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| Rep. Bart Stupak to retire, putting seat in play |
| 2010-04-09 |
| Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who had a central role in the health reform fight as the leader of anti-abortion Democrats, plans to announce Friday that he will not run for reelection, a Democratic official said. Without Stupak on the ballot, the seat becomes an immediate pickup opportunity for Republicans. "Now with health care done, he's retiring," a friend said. "He has thought about retiring for the last three cycles, but was always talked into staying: to elect John Kerry to help end the war, to elect a Democratic majority to get health care done." President Barack Obama called Stupak on Wednesday and asked him not to retire. Stupak, 58, also resisted entreaties from Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the dean of the Wolverine State delegation. Republicans immediately attributed Stupak's decision to step down as a direct consequence of his health care vote. "After selling his soul to Nancy Pelosi, it appears that Bart Stupak finally found the courage to tell her no," said National Republican Congressional Committee communications director Ken Spain. "The political fallout over the Democrats' government takeover of healthcare has put the political careers of many Democrats in jeopardy thanks in-part to Stupak's decision to abandon his alleged pro-life principles." Republicans believe that other pro-life Democrats, like freshman Reps. Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio) and Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.), will also face serious trouble because of their support for the health care legislation without strict anti-abortion provisions. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 Better the check in the mail than the last of the famous three lies. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2010-04-09 21:29 |
| #5 I'm sure they're dusting off a Profiles in Courage Award over at the Kennedy Library for him as we speak. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-04-09 14:10 |
| #4 President Barack Obama called Stupak on Wednesday ...and assured Stupak that the check was in the mail. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-04-09 13:27 |
| #3 President Barack Obama called Stupak on Wednesday and asked him not to retire. Stupak, 58, also resisted entreaties from Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the dean of the Wolverine State delegation. Lip service. You were a used and abused pawn in their grand agenda. You'll be forgotten by them five minutes after you leave. Thanks for playing, sucker. Drop by and see us sometime when you're in town. Maybe we'll buy you lunch. So was it worth it, Bart? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-04-09 12:27 |
| #2 More time with his family needless to say. He thought about retiring earlier but he saw he would win. Now...not so much. |
| Posted by: Kelly 2010-04-09 12:13 |
| #1 A slippery politician the voters of Michigan won't have to get rid of at the polls. Now if they only see the light and vote right. Hey bumper slogan: "See the light and vote right." |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-09 11:43 |