Discussion: Abortion Issue Dents Some Democrats' Effort To Promote Their Party To The Next Generation

[Clap, Clap clap] Congrats Dems for never learning a thing. My entire adult life, for over 30 years you have constantly moved more and more to the right in a constant effort to attract and ever smaller number of conservative who don’t vote “R” religiously because it’s an ‘identity’ to them. All while screaming “purity test” at the left for not following you down your conservative path.

It sure would be nice to have a party that actually believed in and fought for liberal ideas, rather than one that fights only for winning over principles. You know actually make the case to voters WHY liberalism is the right answer rather than run form it. Then ‘shaming’ anyone who doesn’t vote for you. As I keep saying, this has been a great winning strategy for you, the Dems hold so much power as they move more and more to the right. Oh wait, it’s been nothing but failure.

I look forward to the Dems throwing gay people and minorities under the bus too when they run someone for office who’s for “traditional marriage”, or thinks the minimum wage is bad for business, that healthcare is only for those that can afford it, or who thinks the ‘confederate flag is heritage’ all just to get a “D” next to someones name. And I’m doubly sure you’ll blame the left for the loss as you bleed young voters and continue the apathy towards the party. Maybe next time the Reps will run Satan himself and the Dems strategy of ‘we’re slightly better than them’ will finally pan out.

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Yes, this. I saw the article over the weekend where they were quoting Pelosi and she was flagging that the Democratic party was going soft on the issue of abortion rights and I was mystified as to what sort of thinking actually believes that’s a winner for them.

Is there some pool of staunch anti-abortion voters who’d otherwise be on board with Democrats? Doubtful. If you hate abortion and think that it’s baby murder or something, then you’re going to vote for the party who’s pushing to outlaw it, not the one that’s going soft and showing “flexibility” or whatever.

Issue voters who’re primarily voting on abortion are a lost cause. They’re going to vote for the party who want to outlaw the procedures and criminalize women, not the party that’s showing “flexibility”. For those who aren’t primarily voting on abortion, just hammer home the case that the “Government shouldn’t be forcing woment to…” and pivot to how we’re going to make the economy work for them. Fighting on the “cultural conservative” turf is a loser.

So, for example, Barack Obama.

I live here. And the city can’t take another term for Jean Stothert. Is Heath Mello perfect? Nope. But then neither were Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. In red states, progressives need to get a fucking foot in the door, and we do that by electing an 80% candidate and demonstrating the effects of progressive economic policies. Mello will have exactly zero effect on abortion politics as Mayor of Omaha. But he can have a significant positive effect on the health and welfare of the local residents.

TL;DR: put me in the “no litmus test” column. We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

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Not to mention from what I have read from local reproductive rights activists his position on abortion is more complicated and evolving than it is be presented in parts of the press. I mean as even this article mentions one of his major campaign management positions is held by a former head of the local planned parenthood organization.

Also I missed anything in the article to support the headline assertion that he is hurting democrats with the local youth vote.