962482/sanders-defends-campaigning-for-anti-abortion-rights-democrat

[calimary]

6. GOOD. It damn well BETTER BE.

A woman's right to have the last word over HER body is NON-NEGOTIABLE.

It is AN ABSOLUTE.

How'd you like us to start legislating your scrotum, DC dudes? How would YOU feel about that?

[musette_sf]

101. + 1 xoxo

Our rights are NOT negotiable.

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. "I applaud him for it." As do I.

[MontanaMama]

8. Not sure these clowns know what

has been unleashed. I am ready for a down and dirty fight. Fuck any Dem who doesn't stand up for our basic human right. To say otherwise says we are not fully human. I'm done being patient. Bernie needs to go away if he does not concur. Mello is dangerous because of this issue alone. For all we know he will turn into a Dennis Kucinich down the road and hose us all. Thank you Tom Perez. Choice is a deal breaker.

[BainsBane]

13. I'm with you there.

[DURHAM D]

22. Amen.

I am pissed.

[Squinch]

24. Well said!

[PoliticAverse]

9. Can they personally think abortion is morally wrong, as long as they still support a woman's

right to choose?

[BainsBane]

12. Of course. There is no contradiction

The policy is PRO-CHOICE, not mandatory abortion.

I myself see abortion as something I could not justify for MYSELF, but I unequivocally support a woman's right to choose. It's a central issue for me.

[Kath2]

32. As a young Catholic...

I could never accept abortion. Well. until I got that pregnancy scare at 19. Crossed my mind then.

I will always support choice.

[BainsBane]

36. Yes, I have often said

that while I personally find abortion unacceptable, I've never been a pregnant teenager. Who am I to make decisions for her?

[Kath2]

45. Yes.

In a free country, people should be allowed to make their own decisions.

[MontanaMama]

98. Yes, this is a deeply personal

decision. I don't think I could ever have an abortion myself. I had two miscarriages before giving birth to a healthy baby boy when I was 41. If my last pregnancy had had serious problems like the two before, I knew that abortion might be something that would be presented as an option and I gave the subject lots of thought and energy. Life is complicated and we all go through so much along the way. Who are we to tell any woman what is right or best or ethical or not? No two life experiences are the same.

[lostnfound]

72. "Consistent life ethic".: no war, abortion, or death penalty. jesuits, marynoll sisters.

I grew up thinking the Democratic Party was right about everything except abortion. It seemed like a cruel joke that the pro war republicans, pro gun, pro death penalty crazies were the ones who respected life before birth.
I still voted democrat but this position bothered me.

Another thing that bothered me was that DINOs were all too willing to go along with war and excessive military spending. And as the years went on, I saw that the only position that democrats "drew a line in the sand" on, the only position that incurred the wrath of party leaders, was the very position that the Jesuits and Maryknoll sisters had told me wa immoral.
I too had a "pregnancy scare"at 19 but didn't change my mind. And it turned out to be a false alarm.

But I've never been authoritarian, and that is the key difference that prevented me from buying into the pro-life movement. My views evolved in my thirties, as I learned about the various medical and personal tragedies that motivate women to make these decisions, and as I learned about how disgusting and immoral governments and societies ultimately are. Societies and governments that can't prevent or solve famines, aerial bombings of cities, torture, and intense and intentional poverty have no business claiming to be protecting ANYTHING on a moral basis.

The single most effective pro-choice slogan I've ever heard is a recently invented one: "Trust Women". That for me is the new bottom line.

But my evolving views are worth shit, evidently this will continue to be the one single issue that we want to define us.

[PoliticAverse]

35. If they support the "Hyde Amendment" (no federal funds for abortion) can they still...

be considered as supporting a woman's "right to choose"?

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Amendment )

[BainsBane]

53. Here is the House vote

Dennis Kucinich did vote to ban the use of federal funds in abortion, as did John Murtha. http://www.ontheissues.org/HouseVote/Party_2001-115.htm

[DURHAM D]

27. Yes. That is the difference between being

anti-choice and anti-abortion.

Being anti-choice is a public policy position. Means you think that our laws should prohibit all women from having a choice.

If you personally are against abortion don't have one. That makes you anti-abortion. It is a personal decision.

Pro-Choice means you think women have a right to choose and that should remain the law of the land. That has been the law/public policy.

[Squinch]

29. If they think it is morally wrong, they should feel perfectly free not to have one. But the moment

they impose their opinion of "morally wrong" on me or anyone else, they are denying me MY right to my own body.

[George II]

37. Those two aren't necessarily linked. I'm pro-choice but anti-abortion. But as much as I...

....don't approve of abortion, I equally don't approve of prohibiting a woman from having an abortion.

That's basically the position that Mario Cuomo had years ago. He took a lot of heat for it but also got a lot of support from pro-choice constituents.

[PoliticAverse]

39. It's also the position that Joe Biden has. n/t

[bekkilyn]

59. Yes (nt)

[Demsrule86]

80. Sure but you can't co-sponsor anti-choice legislation as Mello did.

[samnsara]

10. yay!!!

[WePurrsevere]

14. Which 'supposed' Dems are doing this...

"efforts to move the party sharply to the right, toward promoting whiteness and patriarchy over equal rights and economic justice"?

Equal rights and economic justice aren't just progressive issues, they're the very soul of the Democratic Party IMO and ignore women and minorities at the parties own peril.

[BainsBane]

15. I expand on the argument here

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028963130

Heath Mello is one such Democratic.

[WePurrsevere]

17. Thank you. nt

[sheshe2]

16. I applaud Tom Perez.

Our Voice Our Choice

PERSIST

[Kath2]

26. Resist.

Our bodies, our rights.

[ehrnst]

20. Glad he's getting a spine. I was getting worried

he was going to let someone try to hijack the party that they won't even lower themselves to join.

[BainsBane]

23. The resistance came to him this week

and he wised up.

[DURHAM D]

30. I can't believe someone had to teach him the

history of the party. Sad really.

[BainsBane]

33. At least he listened

That's more than some.

[NurseJackie]

44. Amen.

[Cha]

61. I read a tweet of his on Al Gioradano's feed the

the other day and it said that he ran for DNC chair with it promise to uphold Women's Rights.. but it seemed kind of moot for me at the time.

Oh it was just a day ago.. I googled for it..

Link to tweet

[Kath2]

25. I love this.

He speaks the truth.

[cally]

28. The anger and outrage much has worried him--I applaud

His statement.

[Demsrule86]

81. I read that he will be at a rally in Georgia for Osstoff and not at the

Mello rally...I am happy about that.

[athena]

31. Excellent!

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said in a statement. “That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state.”

“At a time when women’s rights are under assault from the White House, the Republican Congress, and in states across the country,” he added, “we must speak up for this principle as loudly as ever and with one voice.”

Yes!

[PdxSean]

34. THAT'S my party!

Welcome home!!!

[George II]

38. Great post and great position by Perez.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

40. GOOD!!! But it should go without saying!

[countryjake]

42. Let's hope Sec. Clinton & Sen. Kaine hear what he's saying!

Whenever the Democratic Party states things like "abortion should be rare" or compromises on legislation to restrict women's rights by allowing made-up phrases such as late-term or partial birth abortion to enter the debate, they invariably alienate most conscientious women, especially the younger women in our Party who can spot a centrist swing to the right when they see one.

Kudos to Perez for finally standing up for Women's Rights for every one of us!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

46. Thank you! I so agree with you about that judgmental "abortion should be rare" tut-tutting!

[BainsBane]

48. I disagree

The policy is pro-choice, not proliferation of abortion. It allows women to make their own choices, including not to have an abortion. Why not make family planning services adequate enough to avoid unwanted pregnancy? Hillary is a fierce proponent for women's rights and reproductive choice. She hasn't declared it a distraction from "what really matters." She isn't using her public profile to signal that women's rights are optional.

"If we are going to protect a woman's right to choose, at the end of the day we're going to need Democratic control over the House and the Senate, and state governments all over this nation," he said. "And we have got to appreciate where people come from, and do our best to fight for the pro-choice agenda. But I think you just can't exclude people who disagree with us on one issue."
http://www.npr.org/2017/04/20/524962482/sanders-defends-campaigning-for-anti-abortion-rights-democrat

She stood up for abortion rights before the GOP Senate that had power over her confirmation as Secretary of State. She talked about the connection between poverty and lack of access to reproductive care. She made clear in no certain terms it would be part of US foreign policy under her leadership and she kept that promise.

Nor is she in the process of convincing her supporters to abandon abortion rights. She understands poverty and absence of equal rights are linked. That point should be obvious, but Bernie manages to pretend they are merely divisive "cultural wars." It is looking increasingly like calls for economic justice are geared not for all but for demographic that already makes 2-5x the median income at the expense of greater poverty for women and children. That is not justice but greater inequality.

[countryjake]

54. Get back to me when BC is more than 99% effective!

Some extremely fertile women are living proof that the "99%" is no guarantee that they will not need an abortion if they go ahead and have intercourse using the Birth Control that is available.

I would never consider any person who declares that abortion should be "rare" a very fierce advocate for either Women's Rights or Reproductive Choice, but someone who actually has no idea how easily accidental unwanted pregnancy happens to women in this country. That sort of ignorance is how the Rethugs get away with promoting and pushing restrictions on our rights to millions of women who continually vote against their own interests.

I've been Pro-Abortion since I marched the streets, fighting for Women's Rights, back in the sixties... I was Pro-Abortion when I joined this site, back in 2001... and politicians of every stripe be damned, I would never attempt to moralize, smear, condemn, or shame any woman who has had or needs more than one abortion. I call bullshit on your use of the word "proliferation". Why in the world would you say that?


(on edit)
Now that I've seen the edit you've made to your own response, I realize that your thread wasn't really about what Tom Perez has stated about abortion rights, at all, but simply more condemnation of an ally who isn't even a member of our Party, so I'm outta here (and I'm taking my recommendation with me!). I see no point in debating with you like that when our entire planet is currently under attack by reactionary wing-nut forces.

[boston bean]

55. And that is your choice. In what way has Hillary prevented your choice?????

[leanforward]

43. I'll stand with him.

I am glad to hear him take that position. It has been a long time coming. No woman of any age should be told what to do with her body. To me, the GOP has turned their party into an OB/GYN Clinic. Taking a stand is principled.

Where this will take the party, I think is positive. Populism, I'm for it.

I'm a loyal citizen, american, patriot, in opposition to pRezident dRumpf and any GOP lemming.

[warmfeet]

47. The government has no right

to tell individuals what they can, and cannot, do with their own bodies. I completely support Perez in his efforts.

[hrmjustin]

50. I personally could not vote for a candidate that is not for reproductive rights.

Glad the Tom Perez is doing this.

[Silver Gaia]

51. YES. A big THANK YOU to Perez for this!

[bekkilyn]

56. Good, this is the sort of thing I want to see from the DNC

Taking up at least a few social and economic issues and *unapologetically* standing behind them no matter what. It's been one of my complaints about the DNC in general and hopefully this is a good sign that there will be positive change here. No more wishy-washiness.

Hopefully, it will apply to existing representatives like Manchin and Donnelly so that they can either get on board or get out. (Not that choice is my only issue with these types, but it's a start.)

While I understand that every representative is not going to support all the same things 100%, and that there is some room for differences, there are certain fundamental rights that are not up for debate, and choice is one of them.

Having standards is a necessary and good thing. We can't just support any candidate who decides to put a D next to his or her name. The things a candidate stands for *matters* and matters a lot.

[tammywammy]

57. Glad to see this.

Women's rights are human rights.

[Kath2]

60. Abortion rights.

They are healthcare rights which are fundamental human rights.

[tammywammy]

63. Agreed

I once had a conversation with a pro life friend of mine, who's male. I told him I'm pro abortion , which shocked him. I said "I believe every woman that wants an abortion should be able to get one. Damn right I'm pro-abortion." I also believe in the availability of third trimester abortion.

[Kath2]

67. Excellent that you spoke up.

I just don't say I'm pro-choice. I am pro-abortion.

Any woman who needs or wants an abortion should have one.

[Cha]

62. Tweet from Tom Perez.. yesterday..

Link to tweet

No hi-jacking our rights!

[Cha]

64. Al Giordano says "quite the comments underneath this Tweet"..

Link to tweet

[BainsBane]

65. Negative comments?

about his decision?

[Cha]

68. No! All you have to do is

left click on the body of the message and it takes you to the Tweet thread.

[dsc]

69. those comments are interesting

I think the lack of women on the tour is a very valid point.

[Cha]

70. It is a valid point! Lots of pushback on getting it

straight who is the base of the Democratic Party, too!

[Demsrule86]

84. Indeed. We are the Democratic boots on the ground.

Most of the GOTV here are women...the meetings I attend are mostly women...we took our city for Hillary although our county narrowly went for Drumpt. We are already fighting back ....I know many women who attended the Woman's march and some of the other marches too...I wanted to go yesterday but had to make food for one of my kiddies birthday...but was there in spirit, and I donated.

[Cha]

89. Mahalo for this good news, Demsrule!

[Demsrule86]

91. Back at you Cha... Mahalo. nt

[Hekate]

66. Good for Perez. Thanks for this post, BB

[Freethinker65]

76. Please inform Dan Lipinski

[stonecutter357]

82. K&R!

[Demsrule86]

85. Great post...thanks

Here is another article that you may be interested in...

http://www.npr.org/2017/04/20/524962482/sanders-defends-campaigning-for-anti-abortion-rights-democrat

[Demsrule86]

88. I would vote for him...but it is a mayor's race...so I would not have a rally and spend DNC money.

nor would I endorse as he is anti-choice.

[BainsBane]

93. Our system here is so different

All of the contenders are Democrats. Abortion rights isn't an issue at the city level.

[Demsrule86]

95. That is fine...and I have voted for Tim Ryan who was anti-choice because he was the Democrat

running in Ohio, and that was for the House...I always vote Democratic. Ryan later had a change of heart. However, I don't think one should call an anti-choice candidate a 'rising star' in the Democratic Party. I don't think Mello is a rising star. And there are more important races including but not limited to the Georgia six race. I don't get a rally for what is essentially a local race and the spending of DNC money on such a race. That being said, if I lived in Mello's city, I would vote for him. He is a Democrat and better than any Repug.

[Gothmog]

92. This is an important line for the party

[BainsBane]

94. Because without it

We would have a party that refused to defend the rights of the majority of its voters.

[stevenleser]

103. Welcome to DU and enjoy your stay.

[BainsBane]

104. "I'm pro-choice but. . ."

People who focus on "baby killing are sick."
Riggghttt.

[stevenleser]

105. Yeah, I am sure that person thought they were being clever

Perhaps we can feel sorry for them based on that alone. People gear their interpretation of what is clever on what it would take to fool themselves.

That person is probably fooled a lot. That's a heck of a way to go through life.

[noseyflynn]

107. About time...

Dems took a clear stand on this!!