Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Love that DNC
So far, the DNC, whose quadrennial platform in 2000 included a plank affirming the party’s support for a woman’s right to have an abortion, has refused to respond to the query by the group known as Democrats for Life of America.
“The request is under review,” is all DNC spokeswoman Deborah DeShong will say.
But Democrats who buck the party orthodoxy on abortion are saying plenty.
“I think that the Democratic Party is the party of inclusion, according to their mission statement — the big tent party,” said Carol Crossed of Rochester, N.Y., president of Democrats for Life of America. “We’ve always embraced a more expansive interpretation of human rights. Surely we can embrace a diversity of opinions on this issue.”
The organization is now turning to high-powered allies for help.
In the past month, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) has written to DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe urging the party to add the Democrats for Life link to its Web site. In addition, 17 House Democrats wrote to McAuliffe defending the anti-abortion-rights group.
In their May 14 letter, the House Members said the DNC’s refusal to add the Web link amounted to “ostracism” of loyal Democrats and contradicted the party’s abortion plank in the 2000 platform, which said in part, “We respect the individual conscience of each American on this difficult issue.”
“Actions speak louder than words,” the 17 House lawmakers wrote.
But my favorite part is this:
But a national Democratic strategist with close ties to women’s organizations called that thesis — and the anti-abortion group’s push for a Web link — “a teapot looking for a tempest.”
“It seems to me like this is a fringe group desperately in search of a little publicity here,” the strategist said.
Pro-lifers make up something like 40% of the Dems at last count. That's quite a large fringe.
“The request is under review,” is all DNC spokeswoman Deborah DeShong will say.
But Democrats who buck the party orthodoxy on abortion are saying plenty.
“I think that the Democratic Party is the party of inclusion, according to their mission statement — the big tent party,” said Carol Crossed of Rochester, N.Y., president of Democrats for Life of America. “We’ve always embraced a more expansive interpretation of human rights. Surely we can embrace a diversity of opinions on this issue.”
The organization is now turning to high-powered allies for help.
In the past month, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) has written to DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe urging the party to add the Democrats for Life link to its Web site. In addition, 17 House Democrats wrote to McAuliffe defending the anti-abortion-rights group.
In their May 14 letter, the House Members said the DNC’s refusal to add the Web link amounted to “ostracism” of loyal Democrats and contradicted the party’s abortion plank in the 2000 platform, which said in part, “We respect the individual conscience of each American on this difficult issue.”
“Actions speak louder than words,” the 17 House lawmakers wrote.
But my favorite part is this:
But a national Democratic strategist with close ties to women’s organizations called that thesis — and the anti-abortion group’s push for a Web link — “a teapot looking for a tempest.”
“It seems to me like this is a fringe group desperately in search of a little publicity here,” the strategist said.
Pro-lifers make up something like 40% of the Dems at last count. That's quite a large fringe.
