from Blue America Pac: Being a Democrat Has to Mean Something

[Kber]

Dear ,

Bart Stupak is retiring. He doesn't care for the way he's being treated by his allies on the right. Apparently he had never noticed how they treat people who cross them. And while nobody should have to deal with death threats, it's more than a little ironic that someone who adamantly opposed the Freedom to Access Clinic Entrances Act would end up being driven from office by the anti-abortion crowd. Perhaps he can now develop empathy for what it must be like to be a desperate teen-aged girl facing a raging mob -- red-faced zealots calling you a murderer and pushing gory pictures in your face -- as you try to walk into a clinic.

It shouldn't happen to any woman, ever.

The word is that the Democratic Party machine is searching madly for the right man to run in Stupak's place. One of the locals on their 'short list' might even be pro-choice, although that doesn't appear to be any kind of major consideration. If history is any guide, the DCCC will try to recruit the most right-wing, anti-choice Blue Dog they can find. Connie Saltonstall is too much of a real Democrat, one who cares about Democratic principles and values, for them.

But Connie Saltonstall is already in the race, and she wasn't groomed by Party handlers or conjured from a political formula. She's just a Michigan Democrat who was so offended that Stupak held health care reform hostage -- in order to stage yet another assault on women's constitutional rights -- that she decided she had to take the nomination away from him. Connie is backed by the National Organization for Women, NARAL and Planned Parenthood -- and pro-choice men and women throughout the country, including us.

The purveyors of conventional wisdom insist that a common sense, pro-choice progressive can't win in this district and therefore they shouldn't even try. Blue America disagrees. We think we have to support an honest person like Connie Saltonstall, someone who's willing to stand up for her beliefs and do one of the hardest things anyone can do -- challenge an incumbent of her own party for the nomination.

The DCCC is trying to do to her exactly what they're trying to do to another Blue America candidate, Doug Tudor, in Florida. This morning Steny Hoyer is hosting a breakfast in Tampa for a reactionary Blue Dog at the offices of one of the biggest lobbying firms in America, Holland and Knight, in the hope of driving Doug out of the race. It won't work. And we're sticking with him, the same way we're sticking with Connie.

Connie's not leaving this race. And we'll continue to back her, with your help. If you agree with us that the Democratic Party needs to replace conservatives like Bart Stupak and Adam Putnam with stalwart pro-choice progressive leaders, please consider donating to Connie Saltonstall's campaign and to Doug Tudor's campaign. It isn't a coincidence that they're both on the same page.

http://www.actblue.com/page/blueamerica10

Thanks for all you do,
digby, John, Howie and the Blue America team

[Cha]

1. This has been one weird wild ride...Go

Connie!

[Kaleva]

2. Democrat Joel Sheltrown decides to run for Stupak's seat

"Bart Stupak's surprising announcement that he would not be seeking re-election left northern Michigan stunned. Our campaign team completed an assessment of the situation early Friday including calls to Congressman Stupak, other potential Democratic candidates and several key national organizations. The conclusion was made that given Joel Sheltrown's high name ID in northern Michigan on tourism, natural resources and economic development issues combined with his very solid pro-life and pro-Second Amendment credentials, the political climate this year provides an ideal opportunity for him to seek election to Congress."

http://www.michiganliberal.com/

"Joel is a member of Right to Life of Michigan, the National Rifle Association, the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners, the Michigan Farm Bureau, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Michigan Retailers Association, Whitetails Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Missaukee Conservation Club, Northland Area Federal Credit Union, Higgins Lake Civic Association, Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce, West Branch Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Democratic Party, Democrats for Life, Save Our Shoreline, VFW Post 3775, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the West Branch Optimist Club."

http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/3355/

So far, two trolls are running for the party nomination. It'd be interesting if a Yooper decides to jump into the race. Given that Yoopers tend to stick with one of their own but trolls don't seem to have a problem with voting for a Yooper and that the Upper Peninsula accounts for about half the vote in the district and includes the district's largest town (Marquette, the race could end up being very tight.

If no Yooper declares, I can see Sheltrown making a hard run for the Yooper vote by promoting his pro-labor record and previous NRA endorsements.

[depakid]

3. Democrats will never learn

No matter how many times they get stomped at the ballot box due to their persistent stand for nothing pandering to the right.

[Kaleva]

4. Stupak won his elections by double digit margins.

I wouldn't call that getting "stomped". Connie, on the other hand, did get stomped running as a pro-choice candidate for the 105th state house seat in 2008 when she got less then 37% of the vote.

[depakid]

5. You keep on thinking that as a general rule

See how it works out for ya.

[Kber]

6. In fairness, Connie ran in the 105th - which is the only district in the MI 01 to elect a republican

The rest of the district may be a little less red.

Do you know how Bart did in the 105th, specifically (I believe he still carried the district, but I don't know the margin.)

[Kaleva]

7. Stupak got 61.9% of the vote there

The 105th is made up of Antrim, Chalevoix, Cheboygan and Otsego counties. Out of 53,497 total votes cast for the congressional race, Stupak got 33,088 of the votes.

The bluest part of the district is in the Upper Peninsula where the district's largest town (Marquette) is located. However, the UP accounts for less then half the vote and Marquette county accounts for about 10% of the vote district wide(Stupak did best in Marquette county getting 71% of the vote). For Connie to have a chance to win in the general, she needs to attract enough moderate Republican and social conservate Democrats to her side. Being pro-choice, Connie ought to come out as being strongly pro-gun and pro-labor.