I'm still angry at the Democratic National Committee for not condemning the anti abortion Stupak Amendment. If the Democratic Party will not even defend basic constitutional freedoms like the right to abortion, can we trust the Democratic Party to defend anything it says it stands for?

Here's part of the Green Party Press Release (11/16/09)

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders today called the Stupak Amendment in the recently passed US House bill on health care reform a disaster for women's reproductive rights and a betrayal of the Democrats' stated support for women's rights and well-being.

Many Greens foresee growing anger among Democratic voters, especially women, and possible defections from the Democratic Party over the amendment.

The Stupak Amendment to HR 3962 states that any health care plan purchased with any federal subsidy cannot cover abortion services, even with private funds, and prohibits the public plan from covering abortion care. The amendment will make it more difficult and expensive for anyone to purchase a plan with abortion coverage and discourages insurers and employers who provide health care benefits from affording such coverage.

The Green Party has criticized the Democrats' health care proposal because it leaves the insurance and pharmaceutical industries in control of health care and fails to provide universal coverage: see "Greens urge defeat of the Democrats' 'insurance industry life-support' bill in the US Senate and call for a rally of efforts to enact Single-Payer/Medicare For All," press release, November 10 (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=262).

The Green Party supports full reproductive rights, including uncompromised access to abortion services for women (www.gp.org/platform/2004/socjustice.html#998980 /
www.gp.org/platform/2004/socjustice.html#1012830).

"Michigan Greens targeted Bart Stupak's District One seat in Congress with the candidacy of Jean Treacy, who challenged his opposition to women's rights, including the freedom to choose. The Stupak Amendment is the sharpest blow against poor women and their rights since the Hyde Amendment. It was proposed by a Democrat and passed by a Democratic Congress. We challenge feminists, feminist and progressive organizations, and all Americans who support rights and equality for women to stop supporting candidates who retreat from these principles, and to vote Green instead," said Candace Caveny, Green candidate for the US House in Michigan's 10th District (http://www.candacecaveny.org) in 2010.

The Greens also make an important point about single payer being the best way to go on healthcare. Given that polls consistently show that 65-70% of Americans support Medicare for everyone, only massive political corruption in the Democratic and Republican politics have kept this from passing long ago.

The press release also illustrates a danger facing the Democrats if they continue to pander to the misogynistic and racist religious extremists who oppose abortion rights.

"I reregistered Green many years ago because Democratic Party leaders made too many compromises on reproductive rights. Greens believe reproductive rights are non-negotiable."said Marnie Glickman, member of the party's National Women's Caucus and a former national co-chair of the party. "Feminism is one of the Green Party's key values. Until Greens gain seats in Congress and state legislatures and we end two-party control, women's rights face compromise and repeal."

The Democratic politicians may think they own the votes of pro choice voters, and we don't have anywhere else we can go. They are wrong.

Photo: Leo Reynolds