• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Democrat litmus test on abortion?

N

nota bene

Moderator
DP Veteran
Joined
Aug 11, 2011
Messages
72,235
Reaction score
44,012
Gender
Female
Political Leaning
Conservative
Two weeks ago Tom Perez made the following statement, which is being interpreted by Democrats and others, according to The Atlantic, as a “call for ideological purity on abortion”:

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said, adding that “every candidate who runs as a Democrat should” share the “Democratic Party’s position on women’s fundamental rights.”

I first read about this issue and Perez’s statement at Townhall.com. This morning I searched through the first seven Google pages and until the links were dated February, finding only an article from Fox but not any from the other “Big Three.” Many conservative and pro-life sites did pick up on the remarks.

From The Atlantic:

Is There Any Room in the 'Big Tent' for Pro-Life Democrats?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently said the party is “strongly pro-choice,” but remains a “big-tent party,” while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said “of course” it’s possible to be “pro-life” and a Democrat, and have the support of the Democratic Party. Tom Perez, the chair of the Democratic National committee, meanwhile is facing harsh criticism within the party for remarks widely interpreted as saying that Democrats who oppose abortion were not welcome in the party.

The DNC’s message on abortion may alienate red-state Democrats at a time when the party is trying to expand its reach into conservative parts of the country it may need to win over if it wants to reclaim the White House and Congress. And moderate Democrats representing red states [including Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joe Donnelly of Indiana] are distancing themselves from Perez’s remarks. https://www.theatlantic.com/politic...emocrats-abortion-sanders-perez-party/524394/

From the Washington Examiner:

Life came at Tom Perez fast last week. In less than 24 hours, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee went from welcoming a diversity of opinions on abortion to demanding absolute ideological purity on the issue for any candidate running as a Democrat.
"Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman's right to make her own choices about her body and her health," Perez said in a statement. "That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state." Who got to Tom?: After endorsing anti-abortion candidate, DNC Chair Tom Perez says party's pro-abortion stance 'not negotiable'
http://www.philly.com/philly/column...s/20170428_Pro-lifers_abortion_Democrats.html

I’ve been surprised that no one has begun a thread on this, so here is mine. If you are pro-choice, do you agree with what DNC Chair Perez says? Do you support a litmus test on abortion?
 
I'm all for letting Pro-Life'res in the Big-D-Tent, so long as they start caring about Life after Birth.

Deal? ;)
 
nota bene said:
Two weeks ago Tom Perez made the following statement, which is being interpreted by Democrats and others, according to The Atlantic, as a “call for ideological purity on abortion”:

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said, adding that “every candidate who runs as a Democrat should” share the “Democratic Party’s position on women’s fundamental rights.”

I first read about this issue and Perez’s statement at Townhall.com. This morning I searched through the first seven Google pages and until the links were dated February, finding only an article from Fox but not any from the other “Big Three.” Many conservative and pro-life sites did pick up on the remarks.

From The Atlantic:

Is There Any Room in the 'Big Tent' for Pro-Life Democrats?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently said the party is “strongly pro-choice,” but remains a “big-tent party,” while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said “of course” it’s possible to be “pro-life” and a Democrat, and have the support of the Democratic Party. Tom Perez, the chair of the Democratic National committee, meanwhile is facing harsh criticism within the party for remarks widely interpreted as saying that Democrats who oppose abortion were not welcome in the party.

The DNC’s message on abortion may alienate red-state Democrats at a time when the party is trying to expand its reach into conservative parts of the country it may need to win over if it wants to reclaim the White House and Congress. And moderate Democrats representing red states [including Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joe Donnelly of Indiana] are distancing themselves from Perez’s remarks. https://www.theatlantic.com/politic...emocrats-abortion-sanders-perez-party/524394/

From the Washington Examiner:

Life came at Tom Perez fast last week. In less than 24 hours, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee went from welcoming a diversity of opinions on abortion to demanding absolute ideological purity on the issue for any candidate running as a Democrat.
"Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman's right to make her own choices about her body and her health," Perez said in a statement. "That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state." Who got to Tom?: After endorsing anti-abortion candidate, DNC Chair Tom Perez says party's pro-abortion stance 'not negotiable'
http://www.philly.com/philly/column...s/20170428_Pro-lifers_abortion_Democrats.html

I’ve been surprised that no one has begun a thread on this, so here is mine. If you are pro-choice, do you agree with what DNC Chair Perez says? Do you support a litmus test on abortion?
Click to expand...

I don't know about other folks, but voting pro-choice a Catholic excommunicates herself. That means in essence that you cannot vote Democrat and be a believing Catholic. This is true of most of the major Christian churches. So the Demicrats are quite consistent by fudging their position in the hope of finding a few Catholics ignorant of canonical code.
 
Cigar said:
I'm all for letting Pro-Life'res in the Big-D-Tent, so long as they start caring about Life after Birth.

Deal? ;)
Click to expand...

Two things:

1. Which democrat doesn't support welfare?
2. Why is supporting welfare necessary to support life after birth?
 
joG said:
I don't know about other folks, but voting pro-choice a Catholic excommunicates herself. That means in essence that you cannot vote Democrat and be a believing Catholic. This is true of most of the major Christian churches. So the Demicrats are quite consistent by fudging their position in the hope of finding a few Catholics ignorant of canonical code.
Click to expand...

A few? LOL.


The majority of Catholics know little to nothing about their religion. They go for communion on Christmas, and maybe one or two other visits per year.
 
Henrin said:
Two things:

1. Which democrat doesn't support welfare?
2. Why is supporting welfare necessary to support life after birth?
Click to expand...


Why are you trying to equate Child Birth to Welfare?
 
KevinKohler said:
A few? LOL.


The majority of Catholics know little to nothing about their religion. They go for communion on Christmas, and maybe one or two other visits per year.
Click to expand...



:3oops: Guilty
 
Cigar said:
Why are you trying to equate Child Birth to Welfare?
Click to expand...

So you weren't referring to welfare support? Ok, so what exactly were you referring to then?
 
KevinKohler said:
A few? LOL.


The majority of Catholics know little to nothing about their religion. They go for communion on Christmas, and maybe one or two other visits per year.
Click to expand...

This is a ridiculous and insupportable overgeneralization.
 
And the topic is pro-life Democrats, not support of born children or welfare. Please don't hijack my thread.
 
nota bene said:
Two weeks ago Tom Perez made the following statement, which is being interpreted by Democrats and others, according to The Atlantic, as a “call for ideological purity on abortion”:

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said, adding that “every candidate who runs as a Democrat should” share the “Democratic Party’s position on women’s fundamental rights.”

I first read about this issue and Perez’s statement at Townhall.com. This morning I searched through the first seven Google pages and until the links were dated February, finding only an article from Fox but not any from the other “Big Three.” Many conservative and pro-life sites did pick up on the remarks.

From The Atlantic:

Is There Any Room in the 'Big Tent' for Pro-Life Democrats?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently said the party is “strongly pro-choice,” but remains a “big-tent party,” while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said “of course” it’s possible to be “pro-life” and a Democrat, and have the support of the Democratic Party. Tom Perez, the chair of the Democratic National committee, meanwhile is facing harsh criticism within the party for remarks widely interpreted as saying that Democrats who oppose abortion were not welcome in the party.

The DNC’s message on abortion may alienate red-state Democrats at a time when the party is trying to expand its reach into conservative parts of the country it may need to win over if it wants to reclaim the White House and Congress. And moderate Democrats representing red states [including Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joe Donnelly of Indiana] are distancing themselves from Perez’s remarks. https://www.theatlantic.com/politic...emocrats-abortion-sanders-perez-party/524394/

From the Washington Examiner:

Life came at Tom Perez fast last week. In less than 24 hours, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee went from welcoming a diversity of opinions on abortion to demanding absolute ideological purity on the issue for any candidate running as a Democrat.
"Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman's right to make her own choices about her body and her health," Perez said in a statement. "That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state." Who got to Tom?: After endorsing anti-abortion candidate, DNC Chair Tom Perez says party's pro-abortion stance 'not negotiable'
http://www.philly.com/philly/column...s/20170428_Pro-lifers_abortion_Democrats.html

I’ve been surprised that no one has begun a thread on this, so here is mine. If you are pro-choice, do you agree with what DNC Chair Perez says? Do you support a litmus test on abortion?
Click to expand...

Reproductive rights being a major plank in the D platform, I'd say letting someone who wants to overturn Roe v Wade into the D tent would be like allowing someone who believes in conversion therapy and wants to overturn same sex marriage in it. In other words, "go join the Republicans."
 
nota bene said:
And the topic is pro-life Democrats, not support of born children or welfare. Please don't hijack my thread.
Click to expand...

Ok, so riddle me this Batman; why should you and the government care about what is going on in your neighbors personal life?

Why should you of the government have any say?
 
Cigar said:
Ok, so riddle me this Batman; why should you and the government care about what is going on in your neighbors personal life?

Why should you of the government have any say?
Click to expand...

Wow, so how many laws do you think you just argued against?
 
I am antiabortion but believe in a person's right to make their own health care decisions.

Prochoice allows for anti abortion views.

Prochoice allows for pragmatism rather than fingerwagging and slutshaming.

Pragmatism is what helps decrease rates of abortion.

Pro-lifers have a place in the party...but if they are a one issue voter, they will not be satisfied.

If they are pragmatic pro-lifers they will hopefully understand that there are ways to functionally decrease levels of abortions without interfering in the health care decisions of a person.

But I found this...

http://www.democratsforlife.org/index.php/about-us
 
KevinKohler said:
A few? LOL.


The majority of Catholics know little to nothing about their religion. They go for communion on Christmas, and maybe one or two other visits per year.
Click to expand...

You are so mean!
 
First of all, nice typo in the thread title. It's the Democratic party.

Second, I'll be willing to entertain the idea of anti-choice Democrats as soon as Republicans allow for some pro-choicers within their own ranks.
 
Last edited:
Cigar said:
Ok, so riddle me this Batman; why should you and the government care about what is going on in your neighbors personal life?

Why should you of the government have any say?
Click to expand...

You have to understand that when some libertarians and most conservatives say "limited government," what they really mean is, limited for you but not for them. For them, the government can do almost anything they want it to. Their position on what a woman can do with a fertilized egg is an example of that.
 
Phys251 said:
First of all, nice typo in the thread title. It's the Democratic party.

Second, I'll be willing to entertain the idea of anti-choice Democrats as soon as Republicans allow for some pro-choicers within their own ranks.
Click to expand...

There are pro-choice Republicans.
 
year2late said:
I am antiabortion but believe in a person's right to make their own health care decisions.

Prochoice allows for anti abortion views.

Prochoice allows for pragmatism rather than fingerwagging and slutshaming.

Pragmatism is what helps decrease rates of abortion.

Pro-lifers have a place in the party...but if they are a one issue voter, they will not be satisfied.

If they are pragmatic pro-lifers they will hopefully understand that there are ways to functionally decrease levels of abortions without interfering in the health care decisions of a person.

But I found this...

http://www.democratsforlife.org/index.php/about-us
Click to expand...

Thanks for finding and sharing. I love what the DFLA has to say about its beliefs and what it opposes.
 
Cigar said:
Why are you trying to equate Child Birth to Welfare?
Click to expand...

If your statement was not intended to mean welfare then what was it meant to mean?
 
year2late said:
I am antiabortion but believe in a person's right to make their own health care decisions.

Prochoice allows for anti abortion views.

Prochoice allows for pragmatism rather than fingerwagging and slutshaming.

Pragmatism is what helps decrease rates of abortion.

Pro-lifers have a place in the party...but if they are a one issue voter, they will not be satisfied.

If they are pragmatic pro-lifers they will hopefully understand that there are ways to functionally decrease levels of abortions without interfering in the health care decisions of a person.

But I found this...

About
Click to expand...


This is the closest to a fair argument made by Pro-Choice, but it still falls short if you have the position that the unborn are innocent human beings as deserving of life as any other person.

To arrive at the position you described above you must first assume that the unborn are not human, or that not all innocent humans a deserving of life. The former is not a scientific position, and the second is immoral. I fail to see a third way.
 
nota bene said:
Two weeks ago Tom Perez made the following statement, which is being interpreted by Democrats and others, according to The Atlantic, as a “call for ideological purity on abortion”:

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said, adding that “every candidate who runs as a Democrat should” share the “Democratic Party’s position on women’s fundamental rights.”

I first read about this issue and Perez’s statement at Townhall.com. This morning I searched through the first seven Google pages and until the links were dated February, finding only an article from Fox but not any from the other “Big Three.” Many conservative and pro-life sites did pick up on the remarks.

From The Atlantic:

Is There Any Room in the 'Big Tent' for Pro-Life Democrats?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently said the party is “strongly pro-choice,” but remains a “big-tent party,” while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said “of course” it’s possible to be “pro-life” and a Democrat, and have the support of the Democratic Party. Tom Perez, the chair of the Democratic National committee, meanwhile is facing harsh criticism within the party for remarks widely interpreted as saying that Democrats who oppose abortion were not welcome in the party.

The DNC’s message on abortion may alienate red-state Democrats at a time when the party is trying to expand its reach into conservative parts of the country it may need to win over if it wants to reclaim the White House and Congress. And moderate Democrats representing red states [including Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joe Donnelly of Indiana] are distancing themselves from Perez’s remarks. https://www.theatlantic.com/politic...emocrats-abortion-sanders-perez-party/524394/

From the Washington Examiner:

Life came at Tom Perez fast last week. In less than 24 hours, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee went from welcoming a diversity of opinions on abortion to demanding absolute ideological purity on the issue for any candidate running as a Democrat.
"Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman's right to make her own choices about her body and her health," Perez said in a statement. "That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state." Who got to Tom?: After endorsing anti-abortion candidate, DNC Chair Tom Perez says party's pro-abortion stance 'not negotiable'
http://www.philly.com/philly/column...s/20170428_Pro-lifers_abortion_Democrats.html

I’ve been surprised that no one has begun a thread on this, so here is mine. If you are pro-choice, do you agree with what DNC Chair Perez says? Do you support a litmus test on abortion?
Click to expand...

The Democrats really should consider publishing a handbook for party members which covers all the approved policy and ideology positions. Not only would it be easier for prospective members to decide whether or not the Party is for them but it would clarify standards so that existing membership doesn't get stuck in another embarrassing situation such as a "rogue" candidate siphoning off popular appeal from the chosen Party leadership.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom