Not all Democrats are pro-abortion, but according to Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez, they should be.
Perez made headlines by demanding that even pro-life Democrats be forced to toe the party line and publicly support “women’s right to choose” regardless of their personal convictions on the matter.
The recent debacle made news as the party of free speech struggled to suppress the choices and statements of one of their own. The controversy began when the DNC chair threw its support behind a democratic mayoral candidate in Omaha Nebraska.
For those who have been following the news, Democrats running for seats and offices in a variety of smaller districts have seen an influx of support and cash from outside their local area. The DNC continues to pump cash and resources into campaigns they would normally overlook in an attempt to overthrow Republicans in traditionally conservative areas.
Problems arose recently, though, when the DNC threw its support behind a candidate who was not quite as pro-abortion as the liberal-leaning party would like.
“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said in a statement. “That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state.”
Perez went on to add it is particularly crucial for Democrats to unite under the pro-choice banner as women’s rights are now “under assault form the White House.”
The Democratic leader made a string of tweets describing his commitment to abortion rights when he ran for the Democratic National Committee Chair:
“I am committed — as I have been my entire life — to ensuring access to the full range of reproductive health services, including abortion,” he said in April.
The DNC chairman’s statements landed amidst controversy that was already stirring; Omaha Nebraska Democratic mayoral candidate Health Mello has in the past supported pro-life groups and initiatives. The recent reveal of Mello’s anti-abortion leanings led to an outcry by many pro-abortion organizations in recent weeks. Mello’s run for mayor was receiving support from the DNC in a variety of forms and Perez seemed to feel that a win at that seat was more important than worrying about the candidate’s adherence to the party line.
Initially, Perez stood up for Mello and defended the DNC’s support of the candidate, stating that it was more important for a Democrat to secure the position of mayor in Omaha than it was to object to Mello’s conservative stance on abortion. That changed when vocal pro-abortion groups pointed out Mello’s past leanings and demanded answers from Perez.
Eventually, Perez backpedaled after harsh criticism from members of his own party, later stating that abortion rights should be important to “all Democrats and citizens” and that he strongly disagrees with Mello’s pro-life stance.
“Every candidate who runs as a Democrat should do the same, because every woman should be able to make her own health choices,” he said.
Conservatives and Republicans took note of the party of “free speech” and their outcry against one of their own who stated an opposing opinion. One vocal Republican, Senator Ben Sasse, fired back at Perez on Twitter.
“Your profile says you fight for the little guy. Please check out this little fella — special, isn’t he? (He’s 12 weeks old.),” Sasse retorted.
Perez has yet to respond to Sasse’s tweet.
Perez’s recent statements are about more than one mayoral candidate in Omaha; it goes to the very heart of the unwillingness of the Democratic Party to accept those who are anti-abortion and who have pro-live, conservative values.
~ 1776 Christian
