To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Make Room: Pro-Life Democrats Demand Space in the 'Big Tent'

Amber C. Strong : Oct 11, 2017  CBN News

...the fight to help women and win elections could play out in a unique way next year, pitting Democrat vs. Democrat when it comes to the important issue of life.

(Washington, DC)—[CBN News] Democrats once claimed to be the 'big tent' party, accepting varying ideas and different views for debate. (Screengrab: Kristen Day/via CBN News)

It appears, however, there's no room in the tent for at least one voice: pro-life Democrats. 

In the early 90s, more than 100 held office on Capitol Hill, according to Democrats for Life of America. Today there are six.

Even though they may not have much of a voice inside of the halls of Congress, pro-life Democrats exist and leaders in the movement say it's time for their voice to be heard, all 21 million of them. 

"When you look at the polls, a lot of times the polls will say, 'do you support Roe v Wade?' But when you look at the details further, about one-third of Democrats oppose abortion and when you look at other issues, such as 20-week bans, the number is much higher," Democrats for Life of America Director Kristen Day told CBN News. 

Ignored by the Democrat Party
Day said she hears from a lot of voters who feel ignored by the party. 

"There are so many people out there. I hear it all the time. I was doing an interview on the radio and some callers called in, I think three in a row said we would vote Democrat again if they would change their position on abortion," Day recalled. 

Pro-life activist and former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave sees a shift on the horizon, especially with key voting groups. 

"The Democratic Party is out of touch with Hispanic voters who think in a majority that abortion should be banned for any and all reasons," noted Musgrave. 

This information, combined with a desire to win elections led some party leaders to act. In July, Democratic Congressional Campaign Chairman Ben Ray Lujan tried to re-open the tent to pro-lifers by telling The Hill newspaper, "There is not a litmus test for democratic candidates. As we look at candidates across the country, you need to make sure you have the candidates that fit the district that can win in these districts across America." 

Door to the Democrat 'Big Tent' Quickly Closes to Pro-Life Members
Although House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D-California), and others indicated they're open to that idea, pro-choice advocates moved quickly to close the door.

NARAL President llyse Hogue tweeted this: 

"Ignoring women's fundamental freedoms and equality to win elections is an ethically and politically bankrupt strategy." 

Musgrave said influence from the extreme left worries party leaders. 

"Their extremism is very damaging to the party, that's why you are hearing members of leadership saying there shouldn't really be a litmus test. "

President Obama's former faith director, Michael Wear, says supporting pro-life candidates just makes sense. 

The Reclaiming Hope author points to Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, a pro-life Democrat in a red state. 

Finding Common Ground with Likely Voters
Wear says someone with a stance that gels with likely voters makes more sense than a far-left candidate who will ultimately lose. 

"It's only in DC where that argument makes sense. Not even their own constituents believe that women would be better off, the country would be better off if we had so called pure candidates on issues, which for them means supporting federal funding for abortion, supporting no restrictions on abortion. We have candidates running and losing on that platform," Wear reflected. 

Even still, Wear remains hopeful about the future of the party when it comes to the issue of life. 

"The fight is real. One of the unfortunate things about the Democratic party is it seems to take us losing to revisit what should be settled questions. We lost two straight elections to G.W. Bush, the Democratic Party took a look and said maybe we need some change here," Wear commented. 

"In 2006 when we carried a new posture on issues like pro-life, the party didn't become pro-life, that's not what we are talking about here. What folks are talking about is if there are Democrats that agree with the party on 90% of the issues, but don't agree on this issue, they should be able to run. They should be able to get support," Wear urged.

Cautious Optimism from Pro-Life Democrats
Musgrave stays cautiously optimistic. 

"When I was in Congress there were pro-life Democrats that were elected and that was actually strategy of Rahm Emanuel, who headed up the campaign committee at that time. But after they were elected, their majority chose Nancy Pelosi as speaker and then she just advanced her pro-abortion agenda," she said. 

It's an uphill battle. Kristen Day says she has fought for the last 15 years. 

So why not just join the other side? 

Day believes her ideal party goes beyond pro-life to whole life, meaning, caring for the mother from the womb to the tomb. She and other "whole life Dems" say this is accomplished through government-supported paid maternity leave, anti-poverty programs, perinatal hospice care, and women's support clinics. (Screengrab via CBN News)

"They actually provide support for the woman for three years. So if someone comes there pregnant, they provide prenatal care. They provide cribs, clothing, and diapers. They stay with them through three years, I don't think they kick them off after three years; they do everything to help these women," Day described. 

So the fight to help women and win elections could play out in a unique way next year, pitting Democrat vs. Democrat when it comes to the important issue of life.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Hundreds Accept Jesus Christ in Poland at Franklin Graham Rally

Grammy-Winning Christian Artist Mandisa Has Died: Report

How You Can Send Letters of Encouragement to Jailed Pro-Life Heroes

'Americans Cannot Allow the Biden Administration to Sign Away Their Birthright': Congressmen Warn of WHO Pandemic Agreement

Illegal Immigrants Being Moved into Soldiers' Home Where Veterans Must Pay to Stay

House Democrats Vow to Codify 'Rights' to Trans Surgeries, Hormones, Puberty Blockers

18-Year-Old Female Trans Student Charged for Planning Two Maryland School Shootings, Manifesto Said She Wanted to Be 'Famous'

Israel Strikes Deep Inside Iran, Nuclear Facilities NOT Hit

An Important Message from Japan to the world about the WHO, Japan and the Next So-called 'Vaccine'

Rand Paul: Brave Marine Revealed that 15 US Agencies Knew COVID-19 Was Created in Lab in 2018; But They Kept It Secret from American Public (VIDEO)

Confirmed: Researchers Reveal COVID mRNA Vaccines Contain Component that Suppresses Immune Response and Stimulates Cancer Growth

Farmers, Truckers Warn California Emissions Mandates Will Cause 'Catastrophic' Supply Chain Crisis

Fed Court Overturns State Law Protecting Women's Sports from 'Transgender' Athletes

Furry Infestation: Middle School Students Walk Out in Protest after School Leaders Allow 'Furries' to Terrorize Them (VIDEO)

Biden's Education Secretary Vows to Shut Down the Largest Christian University in the US

US to Back Rafah Op in Exchange for Israel Dropping Major Iran Strike; Report

Schumer Succeeds in Killing Off Mayorkas Impeachment Trial before It Can Even Begin

California Town Tears Down Beloved Hillside Cross

Danielle Smith Again Defends Alberta's Coming Ban on Transgender Mutilation of Children

Detransitioners: We Were Pushed to Transition as Teens, Now We're 'Vindicated' By Study Showing Kids Grow Out of It



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com