The nine-term often-independent Democratic congressman from Michigan isn’t going to seek another term, Rep. Bart Stupak announces today. That’s courtesy the on-going threat of Tea Partiers to unseat him, retribution for helping lock down Obama’s health care plan.
Officially, Stupak claims he is not being run out of office. Rather, after 18 years, he is tired. Yeah, tired of running from the Tea Party Express, who named Stupak, after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, its top target.
And while Stupak didn’t make many liberal friends when he introduced an amendment banning the use of federal funds for abortion, the guy has been a consistent voter against terrible things like banning gay marriage in the constitution, and a supporter of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
The real worry for Democrats, however, is not the loss of one of their own in what should’ve been an easy re-election campaign, but the invigoration of the Tea Party movement that it can, in fact, sack a congressman. Which is remarkable for an organization that’s so young; imagine if, say, certain federal Gay Inc. organizations had such cojones.
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ChicagoJimmy
Isn’t he also being challenged from the left in the democratic primary?
Flex
I didn’t know anything about his gay track record in congress. It changed my impression of him for the better, but because of his religious zealotry, and advocating for the repeal of abortion rights that would have a negative impact on the private lives of millions of women, his congressional career deserves to end!
Tea Party people are another name for crazy republicans hell bent on absolute power and control!
terrwill
Way to go Queerts!! Give props to the Tea-baggers!!!
Jen
This is lovely news. I have faith that another Democrat, who is less of a religious loon, will manage to be elected to his seat just fine.
Baxter
It’s nice that he’s been semi-supportive of gay rights, but everyone that voted for that travesty of a health care bill should be run out of town.
Cam
the weird thing is, his district is poor rural and has a sky high unemployment rate. so all the people freaking out and whipped into a frenzy about insurance by Fox News, are the same people that in a few months are going to be down at the hospitals using the exact same insurance to get their kids and themselves checked up.
Bruno
Rachel Maddow (rightly) had been slamming Stupak daily for a few weeks leading up to the health care bill. The guy was getting it from BOTH sides of the aisle, but somehow the teabaggers always get credit. It’s like we expect them to be more powerful than they really are.
Stupak’s mistake was putting himself so far out there on this issue to begin with. It’s his own fault, and nobody else’s.
tjr101
Didn’t like the guy anyway. He was too far to the right for my taste interfering with women’s rights and all. This also goes to show that he is a coward and I hope someone more to the left with a pair and NOT a religious loon replaces him.
What ever happened to separation of church and state? Judging from the district Stupak represents I guess we should expect nothing less than a religious loon.