Posted on 12/22/2004 2:02:42 PM PST by nickcarraway
South Bend, IN (LifeNews.com) -- Former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer is pro-life in a party that is overwhelmingly pro-abortion in its upper echelons. But with loses in the last two presidential elections that polls attribute in part to the issue of abortion, party leaders may be ready for someone different.
Earlier this month, it came as a shock to many that the top two Democrats, incoming Senate Democratic chief Harry Reid and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, are actively encouraging Roemer to run for the DNC chairmanship.
For his part, Roemer acknowledges the gap between his view and most Democrats.
"[O]n the issue of abortion, I fully recognize that our party is overwhelmingly 'pro-choice,'" Roemer told the South Bend Tribune newspaper. "As someone who personally holds a different view, I believe that there must be a place in our party for those who have alternative positions."
Roemer admonishes the party to not alienate those who have deeply felt beliefs against abortion.
"We must respect the opinions of others and have a partywide conversation about how we assure Americans that we, too, are people of faith who connect with their values and their everyday lives," Roemer told the Tribune.
A former member of the commission that investigated the September 11th terrorist attacks, Roemer hasn't announced an official bid to lead the DNC.
However, he seriously enough considering running to mail a letter to all 447 Democratic delegates who will be voting in February to replace outgoing chairman Terry McAuliffe, who backs abortion and used the issue to attack President Bush during the elections.
In the letter, Roemer noted that Democrats lost married women voters and saw President Bush fare well with Catholic and Hispanic voters. Those traditionally Democratic blocs supported Bush in record numbers in large part because of the difference between the president and John Kerry on abortion.
But whether a Roemer chairmanship would make any impact on abortion is a key question -- especially considering the stranglehold abortion advocates have on the party and its message.
"Tim Roemer would provide an interesting leadership change for the DNC, particularly in view of the many pro-life votes he cast as a member of Congress," Indiana Right to Life executive director Mike Fichter told LifeNews.com.
"Roemer's influence could potentially challenge the DNC to rethink its radical devotion to abortion on demand," Fichter added.
But, Roemer's down to Earth style may clash with the kind of aggressive politics pro-abortion groups like NARAL and Planned Parenthood use to go after pro-life candidates.
Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of a respected nonpartisan newsletter on campaign politics, says "Roemer's style is kind of low-key and thoughtful."
"You just wonder, would he be a guy who'd really want that kind of a job," he told the Indianapolis Star newspaper.
Some of the other people considering bids for the party chair position include former Vermont governor Howard Dean; Rep. Martin Frost of Texas; former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard; former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk; former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb; former Clinton aide Harold Ickes; Simon Rosenberg, founder of the New Democratic Network; and party strategist Donnie Fowler. All support abortion.
Sheesh what are the demos trying to do, have Roemer's name become the leading defintion in the Thesaurus of the phrase, "window dressing".
Great news!Now,if the Dem power brokers also decide on a pro-2nd Amendment-low taxes-no nonsense approach toward terrorism positions I MIGHT think about supporting some of the Donkey Party candidates!
When someone comes out in support of judges like Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia, I'll consider it news. Until then, it's that old game of, "Gosh, Officer Krumpke, I just cant't understand where all these liberals come from!"
I've long felt that Democrats have much to gain and little to lose with respect to votes and elections by AT LEAST backing off from their radical, active advocacy of any type of abortion.
Just backing off a bit, even without going 'pro-life', will help them bring back some blue-collar votes.
Sure, NARAL and hard-core feminists will scream. SO WHAT?
This is smart real-politics for the Dems. Meanwhile, the Ah-nald RINO faction of the Republicans will continue to risk alienating folks like myself that can't compromise on the sanctity of human life.
-- Joe
Even if it'd just be for show, would the dems even be able to stomach someone like Roemer?
DU, the gift that just keeps on giving.
Just backing off a bit, even without going 'pro-life', will help them bring back some blue-collar votes.
Sure, NARAL and hard-core feminists will scream. SO WHAT?
This is smart real-politics for the Dems. Meanwhile, the Ah-nald RINO faction of the Republicans will continue to risk alienating folks like myself that can't compromise on the sanctity of human life. -- Joe
Ah yes the Jimmy Carter stategy, you all go for it.
As for Ah-nald, he's the best California can do, he's better than Davis, but the country has moved from where California sets the "trends".
Reid + Pelosi = whores,I tell you, all whores.
Remember when the Demos and RINOs were insisting that
"Pro-Life candidates cannot win"? My, how times change!
However, beware of "wolves in sheep's clothing".
DEMOCRATIC "THOUGHT" - Yes, that's the key. Let's put a pro-life face on the party while remaining the foremost instrument for "legalized" baby slaughter in the world. Yes, that's the key.
Maybe Arnold would consider the position in his 'outreach' to the leftists like himself. But he wouldn't be able to rope in the GOP, that way. Ooops.
Why else would I be, among other things, a very happy
Recovering_Democrat ?
Oh yeah, every time the pro-life cause is mentioned, the name of Tim Roemer is brought up. He is really outspoken for the unborn child. <\big lie>
"window dressing".
Choice is a fundamental, constitutional right
Democrats stand behind the right of every woman to choose. We believe it is a constitutional liberty. This year’s Supreme Court ruling show us that eliminating a woman’s right to choose is only one justice away. Our goal is to make abortion more rare, not more dangerous. We support contraceptive research, family planning, comprehensive family life education, and policies that support healthy childbearing.
Source: Democratic National Platform Aug 15, 2000
Pursue embryonic stem cell research
Pres. Bush has rejected the calls from Nancy Reagan, Christopher Reeve & Americans across the land for assistance with embryonic stem cell research. We will reverse his wrongheaded policy. Stem cell therapy offers hope to more than 100 million Americans who have serious illnesses-from Alzheimer's to heart disease to juvenile diabetes to Parkinson's. We will pursue this research under the strictest ethical guidelines, but we will not walk away from the chance to save lives and reduce human suffering.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.29 Jul 10, 2004
Support right to choose even if mother cannot pay
Because we believe in the privacy and equality of women, we stand proudly for a woman's right to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of her ability to pay. We stand firmly against Republican efforts to undermine that right. At the same time, we strongly support family planning and adoption incentives. Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.
Source: The Democratic Platform for America, p.36 Jul 10, 2004 http://www.issues2000.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Abortion.htm
Republicans Reaffirm Party's Opposition to Abortion Rights, USA
01 Sep 2004
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=12745#
Delegates at the Republican National Convention in New York City on Monday adopted a platform that "reaffirms" the party's opposition to abortion rights, USA Today reports (USA Today, 8/31). The platform's section on abortion -- titled "Upholding the Rights of All" -- is five paragraphs long, expanded from two paragraphs in the 2000 party platform.
The endorsement calls for a constitutional ban on abortion and says that "the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life, which cannot be infringed."
The platform also applauds President Bush's restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. Bush's stem cell policy, which he announced on Aug. 9, 2001, limits federally funded embryonic stem cell research to cell lines created on or before that date.
Some RNC delegates on the platform committee had proposed amending the stem cell plank to call for a ban on all embryonic stem cell research, regardless of the funding source, but the amendment failed.
In addition, the platform committee rejected a "unity plank" proposed by the gay-rights group Log Cabin Republicans, Republicans for Choice, the Republican Youth Majority and the centrist group Republican Main Street Partnership that read: "We recognize and respect that Republicans of good faith may not agree with all the planks in the party's platform. This is particularly the case with regard to those planks dealing with abortion, family planning and gay and lesbian issues. The Republican Party welcomes all people on all sides of these complex issues and encourages their active participation as we work together on those issues upon which we agree." Instead, the committee approved language stating that the party "respect[s] and accept[s] that members of our party can have deeply held and sometimes differing views" (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 8/26).
Democratic Party Positions
The Republican platform's "strongly worded" opposition to abortion rights stands in "sharp contrast" to the platform adopted by the Democratic National Convention delegates at their convention in Boston in July, according to the New York Times (Nagourney, New York Times, 8/31).
The Democratic Party platform's position on abortion says, "Because we believe in the privacy and equality of women, we stand proudly for a woman's right to choose consistent with Roe v. Wade and regardless of her ability to pay," adding, "Abortion should be safe, legal and rare."
On embryonic stem cell research, the Democratic platform says that the party aims to "reverse" Bush's "wrongheaded position," adding, "We will pursue this research under the strictest ethical guidelines, but we will not walk away from the chance to save lives and reduce human suffering" (Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/31).
Reaction
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), who headed the Republican Party's platform committee, said that the platform "highlights the principles that unite our party," adding, "We stand squarely, fully and firmly with President George W. Bush in a time of profound national and historic consequence" (Toner/Kirkpatrick, New York Times, 8/31).
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said that disagreements among Republicans on the party platform are "not an indication of discord but showed how mainstream and inclusive the party is," according to the Associated Press. "It's consistent with the platform that Republicans have had for more than 20 years," Huckabee said, adding, "There would have been a reaction if there was a sudden shift in policy" (Hammer, Associated Press, 8/31).
Stephanie Cutter, spokesperson for Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), said that the Republican platform "reflects the divisiveness and extreme policies of the last four years, while the public speakers [at the convention] paint a very different picture" (Toner/Kirkpatrick, New York Times, 8/31).
Terry McAuliffe, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said that the Republican platform is an "extremist, special-interest document," adding, "So if you really want to know what George Bush and Dick Cheney stand for and what they intend to do over the next four years, turn down the [television] volume and read the platform" (AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 8/31).
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