By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The Congressman who will long be remembered for securing the votes needed to pass the government takeover of health care has announced that he will not seek reelection this fall.
The Washington Post is reporting that Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) is planning to make the announcement at a press conference today in Marquette Michigan at 12:30 p.m. EST.
“Sources familiar with Stupak’s thinking describe him as exhausted and burned out from the long fight over health care in which he emerged as the leading voice of pro-life Democrats wary about the possibility that the legislation would allow federal funds to be spent on abortions,” the Post reports.
Stupak became infamous for changing his vote in the eleventh hour after securing an executive order from President Obama stating that no taxpayer funds would be used to pay for abortions. The capitulation made him a hero within the Democratic caucus but garnered nothing but criticism from pro-life groups who say the executive order is meaningless, and pro-abortion supporters who faulted Obama for issuing the order.
A strident pro-abortion Democrat, Charlevoix County Commissioner Connie Saltonstall, has already announced that she would run against Stupak.
However, leaders in the Democratic caucus were said to be urging Stupak to remain in the race, believing him to be the best candidate to hold onto the seat in Michigan’s conservative leaning Upper Peninsula.
A pro-life physician and Republican, Dr. Dan Benishek, is already in the race against Stupak and has considerable financial support.
“For two decades Rep. Bart Stupak stood firm for the pro-life cause,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. “It is a shame that he will leave Congress remembered more for his vote on the Obama health care bill, the largest abortion promoting piece of legislation in the last 30 years.
“Rep. Stupak’s fall lies directly at the feet of the Democratic congressional leadership and President Obama, who pushed their support of government funding of abortion over the principles of pro-life Members of their own party. Although Rep. Stupak certainly is responsible for the decision he made to endorse the Obama plan, the severe demands his President and Party placed on him were untoward and unremitting.”
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