Can You Be a Pro-Life Democrat?

[Me.]

In a desperate bid to win seats back, Democrats are striving to be more inclusive to all potential allies. And yet they still haven't learned that compromising the party platform is a losing strategy.

Written by Robin Marty

“And that's what I think about when I hear that Democratic leadership is being cajoled into giving pro-life Democrats a larger voice and more support as they run for office. This happened again on Tuesday as Tom Perez, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, met with Democrats for Life, the anti-abortion arm of the political left. According to Charlie Camosy, who is a board member of Democrats for Life, the meeting suggests "the party may be ready to rethink its approach, at least in terms of tolerance for pro-life voices."

“The Atlantic was more open in what was discussed, including a list of demands that the anti-abortion left had for the party in order to get their support. "In addition to a request for a statement direct from Perez that hte party does not have a litmus test, Democrats for Life's list calls for the party to make resources available to support pro-life Democrats," reports Clare Foran. "The list asks for 'the establishment of a Democratic Pro-Life Political Action Committee to be used specifically to support pro-life Democratic candidates.' It also requests that the 2020 Democratic Party platform be 'inclusive of Democrats who oppose abortion,' and calls for eliminating language currently in the 2016 platform 'opposing the Hyde Amendment.

"In other words, they want abortion completely removed from the party platform altogether, and their own pool of financial and other resources to solidify the deal.'"…cont….

“At what point does the term “Democrat” lose all meaning?As we head into the midterms, this is a fight that unfortunately is unlikely to go away. With President Donald Trump in the White House and the House gerrymandered to within an inch of its life, it’s completely reasonable for Democrats to be looking for any leg up to try and win back one or both chambers of Congress, as well as prepare for defeating the president when he is up for reelection. But caving on the issue that actually defines us as Democrats is not the way to do it. We’ve tried that before, and all that left us with is a mass of Blue Dog Democrats who were easily picked off in the 2010 midterms because voters rightfully saw no difference between them and the Republicans running against them.You can be a pro-life Democrat. You can be progressive and oppose abortion. But when you try to enforce that belief on others, and take away their ability to make the decisions best for them in their situations then no, you are not a feminist, you are not a progressive. And while you may still technically be a Democrat, you do not—and should not—get the resources we need to win.“

https://www.damemagazine.com/2017/06/29/can-you-be-pro-life-democrat

[Angry Dragon]

1. Yes

[delisen]

2. Seeking to own a body that that is not yours is not a Democratic principle.

Last edited Fri Jun 30, 2017, 04:10 PM - Edit history (1)

any more than is a position in favor of owning slaves.

[jaysunb]

3. does "pro-life" really mean, "anti-abortion ?"

If so, it has no place in the Party I belong to.

[jehop61]

23. I believe

we progressives call it pro-CHOICE! It's fine if a person is against abortion for themselves. Big tent and all that

[50 Shades Of Blue]

4. Sure. But if you vote for anti-choice legislation you're a DINO.

[MANative]

5. TL;DR but in reaction to the question in the thread title...

Yes, of course, for personal choices; emphatically NO for making decisions for anyone else.

[LOL Lib]

17. Exactly including the tldr

Decisions I make about my body regarding abortion are mine and mine alone. That means I could be pro life personally. However, I do not have the right to push legislation that supports anything other than PRO CHOICE.

[hurl]

6. Yes but

Personally pro-life for your own choices is fine, but not anti-choice for others.

[Blaukraut]

16. Well said n/t

[NurseJackie]

34. This would have been my answer... but you beat me to it. (Thank you!)

[Binkie The Clown]

7. I never heard of an anti-life Democrat, so I'd say sure.

I'm pro-life AND pro-choice.

Life is good. Choice is good.

[tonyt53]

12. Exactly!!!!!

[AngryAmish]

8. Nope. Try again.

[Solly Mack]

9. Anyone that attempts to deprive me of my rights is my enemy.

I don't give a rat's ass how sincerely they feel about abortion being wrong.

You can have your opinion but once you work to control my body, you are the enemy.

They can call themselves a Democrat but they can never call themselves my ally. Well, they could - but they would be lying.

[Raster]

10. There is choice and anti-choice.

An individual person may term themselves as "pro-life," meaning they personally would not terminate a pregnancy. If they would prohibit others from making that choice for themselves, THEY ARE ANTI-CHOICE.

I despise the "pro-life" moniker. I have yet to encounter a "pro-life" individual that was not in favor of the death penalty, except, of course, for Catholic clergy.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. I've known some who have identified as such, and voted for one.

[loyalsister]

13. Only if one wants to ensure that it's safe

I think it's possible that we could be more inclusive by accepting a range personal perspectives of candidates. But, my line in the sand is when someone wants to impose policies that would limit that option. I would be reluctant to vote for a candidate who is not 100% pro-choice. But, if there are voters in districts that support such a candidate, I would hope that they would be welcomed into the fold.

[Warpy]

14. It's about boundaries

You can find abortion aborhorrent and you can follow a religion that states it a heinous sin. However, we have a strong boundary between church and state, in theory if not always in practice, and if you think you have a right to insert religious dogma into civil law, then you can't be a Democrat. Sorry, just not possible.

That's where the line is, folks, the one between church and state. I will not vote for anyone who runs on violating it.

[beachbum bob]

15. I don't know any democrat who isn't prolife, you asking the wrong question

[Caliman73]

18. You can't be anti-choice and really be a Democratic party supporter.

The Democratic party does not support mandatory abortions for all. The Democratic party supports the right for women to choose to carry their pregnancies to term or not. You can certainly be anti-abortion but Democrats as a party do not and should never advocate for taking away the right of women to choose, and to have access to safe and affordable terminations of their pregnancies.

I agree that we should not be supporting candidates that want to take away a woman's right to choose.

[marylandblue]

19. If they want to prevent abortion through effective non-coercive means

Last edited Fri Jun 30, 2017, 04:00 PM - Edit history (1)

then yes, you can be a pro-life Democrat. That would mean they would expand access to birth control, provide economic and emotional support for women and babies, and teach rational sex ed in schools.

[mercuryblues]

20. All Democrats are

pro-life. ooohhhh. They mean Anti-choice. Anti choice is at its core anti-woman. It takes away their rights over their very own body. It does not trust women to make decisions concerning their own lives. It forces women to live by their religious beliefs.

If men could get pregnant there would be home abortion kits sold in the checkout isle in every store. But since only women can get pregnant, that must be controlled to keep women subjugated to conform to their religious beliefs.

[Phoenix61]

21. You can be anything you want

You just shouldn't be a candidate. There absolutely should not be a special PAC for Dems who oppose abortion. If they feel that strongly about it they can run as independents. The last, the very last, thing we need to do is split the Dems into more pieces.

[emulatorloo]

22. Yes in your personal beliefs. However you damn sure better have a pro-choice voting record.

I know of several Dems who are pro-life because of their religion.

However they understand that one supports choice legislatively and that it is not right to vote religion into law.

The key as mercuryblues put it, they will not vote for Anti-CHoice legislation.

[BumRushDaShow]

24. When the bill for the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

(the final budget reconciliation piece that would amend the PPACA) was being debated in the House, it was close to failure due to 17 "pro-life" Democrats lead by Bart Stupak. A bunch of hoops needed to be jumped to bring them on board (and even then, 34 other Democrats still voted no). But of all the Democrats who did vote "yes", there were quite a few who were also "pro-life" as a personal decision, but who chose not impose the weight of law against those who are pro-choice, who wish to privately evaluate and/or utilize a full suite of options as part of their prenatal decisions.

The majority of Americans support choice and I expect that the way this has been made into a "wedge" issue by making assumptions that anyone who is "pro-choice", is somehow "pro-death", is just ludicrous.

[Cary]

25. They are anti-safe and legal abortion.

I don t see how you can be anti-safe and legal abortion and a Democrat. But I don't make decisions.

[awesomerwb1]

26. Yes.

[GeorgeGist]

27. Pro-choice or NO.

IMHO

[Iggo]

28. Sure! You just can't be anti-choice.

[pandr32]

29. I am pro people

...and I hate the idea of abortion, particularly if one waits while trying to make a decision. Every day a fetus develops more. In this way I guess I am pro-life, but that is my decision to feel that way. I am pro-choice because I believe other people have the right to decide for themselves. That's what matters, so no...a true democrat would support the rights of others to weigh their circumstances and make their own decision--that is pro-people and pro-choice.
What is important is to support proper sex education in schools...
--make healthcare available along with easy access to birth control.
--help single mothers by supporting equality--workplace fairness and equal pay.
--Fund maternity leave and offer access to quality childcare that is affordable.
--oppose sexism in all forms.
--enforce laws that punish rapists--don't just wrap their knuckles because they may be rich or promising athletes.
--oppose domestic violence

[guillaumeb]

30. Yes.

One's beliefs can drive one's personal decisions. I am personally against abortion, but I do not feel that my personal opinion should override another's freedom to choose differently.

[Whiskeytide]

31. I think ALL democrats are pro life...

And, I think most democrats are anti abortion. I very much support affordable medical care, accessible birth control and legit sex education in the hopes that the necessity of abortion is reduced. Choice is an absolute right, but programs to minimize the occurrence of circumstances where the choice must be made are, in my view, part of the equation.

But as democrats, we are decidedly - and uniformly - pro choice. And also decidedly anti control of women's bodies by anyone other than the woman in that body.

The issue for a candidate is whether they would support laws to restrict choice. I think that makes them something other than a democrat.

[Bettie]

32. I know a pro-life Democrat

She doesn't like abortion, but understands that it must be legal in order to keep it safe, because banning it will not end it.

She works to end it by working toward comprehensive sex education and easily available (affordable or free) birth control.

She wishes there were no need for abortion, but she understands that it is a fact of life and will remain so.

She calls herself pro-life.

Oh, she's also anti-death penalty.

[Else You Are Mad]

33. The real question is ...

One can be pro-life and be a Democrat. We all own our own bodies and if such a Democrat gets pregnant, they are free to have that child because of their deeply held personal belief.

The real question is can a Democrat be a "forced birther"? That is the difference. A person that is pro-life personally does not approve of abortion and lives their life accordingly. A person that is a forced birther is a person that forces their own opinion upon everyone.

[Mike Nelson]

35. Of course...

Nothing wrong with being both pro-life and pro-choice; about abortion, individuals should be supported in making private decisions about bringing children into the world.

[Egnever]

36. Of course

Silly question.

[CozyMystery]

37. I have always been pro-choice

I was urged by my neonatologist to abort at least 1 of 3 fetuses when I was pregnant with triplets. There was a reason - both remaining babies had a higher chance of being born alive. There was also a 10% chance of a miscarriage after that procedure was done.

My husband and I replied "No!", as a spontaneous utterance, and that was that. Our triplets are in their early 20s now.

The difficulty, as I see it, lies in the determination of when an embryo develops into a full-fledged human being. See Wired, Why Science Can't Say When a Baby's Life Begins, https://www.wired.com/2015/10/science-cant-say-babys-life-begins/

I personally believe that when a fetus is viable outside the womb, it is a human being. At the same time, my triplets were born at 27.5 weeks. They weighed between 1 lb. 6 oz.and 1 lb. 15 oz. They were in incubators and on respirators. They were in the neonatal intensive care unit for 3 months, and one had to return to the NICU for several weeks.

So even viability brings up another question -- if a baby's life is dependent on machines, is it viable? Well yes, but what if the machines are not available? Then the answer is no. Two babies, differently situated.

This issue is like a tangled ball of yarn. The only way to resolve it is on a case by case basis, IMO, and that means give the choice to the woman and support her choice, no matter what it is.

I don't make the abortion issue the main factor in how I vote. It turns out that I am not for the policies of the pro-life crew and wouldn't vote for them anyway.

[Lil Missy]

38. of course you can. they are not mutually exclusive concepts

[Demsrule86]

39. We have a Democratic party...there will be different views...red states will not elect progressives.

It has always been so...we have blue dogs and Progressives in the same party and we will never have a majority without the big tent.

[Skittles]

40. WTF kind of question is that

ALL Democrats are PRO-LIFE

repukes are NOT PRO-LIFE, they are PRO-FETUS

[demosincebirth]

41. Sure, as long as you believe in the core principles of the Democratic Party

[NCTraveler]

42. It's why I am a Democrat. Nt

[NobodyHere]

43. Yes you can

Purity tests will only harm the party

[mvd]

44. I have problems with being anti-choice

Economic issues are very important to me, and I see choice as an economic issue in a way since poor women would be hurt the most by restrictions. Pro-life I can see as long as they don't want government interfering with women's bodies. I can't think of anyone who LIKES abortion. But it's a fact of life.

[Me.]

46. It Is Troubling

That the economic issues related to this subject seem to be ignored in a large part

[egduj]

45. Republican and Democrat is now an identity and no longer an ideology.

So the answer is yes.

[madville]

47. I believe life starts at conception

I also believe the mother had the right to end that life before it is born. Until birth the mother owns the decision of whether or not to end that life.