I always get excited about strong, smart women who step up for a challenge. Meet Connie Saltonstall, progressive Democrat extraordinaire, who has stepped up and said she's willing to give Stupak a run for his money. Saltonstall appeared for a live chat on Crooks and Liars today to talk about her campaign, what she believes, and why she's running. After spending a few minutes on the chat, I'm convinced she's got what it takes to win in Stupak's district.
In her own words:
“Michigan and the First District are facing enormous challenges and we cannot afford to sacrifice solutions for individual agendas. Stupak is co-chair of the Pro-Life Caucus and is putting their interests above those of his district. No federal funds have been used for abortions since 1977, and that provision will stay in effect without his amendment. In my opinion, Bart Stupak has shown that he is willing to block important legislation to support his own agenda at the expense of those he was elected to represent.”
Well, there's the heart of it, right? Democrats signed onto the Democratic platform, and the Democratic platform clearly stated a commitment to a strong pro-choice stance. In fact, the exact words were "strong and unequivocal". Yet, just over a year later, Bart Stupak was willing to hold health care reform hostage while asking women to trade away their reproductive rights.
Even the Catholic nuns know better than that.
Here's what she said about health care reform:
I agree this is not a perfect bill, but it is better to have something than nothing. But I want to be perfectly clear...I believe in universal health care...it is a right, not a privilege or luxury. When I get to Congress, I will continue the fight for better healthcare, and I believe a single payer system is the most efficient and cost effective plan for delivering health care to everyone.
You can read her other answers on the Crooks and Liars post. If you'd like to donate to her campaign, you can donate via ActBlue here. She has received the endorsement of Blue America PAC, the National Association of Women, and Democracy for America in recent days.
I am not a person who immediately bear-hugs someone because they step up to a primary, but after reading Connie's positions and platform, I stand with her and am supporting her campaign. I hope we can all marshall support across the country and send Bart Stupak home.
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