Bart Stupak, the supposed pro-life Democrat that has come under fire from almost every quarter for his part in the obamacare debacle, will not be running for re-election in November.
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who had a central role in the health reform fight as the leader of anti-abortion Democrats, plans to announce Friday that he will not run for reelection, a Democratic official said. Without Stupak on the ballot, the seat becomes an immediate pickup opportunity for Republicans.
Pro-life Democrats accuse him of selling out by voting for obamacare without the specific language he originally fought for on abortions and pro-choice Democrats are angry at him for his original stance and not agreeing to vote for obamacare until he received a promise from Obama to sign an executive order, while not legally binding, satisfied the wording on restricting abortions he was so insistent on.
Tea Party activists had targeted him as well.
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“After selling his soul to Nancy Pelosi, it appears that Bart Stupak finally found the courage to tell her no," said National Republican Congressional Committee communications director Ken Spain. "The political fallout over the Democrats’ government takeover of healthcare has put the political careers of many Democrats in jeopardy thanks in-part to Stupak’s decision to abandon his alleged pro-life principles."
Republicans believe that other pro-life Democrats, like freshman Reps. Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio) and Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.), will also face serious trouble because of their support for the health care legislation without strict anti-abortion provisions.
Vulnerable Democrats that voted for obamacare understand how difficult November is going to be for them, especially those that come from districts where the majorities were against the health care bill that was passed.
The question now is, which of the other Stupak "bloc" members, those who stood behind his stance refusing to vote for obamacare with his abortion language, then caved right along with him at the final hour, will be next to tuck their tails between their legs and run?
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