"Is there no limit to the poll-driven cowardice of the Democratic Party?"

[BurtWorm]

Political Journalist Doug Ireland's take on the noise of anti-choice accommodationism from the top Dems:


http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2004/12/the_democrats_d.html

Oh, and guess who's also encouraging the watering-down of the Democrats' full-throated defense of a woman's right to control her own body? Why, that noble Democrat of principle John Kerry--the L.A. Times tells us that, "after his election loss, the Massachusetts senator concluded that the party needed to rethink its stance. Addressing supporters at a meeting held by the AFL-CIO, Kerry said he discovered during trips through Pennsylvania that many union members were also abortion opponents and that the party needed to rethink how it could appeal to those voters, Kerry spokesman David Wade said." (Another flip-flop--a sure sign that he's thinking of running again.)

Having blamed their election loss on uppity gays and planned to shun the movement for their rights, now the Democratic elite is scurrying toward positions that will reaffirm the right of religion to legislate morality and throw women overboard in the process. Some, like Nancy Pelosi, have already suggested that the privatization of Social Security is a negotiable issue--there go the seniors...At this rate, if the Democrats keep mowing down their base constituent groups in this cross-fire of post-defeat recriminations, you'll have to have a paid-up membership in the Southern Baptists to be a Democrat (indeed, right-wing Dems like Chris Matthews have already suggested that the party's next nominee for president must be a Southern Baptist).

One of the "softenings" of the party's abortion position its cretinous honchos are suggesting is requiring parental consent to have one. That means subjecting, BY LAW, teenage girls of 17, 18, 19, and 20 (depending on where they live) to the dictatorship of parents who are religious primitives--just like, say, those beacons of liberty Pakistan and Morocco.

Is there no limit to the poll-driven cowardice of the Democratic Party's elite? The Chinese have a saying: "Half the sky is women." If the Democrats forget that, their continuing lurch to the center-right will be a suicidal one.

[InvisibleBallots]

1. which Democrats have proposed making abortion illegal?

I'm just curious?

"One of the "softenings" of the party's abortion position its cretinous honchos are suggesting is requiring parental consent to have one. That means subjecting, BY LAW, teenage girls of 17, 18, 19, and 20 (depending on where they live) to the dictatorship of parents who are religious primitives--just like, say, those beacons of liberty Pakistan and Morocco."

I do not believe this - are you suggesting that women over the age of 18 will be required to notify their parents of an abortion? I don't believe it, do you have a link?

[BurtWorm]

2. Go to Doug Ireland's blog.

Ask him. There might be a link to what you're looking for there.

[AndyTiedye]

3. Some Kids Will Need Permission From the Parent Who Impregnated Them

None of these proposals make any allowance for incest.

[InvisibleBallots]

4. over the age of 18? No, that's a lie

There is no realistic possibility that there will be any sort of parental notification for any adult women over the age of 18. Shame on anyone spreading this lie.

[Orangepeel]

17. that's not necessarily true --

there was a vote on a state constitutional amendment regarding parental consent here in Florida last November (which passed, of course).

There was a clause that whatever laws were passed had to have some sort of judicial review procedure for girls who couldn't go to their parents.

I voted against the amendment, which was very vague as to how this judicial thing would happen (why can't a DOCTOR review it?), but it isn't necessarily true that none of the proposals make an allowance for incest.

[OneBlueSky]

5. "the poll-driven cowardice of the Democratic Party" . . .

that phrase, imo, captures precisely what it wrong with the Democratic Party . . . this is why the Republicans keep kicking our asses . . . they define what they stand for and go out and sell it (albeit dishonestly) . . . we, on the other hand, try to create policy by polling, which demonstrates exactly zero leadership . . . no wonder we keep losing elections . . .

and the real tragedy is that if we actually articulated a progressive, populist agenda, we wouldn't even have to sell it . . . because far more Americans would agree with our positions on important issues than the regressive corporatist horseshit that the Republicans are selling . . .

[BurtWorm]

6. We never hear about Republicans ruling out DEMOGRAPHICS

goddamn it, in their presidential candidates. They are utterly free to pick whatever loon they see fit to run. We on the other hand lose an election and right away, we're back to ruling out women, Northerners, liberals, urbanites, self-made millionaires--and why? Because of the frickin' pollsters' saying "voters" don't like those types. :grr:

[charlie]

7. It's even worse than that

when you consider how we got here. Bomb threats phoned into clinics, gauntlets of angry nutjobs assaulting women in need of medical care, photos and models of mangled fetuses thrust into peoples' faces, assassins picking off doctors and staff... and not for one minute did the Republicans entertain tempering their hardline stances that fueled this behavior.

Now look at us. Pitiful.

Lesson learned: domestic terrorism is effective and acceptable.

[sampsonblk]

10. You stole my thoughts exactly

"they define what they stand for and go out and sell it (albeit dishonestly)"

They never apologize for what they believe in, they make their case for it, (albeit dishonestly)

We won't win until we get back to doing that.

[Orangepeel]

18. what exactly is a progressive, populist agenda?

is it pro-reproductive rights? pro gay rights? pro union? anti tort-reform? pro gun control? pro universal health care? pro raising the minimum wage?

what do we do when supporters of one of these issues don't agree with one or more of the others?

[proudbluestater]

8. Music to my ears! I'll have to visit his blog soon!

[gumby]

9. The problem with the Democrats on abortion

like just about every other issue, is that they have let the Republicans define the issue.

Unfortunately, "more tolerance" toward abortion foes means less freedom and liberty for women. It is indeed unfortunate that the Democrats find themselves in a position where they are willing to bargain away half the population's individual autonomy for "political" purposes.

Infuriating!!!

[nightperson]

11. Thank you Mr. Ireland.

Anyone care to argue that Kerry is not foolishly biting the hand that fed him? It sure wasn't "the antiwar crowd" fueling him in the primaries, right? Perhaps he seeks the :spank: of his life from Planned Parenthood et al, but I don't wanna have to watch :cry: . Pro-choice Republicans are laughing at us.

[robbedvoter]

12. Kerry&the fellows don't need these voters then:

[LizW]

13. Thanks for posting that photo

I've been waiting for someone to do that!

Remember, Kerry didn't show up that day, either. He was already distancing himself from women back then.

[Been Fishing]

14. I don't understand

why Kerry ran and hide when GW called him a "Liberal". Why didn't he stand-up and say proudly that he was a liberal? A liberal in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, and JFK.

When Democrats stop being liberal and progressive it will be time to start a new (Liberal) political party.

[hatrack]

15. Been Fishing, you're sure not the first person to say it . . .

. . . but it's always good to hear it! Oh, and welcome to DU! :hi:

[proudbluestater]

16. Turn you back on your base, THAT'S a smart strategy!

I don't have the stats from this election, but in 2000 20 MILLION single women did not vote. I do know that single women supported Kerry this time while married women tended to support Bush. Rather than chase away another 20 MILLION why in the hell do they not COURT these voters? Hello DNC! We are 51% of the population and WE VOTE, if you ever bother to speak TO us.

This makes me want to scream. Instead, I had to write some more angry letters to people with their heads up their asses.

[AP]

20. Blue collar workers are also the base (and women weren't loyal to Dems ...

...this year). So obvioulsy there's something else going on that doesn't have much to do with choice.

Rather than appealing to the worst intincts of blue collar workers (imposing religious beliefs on others) Democrats neeed to appeal to blue collar workers by expressing a concern for the diminishing value of an hour of work in an economy which ships jobs overseas in order to concentrate wealth in the hands of the wealthy.

Start talking about that, and you'll probably see a lot of women figure out what Dems believe in a way that ensures they don't bolt for the Republican ticket either.

[AP]

19. Talk more about rewarding work rather than wealth with wealth if you...

...want to appeal to blue collar workers (and jettison the billionaire wife's PA esate and Idaho challet and the snowboard before you jettison choice).

[TheDonkey]

21. Sounds like Kerry said we need to think of new ways to talk about abortion

not stop fighting for it, or gay rights.

He is exactly right, we need to reframe the message and think of new ways to talk about abortion and gay rights or it's going to hurt us. With hate radio, far right churches, and conservative coolness these issues are really becoming major wedges for all Democrats.