The following comes from a March 21 Washington Post article by Charles Camosy:
Things don’t look good for the GOP’s future. Yet if Democrats act strategically, they can pick up some of the crumbling pieces of the GOP’s coalition, starting with antiabortion citizens. These voters began joining the Republican coalition after the 1979 formation of the “Moral Majority” group, and as of 2012 made up two-thirds of the Republican base. If Donald Trump does wind up storming the party, his shaky record and flippancy on abortion will leave these longtime GOP voters in a precarious position.
Many pro-lifers were already frustrated with a party that merely goes through the motions and lacks a coherent plan when it comes to protecting prenatal children from violence. After last year’s conservative-led effort to defund Planned Parenthood failed, Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the pro-life Christian Defense Coalition, charged Republican congressional leadership with the “betrayal” of “the pro-life community that helped elect them”; and when Republicans yet again failed to pass antiabortion legislation last year, conservative commentator Erik Erickson declared that “the pro-life movement must stop being whores of the Republican party.”
Democrats can make a home for these stranded voters. Opening a big tent to pro-lifers would not only offer a hospitable climate for Democrats who value a “whole life” ethic, which weaves together common Democratic concerns like care for the impoverished and elderly with an equal interest in the unborn; it would also put them in a good position to win the next generation. Millennials and Latinos, after all, are trending more antiabortion than any other young generation in recent U.S. history. Only 37 percent of young people think that abortion is morally acceptable — while 54 percent of Latinos think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.
Recent historical research on the progressive roots of the pro-life movement in the United States suggests a Democratic coalition with space for pro-lifers wouldn’t be a novel phenomenon. As Kristen Day, president of Democrats for Life, reminds us: In 1976 there were an astonishing 125 antiabortion Democrats in Congress. Today there are three. Jim Oberstar, who was a Minnesota congressman, used to say that pro-lifers didn’t stop sending people to Congress, but rather “they just stopped sending Democrats.”
And, because roughly 20 million Democrats identify as antiabortion, it’s possible that inviting antiabortion Dems back into the fold could also reinforce the party’s numbers by heralding the return of the so-called missing pro-life Democrats, along with current Republican voters who might cross party lines.
Several new phenomena are unfolding in U.S. politics, and if Democrats hope to avoid further losses in uncertain times, they must return to Howard Dean’s 50 state strategy and run the best person to fit the district, which in many locales means antiabortion Democrats. Given the crumbling of the GOP coalition, the voters are there for the taking.
Democrats have NO concern for the impoverished or elderly. Their call for abortion has always been compassion for poor mothers must include killing their unborn. And social classes? Blacks are 15% of the population and suffer 40% of abortions. The party of the KKK, Jim Crow Laws and George Wallace is hard at work. Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood (the Demo’s sacred cow), was a eugenicist intent on wiping out the Black race through her “Negro Project.” The Demos pass “right” to suicide laws everywhere. Nancy Pelosi calls abortion “sacred ground.” So Pro-Lifers should join this party of murderous thugs and vote for whom? This piece is sick propaganda.
I remember this sort of talk when Nixon fell from grace, until Reagan was elected in 1980. It calls for a big yawn. The national party may need a tongue-lashing on the abortion issue, but local Republicans (especially in the Midwest and South) have passed much successful pro-life legislation (often with the support of scarce pro-life Democrats). Blue state Democratic chieftains will never allow abortion rights to become a matter of debate or local option within the national party and neither will their donors. There’s no “there” there for us.
Tom Byrne, I remember well what some of the Democrats did to Governor Casey Sr., a pro life Democrat, whom they would not even let speak at one of their conventions. Then they used Governor Casey Jr., who was a pro life Democrat to knock out Senator Santorum, who was a long time pro life Republican senator with seniority. As a pro life friend said to me, “It was demonic.”
Not so fast! …..
What about the economy and personal freedoms, AND political correctness.
I think there is a lot more between Democrats and Republicans.
Democrats don’t do so well either. The mainstream Democrats have diminished, and looking generally at the Democrat Party, it looks like occupied by only extremists and radicals.
The Republicans have a different fight within their party, and it looks healthier to me, than Democrat’s problems.
The whole thing still depends on the individual character of politicians.
There are hardly any Christians in the Democrat party, at least their party platform would indicate.
The democratic party has become a evil party of death & darkness . It has given us total abortion slaughter of the unborn ( thanks to those Catholic Demos ). It has promoted filth and perversion under the guise of free speech and also fully supported same sex sodomite unions . Now its pushing everywhere for the mentally ill male or female to use school or public restrooms of their sex choice even though D N A says what they are no matter how many surgeries they have.
The Democrats are a satanic crime syndicate….and I do not think highly of Republicans either
Canisius, I agree. Can you imagine Donald Trump in the Oval Office? Cruz is even more outlandish in his hate for non-Christian Americans. As a life long Republican I am ashamed of the current candidates, with the exception of the Governor of Ohio, who seems to be the adult in the room. We need a brokered convention so that someone with some ethics can become the nominee. At this point, I would not vote for any Republican except the Governor of Ohio. Both Democratic contenders are better choices even though they are pro-abortion.
Bob one, pro-life is not negotiable.
Bob 1…The last presidential candidate I really got excited about was Jon Huntsman.
Well of course C&H, he supports gay marriage, .anthropomorphic climate change and the theory of evolution.
… and he’s pro life and if the GOP had nominated him he would have won the general election.
Bob One if you honestly believe that a Bolshevik like Sanders who honestly believes we can tax our way into prosperity or a would be felon like Clinton is better than a Republican there is something very wrong with you…. We need someone who will undo the welfare state totally and completely.. No Bob One Healthcare is NOT a right, why because it implies that doctors nurses etc, are obliged to serve that person without question. Sanders did not hold a job until he was 40 that automatically disqualifies for any office at all ever…I am looking forward to the day when this government collapses from its own rot
Canisius, of course I disagree with you on certain points, but you keep discussions going. It is inconceivable to me that any person of any faith or political party could argue for health care based on income or wealth. it is a basic human right. Or current laws require hospitals to treat people in the ER regardless of income or insurance. Providing good available health care would be cheaper for all of us because the ER would not be the standard of care. Money is not the issue, we have the money, we just spend in on other things.
we have the money Bob One, whose we, the government, we currently have $17 Trillion in operating government debt plus 100-200 Trillion in unfunded liabilities .. but then again Bob One answer me this all of these so called health care problems were resolved by Obamacare were they not. That nightmare of a law was rammed through Congress on procedural grounds, not debated at all, so now people like you think even more government is the answer.. No Bob One less government is what is needed, government through the flesh down to the bone through the marrow.. undoing over
Bob One when you run out of other peoples money what will you and the other good tolerant liberals do…. that day is soon approaching ….we producers are sick of carrying the takers on our backs… The other day in the supermarket this parasite paid for his groceries with an EBT card flashing his Tag Heuer watch… Not another penny to the mendicant Bob One, but with a Clinton or Sanders presidency I expect more government theft….perhaps with DC is in flames you people will get the point..
A well reasoned opinion:
“Why I believe Ted Cruz is religious liberty’s only hope
https://www.onenewsnow.com/perspectives/todd-starnes/2016/03/24/why-i-believe-ted-cruz-is-religious-libertys-only-hope?
American Christians who have been subjected to eight years of vicious attacks by militant LGBT and atheist groups – not to mention the Obama administration – should take note that Ted Cruz has been a passionate advocate of religious liberty for years.
America’s Christian bakers and florists and wedding planners will be safe under a Ted Cruz presidency.
“I am absolutely convinced in my discussions with the senator that religious liberty will be a lot better off in America with a Cruz administration,” said Tony Perkins, president…
Stop putting your faith in political parties and their leaders because both political parties are controlled by the same very powerful people from behind the scenes in secret. The Democrats even want to deny your freedom of religious expression which is the hallmark of a Totalitarian tyranny not a democratic nation. These people see evil as good and good as evil. Brothers and sisters in Christ start putting your faith in God who is a God of mercy and love. Pray, pray and Pray for the hour is late. Remember the Sunday after Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.