NOW, BlueAmerica Back Stupak Challenger

The National Organization for Women is getting behind the candidacy of Connie Saltonstall, a Democrat challenging Rep. Bart Stupak (Mich.) in a primary campaign. Stupak, who has been leading a campaign against health care reform because the final bill doesn't include an abortion amendment he wrote, may be the first politician to draw a primary opponent for his position on health care.

Saltonstall has been endorsed by BlueAmerica PAC, a top clearinghouse for online donations, and is reaching out to the blogosphere, holding a live-chat Wednesday afternoon at Crooks and Liars hosted by digby.

"I absolutely think she can win," NOW President Terry O'Neill told HuffPost. "NOW women in Michigan are very excited about her."

Michigan voters, said O'Neill, are "appalled" that Stupak would try to derail health care in a state with surging numbers of uninsured, and use the health care debate as an opportunity to roll back abortion rights. Stupak's district leans conservative.

Saltonstall is using Stupak's health care posturing as a key election issue. "I believe that [Stupak] has a right to his personal, religious views, but to deprive his constituents of needed health care reform because of those views is reprehensible," she said in a statement.

O'Neill said that NOW was committed to electing Saltonstall in the general election, as well.

"I think he does not belong in Congress," said O'Neill. But, she said, "It would not be a success to have a conservative Republican replace Bart Stupak."

On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a district-by-district analysis of health care reform's impact.

According to the committee, 44,000 people in Stupak's district will gain coverage if the bill passes.

Comments

[Hysterian68]

06:15 PM on 03/21/2010

Stupak's crowning achievement today, the Obama Executive Order, which isn't worth the paper it's written on and which can be reversed a minute after the president signs it will do nothing to persuade Ms. Saltonstall not to challenge him in the Democratic primary.

This is indicative of problems to come for other "pro life"??? Democrats who now feel relieved --let off the hook--to support the Obama/Pelosi version of heath insurance change. We are witnessing the demise of the Democratic Party come the November elections.

[Rhiana]

10:01 PM on 03/19/2010

Connie Saltonstall's ActBlue page:

http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/24052

[AlaskaLiberal]

04:19 PM on 03/18/2010

I donated $100 yesterday on behalf of my father, a life long democrat, who lived in Stupak's district and said he would plug his nose when he voted for him.

[Papasito]

03:50 PM on 03/18/2010

Donate, donate!

[medici]

03:19 PM on 03/18/2010

I wish Stupak's primary opponent the best of luck. In fact, we should dump all these posers who pretend to be Democrats.

[NCpatriot]

02:44 PM on 03/18/2010

C ya in the funny papers, Bart!

[astraia]

01:55 PM on 03/18/2010

YES.. let the primary opponent challenges begin!

[norepublicanleftbehind]

01:41 PM on 03/18/2010

Where do I send the check?

[SYR]

11:31 AM on 03/18/2010

Yesterday, an article noted that a group of nuns was breaking from the Catholic Bishops and supporting the health care reform bill. They were convinced it doesn't support or fund abortions with public funds. Stupak apparently made some statement about not listening to nuns. He indicated he talks to bishops and pro-life leaders.

While the priests and bishops and other religious leaders have raped, pillaged, and pedophiled their way through the people for centuries, it was the nuns on the ground teaching and caring for the sick and dying. Stupak's response was expected and proves how much most religious organizations still view women as second class citizens. Many nuns unfortunately were impregnated by priests and bore their children only to have the priest discard them like a piece of stale bread. So, we need to make every effort to give Stupak a job he truly deserves, in a church somewhere.

[caseyblab]

12:12 PM on 03/18/2010

This guy listens to Focus on the Family rather than the religious women in his own church?

[Justdontgetit]

12:52 PM on 03/18/2010

He needs to stop listening to his own church and listen to the majority of people he supposedly represents.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

01:42 PM on 03/18/2010

Just seems mysoginist

[aznurse]

10:24 AM on 03/18/2010

he'll just run as a republican next time.

[GranE]

11:13 AM on 03/18/2010

That is what he is. He can join his C street buddies openly then.

[rickkkkk]

09:38 AM on 03/18/2010

I'm listening to Bart nit pick. Michigan, isn't there any other job you can give this tedious person besides congressman?

[babyboomerorig]

11:04 AM on 03/18/2010

Something out in a forest where he can talk to the birds and trees.

[michiganms]

11:06 AM on 03/18/2010

He's not qualified to be dogcatcher -- deosn't believe in neutering or spaying ...;-)

[lindabear]

07:34 AM on 03/18/2010

Don't worry Stupid - you can always get a job on your favorite network - FOX!

[scahill]

06:51 AM on 03/18/2010

Good, Stupak is an embarassment to Michigan and to all progressive people. He makes the DemocraTIC Party look silly and dumb. Men like Stupak don't want taxes to pay for a women's right to choose yet the majority of taxpayers are pro choice. I pay a lot of taxes, I want churches to pay their fair share of taxes. Hey Bart, how about taking on that issue?

[XLintLuvR]

10:28 AM on 03/18/2010

Although I'm with you on your line of thinking, the truth is a poll was done last year and it found that those who define themselves as being pro-life edges out pro-choice by a small margin (like 51-49) although I think that most don't really care to make that choice for another individual which by definition would make them pro-choice. I have to agree with you though, if churches want to continue to weigh in on social issues, their tax exemption should be revoked. For making such a boondoggle out of healthcare reform, I think the first one that should be looked at is the Catholic Church for jumping in at the last second on the House side and getting that anti-abortion language inserted.

[dax49]

10:57 AM on 03/18/2010

he is too busy worrying about other people's sex lives

[Ascoli]

06:34 AM on 03/18/2010

Makes me sick just to look at stupid stupak's ugly face.

[louisr]

05:26 AM on 03/18/2010

Spo,

I am WITH you bro! Make that two of us. I live in MN and I WILL be at the "Palin/Bachmann rally," with a sign REMINDING them what FOOLS they are.

Hang in there, if the "watered down" bills and the emasculated votes from the Democrats continue, and if Congress AND the media, continue to have the MAJORITY believe that a few "nut jobs and narrow-minded, uneducated, racists and bigots can DIRECT the agenda, they are in for a SERIOUS awakening.

People (the majority) will not continue to live in this "silly Disneyland."

Too much dysfunction and not enough truth!!!

[michiganms]

11:08 AM on 03/18/2010

Loiuisr -- glad you will be at that rally. I was beginning to worry that sanity had left the state of MN. Just found out that Ms. WinkyWinkyWasilla will be in MI. Why my lovely state?