Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Although Planned Parenthood has long been a powerful lobbyist in Washington, the nation’s largest abortion provider is now dictating terms to the Democratic party – any politician who doesn’t support a litmus test on abortion “rights” will be held accountable.
LifeNews.com is reporting on the outrageous statement made by Planned Parenthood Federation of America CEO Cecile Richard in response to remarks made earlier this week by Rep. BenRay Lujan (D-NM), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
During an interview with The Hill, Lujan said, “There is not a litmus test for Democratic candidates. As we look at candidates across the country, you need to make sure you have candidates that fit the district, that can win in these districts across America.”
Lujan explained that the goal of the party right now is to win back the House, which means they must pick up 24 seats in the 2018 election.
He admitted that this will be a steep climb and that the party will need a broad coalition to make it happen. “[W]e have to be a big family in order to win the House back,” he said.
The mere idea that the Democratic party might support pro-life candidates did not sit well with Richards who fired off a series of Tweets denouncing the idea and threatening the party with retaliation.
“Women’s health & rights are non-negotiable – incl. access to safe, legal abortion. We’ll hold any politician who says otherwise accountable,” she wrote.
In other words, these politicians will not be able to count on the millions Planned Parenthood spends every year on advancing pro-abortion politicians to public office.
“Trading away women’s health and rights will just alienate one of the most powerful political forces in this country,” she continued. “Access to safe, legal abortion is central to women’s economic empowerment and bodily autonomy.”
She concluded her Twitter rant with a tweet containing an erroneous figure that is not supported by polls: “Most of America agrees: 7 in 10 Americans support Roe v. Wade. Access to abortion has more support than any political party in the country,” Richards wrote.
As Life News correctly points out, the most recent Gallup poll on the subject found that 54 percent of Americans now say they want all or most abortions made illegal.
Even more disturbing to party leaders is the fact that 23 percent of Democrats consider themselves to be pro-life.
“That makes it so the abortion advocates who run the party are essentially driving away 1/4 of the party supporters and making them more likely to support pro-life Republican candidates,” Life News reports.
Americans of all stripes – Republican, Democratic, or Independent – pro life or pro abortion, should resist this kind of despotism from abortion ideologues. It’s the only way to ensure that our freedom to associate with the party of our choice remains intact.
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