The Need For Conservative Pro-Lifers To Vote For Stupak Democrats

Over at the very good campaign spot we see this:

HORSERACE
Remember, These 'Centrist' House Democrats Voted to Empower Pelosi

A note on some of these pro-life, or "conservative," or "centrist" Democrats in the House...
Periodically I'll discuss with Cam the value of just how un-conservative a Republican you can stand, compared to a relatively-conservative Democrat. The NRA, for example, endorses plenty of Democrats, because they emphasize that they're a single-issue organization. They focus on gun rights; you could be a raving socialist on all other issues, but they'll still back you. Howard Dean, for example, got an "A" rating from the NRA.


I understand the logic of that position. As a nonpartisan organization, it makes perfect sense.
But there's a catch. For even the best, most pro-Second Amendment House Democrat, the first vote they cast in the House is to make Nancy Pelosi the Speaker of the House, ensuring the floor schedule is controlled by a woman who is scored an "F" by the organization. And her speakership ensures that F-rated John Conyers of Michigan chairs the Judiciary Committee, and that liberals, often but not always anti-gun, control the important committees.

Meanwhile, if that A-rated House Democrat were beaten by some squishy C or B-rated Republican, his first vote be would make A-rated John Boehner (or perhaps some other Republican) the Speaker.

This goes well beyond the gun issue, obviously. Heath Shuler, John Barrow, Dan Boren, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and their ilk may completely disagree with the way Pelosi shaped the health care bill and this insane plan to use the Slaughter rule. But all of them were key to putting Pelosi in position to do this.
03/16 11:32 AM Share

This is the whole issue of long term strategy voting versus short term.

A complex issue. All voters have several single issues they really care about. So it is vital in many cases that they want their view to be in both parties.

The NRA is a good example. It seems like ancient histtry but the sea change on gun rights from bans to more of the population taking a much NRA position and thus politicos and the court doing so has occured over just a few decades. That is largely because the NRA took the long term approach. If they had not we might not have seen the Court act like they did recently.

My main single issues are:
Abortion/ pro-life
strong military
Free Trade

Now lets looks at how I handle this. I very much think the pro-life community needs to take a NRA approach to the abortion issue.

In Louisiana we have pro-life Melancon and pro-life David Vitter as to the abortion issue.
I have a interest in seeing more pro-life democrats. I think it is crucial. We just can't make political progress on the abortion issue if our fortunes are tied to the prevailing winds of what party is in control. In other words as the NRA has showed us you can't put all your eggs in one basket. For instance as to abortion we see as we go from administration to administration we see the Mexico City Policy in constant flux. Which is not good. That means we need no pro-life Democrats to maintain this important pro-life flank related to foreign policy

So what do I do? If the Senate Democrats did not have 59 votes but lets 52 and looked liked the GOP could hold that number without Vitter I might vote for Melancon even though I am a GOP guy. It is in my interest long term to have pro-life democrats as well as GOP pro-lifers.

A LESSON THAT SHOULD BE APPARENT NOW.

However this is not the case. It is more urgent especially as to the Senate that we get that number down some so in effect we don't have one party rule. Further as to local Louisiana interest there is the issue of Cap and Trade and other energy matters that come into play.

So it is strategic. All I know without these pro-life democrats right now we would be in heck of fix.

So yes Congress critters need to be rewarded for taking tough stands. This gets noticed. If the pro-life people do not reward the Stupaks of the world other people will notice. Why should they stick their neck out for you when you did not deliver your support in the past. Sometimes voters need to be reminded that it cannot be all STICK. There has got to be some carrot too.

If you never give the carrot then your issue will not be given the time of day. You are viewed as a unreliable part of the coalition that this Congress critter has assembled and thus might need to be replaced so he can get elected again to further the other issues he cares about.

So on the issue of abortion I think it is crucial that these democrats that stand till the end get rewarded. If not there might be more serious consequences.