FL Dem opposes funding abortion so the GOP can't make an issue of it.

madfloridian

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Sat Jul-25-09 12:16 AM
Original message

FL Dem opposes funding abortion so the GOP can't make an issue of it.

Yes, I read it twice. That is what he said. Democratic congressman, Kendrick Meek, is running for Senate in Florida. He has the support of many major Democrats, including Bill Clinton. The primary was cleared for him by having Dan Gelber step out of the race.

I have heard lots of reasons for not supporting women's rights, but this is the most unusual I have heard. He appears to have had a fairly liberal voting record on such rights according to the article. But he signed a letter to Pelosi saying that abortion funding not be included in the new health care reform. Right now 90% of private insurance covers it, only Medicaid is forbidden to do so under the Hyde amendment. He wants any new health reform to just exclude it.

Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek has joined some abortion opponents in calling for continuing the ban on federal funding for abortions.

Though proposed legislation does not mention abortion, some Republicans argue that the proposed overhaul of the healthcare system could open the door to federal funding of the procedure. Democrats counter that abortion opponents are trying to cook up controversy in an effort to topple the broader reform effort. In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday, Meek joined four others Democrats in proposing a ``common ground solution'' that would maintain the status quo on abortion policy. Specifically, the government would continue to allow insurers to decide whether to offer abortion coverage -- most do -- and keep federal tax dollars out of it.

"I think it's important that we not let Republicans use this issue to make some sort of political statement and confuse Americans,'' Meek said Wednesday. ``We don't want to find ourselves in a situation where we jeopardize access for women."

I think these guys have forgotten that we control Congress and the White House. They don't realize we don't need to be so afraid of the Republican right wing.

Yet the other congressmen who signed the letter have received low marks from abortion rights groups for voting in favor of restrictions. Meek has a perfect voting record on abortion rights, according to the political arms of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America. In one key 2005 vote where Meek disagreed with some of the other Democrats who wrote to Pelosi, he favored restoring federal funding to an international family planning agency that serves poor women.

``He does have a 100 percent voting record, and that's critical . . . but we want to make sure that women are not worse off than they were before health care reform,'' said Adrienne Kimmell, executive director of Planned Parenthood's Florida chapter. ``Our concern is that abortion gets singled out. It is part of reproductive healthcare. It's an option for women.''

He's ok with restoring family planning in international agencies that serve poor women, but he's not ok with doing it here because it might upset the Republicans. It might give them an "issue."

I have a solution for fearful Democrats....speak out on the issues loudly enough to drown out the right wing ideologues. Stop being afraid of them.

Well, I would say women might be worse off because more insurance will not cover their reproductive rights under the new health plan....not just the ones on Medicaid. It would involve all women who chose a public option.

The others who signed the letter were Tim Ryan, of Ohio; Dale Kildee, of Michigan; James Langevin, of Rhode Island; and Artur Davis, of Alabama.

Tim Ryan...hmmm....oddly enough his loyalty to the anti-choice movement just got him kicked out of Democrats for Life because he supports birth control.

Hey, you anti-choice Democrats...stop being afraid and stop using women and gays to keep the GOP from having "issues."

Geez.