Party leadership interfering in primary in MI, running an anti-choice candidate.

[madfloridian]

And the pro-choice candidate dropped out today.

Over and over this type of interference has happened. It is totally impossible to change a party when the party heads pick the candidates and drive others out of the races.

From the Down With Tyranny blog today:

Connie Saltonstall Drops Out Of Race In Michigan

We had high hopes for Connie Saltonstall's challenge to Bart Stupak. This morning, having driven Stupak himself out of the race, she also threw in the towel under pressure from the Michigan Democratic Party, no doubt under pressure from the DCCC. Connie's announcement:

Here are Connie's words as she leaves the race:

I regretfully announce that I am withdrawing from the Democratic primary for the U.S. Representative in Michigan's First Congressional District.

I am forced to do this because it has become apparent to my campaign that the leadership of the Michigan Democratic Party has preemptively anointed Gary McDowell as their Democratic candidate. They are replacing Bart Stupak with another Upper Peninsula, Anti-Choice, Anti-Women's healthcare rights candidate. From past experience I realize that with the Michigan Democratic Party actively opposing me, I will not be able to raise the money necessary to conduct a winning campaign. I am not the only candidate that has been the target of this kind of manipulation. I hope that in the future the Party will reject this interference and insist on an open primary allowing voters to choose the candidate who represents their values.

.."While I think Gary McDowell is a very nice person, I cannot support his anti-choice politics, and I cannot support a party that endorses candidates who vote to restrict women's legal rights and access to healthcare. It is time for Democrats to stop compromising on this issue. I am proud that my campaign has raised the dialogue on healthcare and choice, and I will continue my leadership role concerning these issues.

I did a search on Gary McDowell. He is indeed anti-choice. And we wonder why women's rights keep disappearing?

Abortion Split Shades Michigan Race

Stupak's push to include strict language to prohibit federal funding of abortion put him at the center of the national debate on the issue and ultimately contributed to the burnout that led to his retirement announcement on April 9. It also earned him the enmity of progressive women's groups and abortion-rights advocates, who have rallied behind former Charlevoix County Commissioner Connie Saltonstall, an abortion-rights proponent who was challenging Stupak in the primary before his exit from the race.

But Stupak's decision not to seek a 10th term has generated interest from a crop of state legislators in the district's Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula regions, who hew more closely to Stupak's brand of socially conservative, populist politics. Most are opposed to abortion rights.

National Democrats are also zeroing in on that pool of candidates, which could set the party on a collision course with Saltonstall and her surrogates, including the National Organization for Women, NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

..."Another leading Democrat being promoted for the seat, state Rep. Mike Lahti, told Roll Call on Monday that he was not going to run. Other names on the list of potential Democratic candidates include state Senate Minority Leader Michael Prusi and state Reps. Gary McDowell, Judy Nerat and Steve Lindberg. Both Prusi and Lindberg are known as supporters of at least some abortion rights. McDowell and Nerat are not.

Not in favor of any abortion rights and being supported by the MI Democratic Party leaders and the national Democrats.

This has happened all over the country. I take it personally when it happens in Florida. It happened in FL 16 when Rahm came in, forced out a good Democrat from the race and and put in a millionaire Republican.

Mahoney was supported by the Christian conservatives in Florida as well. He lost the seat because of numerous extra-marital affairs.

In a recent interview Howard Dean reiterated his opposition to interfering in party primaries. He was very strong on that when he was chairman.

Howard Dean, Opposed to Nat’l Party Org Primary Endorsements

The DSCC and the DCCC always used to do that when I was running the DNC. I never approved of it, and we never did it. In fact, I actually had something put in the bylaws that said no officer of the DNC could write a check or make an endorsement in a primary.

I think there has to be some place where everybody who’s a Democrat can come and feel like they’re being treated fairly, and I always thought that should be the DNC. So, that’s why I sort-of have this thing that I — there are a few primaries that I’ve gotten into, but very few. Actually, the only two I can think of are because the person running was the former chair of my campaign in the state. And, I, they stood up for me when times were tough, and I thought I owed it to them to stand up for them.

But otherwise, I try to stay out of primaries, still, because of the way I looked at it as, when I was chair of the DNC. And I don’t think the DSCC and DCCC should get into primaries either. But, they do, so they do. And DFA does, so, that’s fine.

You can not change a party when the party leadership drives people who want change from the races.

Women are being treated as 2nd class citizens when a candidate who stands for their rights is forced out of a race so an anti-choice Democrat may run.

[SoCalDem]

1. She has 2+ years to get more endorsements and try again..

the "new guy" will not have much going for him, and any missteps can surely be used in '12, when there will be a bigger turnout.

Now would be a great time for her people to focus and to keep pointing out the unfairness of the "way things are done"..

[Warpy]

4. Yes, and if she runs again, I'll contribute again

Replacing one woman hater with another is not a good policy, I don't care how "conservative" you think a district is.

Saltonstall is a good candidate. McDowell is not.

I don't know what we can do about wretchedly bad state party leaders. We're cursed with them in NM, too.

[madfloridian]

36. Good point, but soon there will no more pro-choice Dems in Congress

if things continue at this rate.

:shrug:

In Florida though the ones who are shoved out vow to run again, they never do because the playing field has not changed.

[kenfrequed]

2. This nonsense has got to stop.

Seriously, this kind of activity actually kills the activists and puts in politicians that either lose elections, or if they do win they fail to support Democratic policies and platform.

[CrispyQ]

3. If they continue this nonsense,

the party is going to learn that a lot of democrats will fail to support "democratic" politicians.

This democrat has had enough of anti-choice candidates being pushed on us.

[still_one]

5. Could a pro choice candidate even win in that district?

[cascadiance]

8. That's not the point... Don't let them trap you on "single" issues...

Heck, even Huckabee was more populist when it came to sticking up for middle classes for some financial reform issues even if he was screwed up on social issues.

If Connie could appeal to them on those other issues, and is not making 'pro-choice' her only campaign issue, then why couldn't she win?

The DCCC is into being surrender monkeys and this has to stop! It's all a disguise for wanting to keep the corporate gravy train alive, which is why they want to keep pols that will appeal on these single social issues.

[saracat]

12. Gee, if this were about race, no one would say "don't let them trap you on single issues"

[cascadiance]

15. The problem is the right ARE single issue voters and force us to be...

... if we let them!

If we put up candidates that will champion other issues (and point out to those single issue voters WHY they are important to them), then perhaps instead of them pushing us to be single issue voters it allows us to perhaps persuade them to stop being single issue voters, and voter for the greater good that we will do for them, even if we don't see eye to eye with them on some of these other issues. Corporatists LOVE the status quo, since it allows them to continue their own crap unchallenged, if we only focus on these "single issues" and remain divided on them.

[saracat]

16. Civil Rights isn't a single issue. Women are also entitled to Civil Rights.

The problem is some keep
piecing out Civil Rights. I will not support ANYONE who is against any Civil Rights issue. Choice, Gender or Race. Period.

[bobbolink]

17. When the party cuts you out continually, then "single issue" becomes the only way left to deal.

Because of being ignored and pushed aside and USED, Poverty has become my "litmus test". Of course, that one statement will get all kinds of criticism, which, believe it or not, will NOT change me or others. (One would think that is obvious... if you want others to join you and work for your party, then understanding and support is the way to go... but people don't think in that kind of logical way anymore.)

The way to do this is to do what we did naturally in the 50s and 60s.... work on our separate issues, but come together in common support and forge alliances.

That is the way to regain our strength and power.

But will we do it? HAH! Fat chance.

We rather form little back-stabbing groups....

Power be damned.

[still_one]

20. and I feel the same way, but what about those in stupeck's district, do they?

[saracat]

23. Dunno. But even if it doesn't matter to them , it should. One of the leg districts in MY state

has an anti choice dem running, and I think it is wrong.They say because it is an hispanic district, it is justified. I find it no more justified than if they would mominate a racist in a racist district just to elect someone with a D after their name. And guess what, this candidate is a woman and is currently in office and have voted consistently with the R's to overturn neatly ALL the abortion rights in our state.

[cascadiance]

28. oh don't get me wrong. I still want to push for women's rights, etc.

I just feel we're not amplifying the other issues that we share common ground with (corporate BS primarily) with these people, where if we play our cards right, perhaps we can get them off of their "single issue" platform and work with us on these other issues, instead of us (meaning the DCCC and the DLC, etc.) feeling they need to just worry about trying to bend on these "single issues" that many of us feel are too important to bend on as well. By them just as being dogmatic on the other side, they've succeeded in forcing those to be the issues that we "compromise" on to get them to be "democrats", instead of pointing out that there are many other issues that they should be happy to work with us on, because we're working in their interests as well.

I think immigration, if worked on properly, is an area that we can wean people off the corporatist "divisive" narrative, if we work on it right (kind of the way that Thom Hartmann wants to approach it).

One example of how I get them to look at what I'm talking about is a proposal I have to keep them from using the line that it is all immigrants fault that we have high health care costs with their over-using the emergency room and coming here to get other "benefits" that should only be for citizens.

I point out that we could solve the health care cost problem in this regard if we come up with a separate fund that is funded by fines levied on illegal immigrant enployers when we catch them, so that if a person is not a citizen, the hospital can bill this fund, instead of absorbing the cost and passing it on to the rest of us. It puts the costs on the people it should, those creating the problem by hiring them, and not following through on obligations that other employers have to provide health care coverage for their employees.

And if done right, those caught and forced to pay in to the fund, will be incentivized to turn in other illegal employers to share in the fines, to lower their obligations of fines with a larger pool of "contributors", which might also serve to help cut down on illegal employment. I think that this is a strategy that many conservatives can buy into if they're not the corporatist illegal employers.

There are other ways to solve the problems that undocumented people have that forces them to come here, but that's another whole topic.

[William Z. Foster]

30. "play our cards right?"

Please don't ever campaign in this district and tell people that we are trying to "play our cards right" in order to fool them.

Your post is everything that is wrong with the Democratic party, in the eyes of the people in the district we are discussing.

The "illegal employers" you want to punish are the small family farmers that dominate the district, and many of whom have had the same immigrant families working with them for decades. The farm families and the immigrants are under horrific police state swat team pressure right now, much worse than under the Bush administration.

There is no more money to squeeze out of the people here. No one here is "illegal" - farmers or workers.

You ant to play cute little talking point crossfire games with the extreme right wingers? Fine - do you have any idea the amount of hatred and resentment that is building up among the common people for this sort of politics, the people who you apparently look at as mere extras in your grand partisan film, starring you as the great debunker of right wing talking points?

You are advocating compromise, moral depravity, authoritarianism, and rule by an aristocracy.

[still_one]

19. From my understanding, that district is very conservative Catholic, and I suspect many of those

people are influenced by the Catholic church when they are told they aren't good Catholics if they vote for a pro-choice candidate

Remember when certain bishops wouldn't even give Kerry communion because of his position?

[William Z. Foster]

29. the district

I spoke with Stupak a few days ago, and know Saltonstall.

The district is not "very conservative Catholic" and Catholic does not mean "very conservative," for starters. If we look at the voting patterns, there is no evidence that "people are influenced by the Catholic church" when compared to non-Catholics. The Catholics in the district are considerably more liberal than the Protestants and they are distinctly in the minority.

This is a relatively conservative district, but has gone Democratic in the last two elections. There was a massive historic shift all across the Midwest in rural areas to the Democrats, and we were all very enthusiastic and encouraged by that. Many people worked very hard for decades to bring that about. Of course it is all gone now, squandered, and it seems like ancient history.

Rural people were hoping for CCC type jobs, help for the crumbling rural education system, some hope for access to health care, an end to the immigration raids, protection from cheap agricultural imports and dumping, restoration of funding for the agriculture agencies, an end to the wars. People really did expect something along the lines of the New Deal, and believe they were promised that. The bitter disappointment and disillusionment is off the charts, and that makes it very difficult to predict what might happen in the next two elections. People are discouraged, disillusioned and feeling betrayed.

Interest and enthusiasm about politics was so high here 2-5 years ago, at a fever pitch, but it has all collapsed now. People are just scrambling to survive as everything falls down around their ears. The message from the political leadership - "you are being helped so shut up" - is salt in the wound. People on the coasts and in upscale enclaves in the Midwest still seem enthusiastic about the party and the administration, but their esoteric message about partisan bickering and tea baggers and "better than the Republicans" and "turning the ship around" all rings hollow. I fear the heartland is lost to us, maybe for a long time to come. Not that people are enthusiastic about the Republicans.

People need jobs, health care, food, housing, relief from regressive taxes, increased funding for the schools. This is no joke, they are desperate. The political calculations and maneuvering, the endless accommodation and compromise with the repudiated and rejected right wing, the broken promises, the bland and smooth disclaimers and reassurances are not going unnoticed.

Thing are not good here, and no one much cares who wins the district. Saltonstall was a weak and uninspiring candidate who could not win local office here when she tried, and so now she has been replaced by a party hack and will run against a Republican party hack. Yawn. People are fighting to survive here, and don't care about the political shenanigans anymore. Detroit has close to 50% unemployment, and that is rippling through the rest of the state now. Small farmers are under assault by the new administration, as never before from any administration, and raids on immigrants have been dramatically increased - after the promises that this would stop. Schools are collapsing, teachers are being laid off, and the promises from the candidates about education still sting when people think about them. I can't overstate the bitterness.

Hard times are here in Michigan, but we don't think the rest of the country cares and we know the politicians don't. People probably even think we are a "conservative Catholic district" being dictated to by the Pope, they know us so poorly and think so little of us. So be it. We are just waiting for this Stupak nonsense to blow over so we aren't the focus of national negative attention anymore. There is real human misery here, and the district is not merely a plaything for upscale people from both parties to squabble over to serve their needs and desires that have nothing to do with people here.

[Starry Messenger]

31. Good post.

:thumbsup: Welcome to DU.

[n.michigan]

41. Wm. - why don't you run for office- seriously? You are true and clear.

I share your views.

[still_one]

18. They are not trapping me, I live in California, but my question is, does the district

where stupeck is from, could a prochoice candidate win?

There are a lot of people who vote single issues

[saracat]

11. If not then why not? If a candidate is anti choice they should not be accepted as a Democrat.

[still_one]

21. The problem is the Democrat party is inclusionary, i.e. Dean's 50 state strategy

That strategy by its very definition compromises on some very important philosophy

[madfloridian]

22. Not true. Dean forbade the DNC staff to take part in primaries

by donating or otherwise. Under him the DNC stayed out of primaries.

You can be inclusive without chasing out our pro-choice candidates and not allowing them on a level playing field.

Put the blame on the DCCC the DSCC and the DLC think tank for the sharp turn to the right.

[still_one]

24. Dean was a believer in including anti-choice people in the party, and other social issues

which since the sixties have not been considered part of the party consensus

I am also referring to when Dean himself ran in the primaries. He went down to the south and embraced those folks with Conservative philosophies which were not normally considered part of the Democratic mainstream philosophy

The sad fact is that for sometime now the country is to the right.

This was demonostrated by the fact that Democrats started losing the South once Johnson got the Civil Rights Act and Medicare passed

Carter was not considered a liberal in the traditional sense by any means, and his deregulation of the airline industry only is one example.

After that, our candidates were losing elections until Clinton, and he was a moderate, same as Obama

It appears that the whenever the Democrats adopt a "Dean" like 50 state strategy, which not only tries to compete in every state, but to also include all ideologies in the party that move the odds in favor of the Democrats

[madfloridian]

25. You are not getting what I said. He believed in primaries.

The present party leaders do NOT believe in primaries...they want to handpick.

Include everyone, but give a choice in primaries.

You are most certainly putting the blame in the wrong place on this one.

[still_one]

26. That makes sense, however, haven't the party leaders determined who gets money for some time now?

If I recall the party did not throw much money toward Al Frankin

I also am underwhelmed by Tim Kaine who should have been fired after the loss of Kennedy's seat

[madfloridian]

27. For a long time. They won't stop it until we fight back on it.

Act Blue, DFA and other groups are working on funding progressive candidates who are not going to get party money.

[cascadiance]

6. How about we send some bricks back with postage paid mailers from DCCC asking for money!

I've ignored them in my past, and I think they've lost my address since I've moved, but I think it would be pretty poignant, if enough of us could send a brick back with the postage paid envelope and a message to the effect,

"Run Connie Saltonstall you damn Rethuglican-lites!"

or something like that!

Maybe if we get mad enough and enough of them give them a big postage due bill, it will send a message that we're not going to put up with their anti-Democratic constituency crap!

[madfloridian]

9. We won't get mad enough.

We will take it because Democrats do it. Just like with privatizing schools, with refusing to end DADT...women are accepting being used as political tools.

[bobbolink]

14. Exactly right. We are acting like abused wives.

[n.michigan]

43. Mad-Sicko NEWS- Mich. MEA signs today on to RTTBottom 2 and kept it quiet

Really bad. MEA did not send email notice out to members. A friend told me it was on the website and it is- at www.mea.org.

Sheer disgust. State also has a deadline of May 20th (now that will move them- if the money bribe works) for local districts to sign on with MOE's or memorandums of understanding. MEA signs and then throws it down to locals.

I wonder if the MEA traded the retirement bill (where both parties are willing to take from the teachers to one degree or another-SB1227) for signing on to RTTT2 with the State of MI and Dept of ED. Could that happen?


You can link to the Michigan application to Duncan/Obama Feds and read the catchy phrases, like "Acceleration" or the punishing declarations of intent to close the achievement gap- even though they admit that they expect failure at first (its there in the language). They also have language about "closing" failing schools. So that is convenient eh?

Further- they list all the stake-holders and it is full of foundations (oh yes- as you have previously discussed) and professional groups and BUSINESS. The only thing missing is the heavy criticism of teachers as stake-holders and critical education specialists like author Diane Ravitch. Teachers can thank MEA for faking it.

Application is here: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/MDE-RTTT2-Complete_320556_7.pdf

Now to be fair- MEA is planning rallies/protests for later......after all the s--t happens.

[n.michigan]

44. I'm MAD-Sicko NEWS- Mich. MEA signs today on to RTTBottom 2 and kept it quiet

Really bad. MEA did not send email notice out to members. A friend told me it was on the website and it is- at www.mea.org.

Sheer disgust. State also has a deadline of May 20th (now that will move them- if the money bribe works) for local districts to sign on with MOE's or memorandums of understanding. MEA signs and then throws it down to locals.

I wonder if the MEA traded the retirement bill (where both parties are willing to take from the teachers to one degree or another-SB1227) for signing on to RTTT2 with the State of MI and Dept of ED. Could that happen?


You can link to the Michigan application to Duncan/Obama Feds and read the catchy phrases, like "Acceleration" or the punishing declarations of intent to close the achievement gap- even though they admit that they expect failure at first (its there in the language). They also have language about "closing" failing schools. So that is convenient eh?

Further- they list all the stake-holders and it is full of foundations (oh yes- as you have previously discussed) and professional groups and BUSINESS. The only thing missing is the heavy criticism of teachers as stake-holders and critical education specialists like author Diane Ravitch. Teachers can thank MEA for faking it.

Application is here: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/MDE-RTTT2-Complete_320556_7.pdf

Now to be fair- MEA is planning rallies/protests for later......after all the s--t happens.

[n.michigan]

39. Bricks are a good reply! Am in Stupaks district along with a burgeoning Dem party..

and many activists of all types- for the environment (Great Lakes and water), for the peace movement and human rights (out of Iraq, Afghanistan) and civil rights less so (Good Old Boys at the county government level- few token females- WAGE disparity about town). But the Chamber of Horrors is Republican- a class of merchants (home of Jason Allen (R) who wants Stupak's seat and just officially moved from Traverse City to Petoskey to be directly within it . They are learning to share the media with Dems in the counties- Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Antrim (Michael Moore ) Charlevoix, Emmett...
They were growing so nicely right up to 08 and now? The Obummer administration has stomped on activism period. That is why the Tea Party is doing so well. Big Tea Party in Traverse City. NO LEFT parties as such. Disappointment in our hope and change leader who sets NO example of progressivism and real change that he promised the American people. So we see strawmen. Quasi-republicans. NO revolutionary message to rally behind. NO HOPE OBAMA.

Connie should not acquiesce- she should fight like hell money or no. She should speak out loudly in defense of her issues, get press and embarrass the arrogant male asses in Lansing who are working to kill off new ideas in favor of the corporate status quo in this country. We need her to speak- not be silenced. Win/lose. Grassroots movement is what needs to happen locally to sweep the Dems clean and make them as hard and tough with progressive agenda as the right..

Example of Dem party mindset- the wrong candidates who are causing so much disgust is MI. House member Rep. Mark Meadows (D., E.Lansing) who is the lead negotiator with the Republican Senate member over the rip-off of teacher pensions (SB1227)- he has on his website a stunning article and it should reveal the hypocrisy of the Democrats in Lansing too:

http://069.housedems.com/news/article/meadows-fights-to-slash-12b-in-business-taxes-to-spur-job-growth/move-aims-to-make-michigan-the-best-place-in-the-nation-to-do-business

Yeah right. AND he aims to give away teachers hard-earned money and benefits to make up for political malpractice of both parties re: budget in Michigan. Teachers will make up the difference in what pols took away for per pupil allocation to the starving school districts. This is the OPEN DOOR folks- to dealing away public servants contracted benefits- and soon, social security, everyones pensions. Lookout. What is shocking is that the MEA is signed on. Worse than worthless.

These are the Michigan Dems- the party Dems-like traitor Granholm, like Obama. Corporate sell-outs. The best thing that could happen to Michigan- DAVID BONIOR- take the Stupak seat please. You know the game and you are tough. Bust them and no incumbents anywhere.

[Arugula Latte]

7. The Enemy Within.

I'm so sick of this shit. :grr:

[madfloridian]

33. We have rationalized letting them do this to women...

Now I fear we are going to rationalize away restricting the rights of gays and destroying public education. We will do so by refusing to fight our own party on these issues.

[madfloridian]

10. Looks like he voted NO to allow exemption for women's health...

on late term abortion. Also, if I am reading this right he voted NO to allow exemption for rape and incest. Yes to totally ban late term abortion.

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=37387

Date Bill Title Vote Outcome
05/27/2008 Bauer Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For A Woman's Health
N Amendment Rejected - House
(40 - 67)
05/27/2008 Byrnes Amdt: Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Exception For Rape And Incest
N Amendment Rejected - House
(41 - 66)
05/27/2008 Late-Term/Partial-Birth Abortion Ban
SB 776 Y Bill Passed - House
(74 - 32)

His votes were no no yes.

[bobbolink]

13. This is exactly what happened in CO with Salazar.

We had a passable "progressive" running, Mike Miles, and we were working hard for his campaign, but the party leaders shot us down at every turn.

We had so many volunteers in a parade, handing out literature, etc... The State Party had paid flaks in the parade for Salazar!

Thats when we realized that We, The People is dead.

[madfloridian]

32. There should be equal rights for women. No excuses, no pandering

to the right wing.

[laughingliberal]

34. ...

:mad: :nuke: :mad:

[madfloridian]

35. Here's the direct link to Down With Tyranny's post on Saltonstall.

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2010/05/connie-saltonstall-drops-out-of-race-in.html

Meant to put it yesterday and forgot.

[cornermouse]

37. I tried to "rec" it but it won't let me so kick instead.

[Jakes Progress]

38. Maybe one of the neocon strategies

was to infiltrate more than just the main stream media.

[madrchsod]

40. remember rahm fucked up a house race in illinois

he backed duckworth over the progressive cegalis and lost. the best chance ever to take the republican seat but he pissed off the progressives....the next election neither candidate ran for the seat.

to bad the national party is deciding who they should vote for..

[madfloridian]

42. He did the same here in FL 13 and FL 16

He handpicked a Republican millionaire in FL 16 and a newly changed Republican to Dem millionaire in 13...and neither won.

Not sure the others could have won, but they should have been given a chance to try.