Add "Pro-life Democrat" to the List of Endangered Species

The full consequences of the ultra-leftist takeover of the Democratic Party under Obama are just beginning to be understood. American politics has never been so polarized. Never have we seen such an ideology driven administration. Obama is "The Great Divider" whose actions increasingly diverge from his reassuring campaign trail rhetoric.

With the retirement of Bart Stupak today, one casualty of this take-over appears to the pro-life wing of the Democratic Party. I don't know whether this will be good or bad in the long run for the pro-life movement. Without pro-life Democrats it is unlikely the Democratic Party will be able to gain congressional majorities in the future, so that may balance out the loss of a pro-life voice in the Democratic Party. But in a two-party system there will be a need to throw the Republican bums out from time to time and the absence of a credible alternative will hurt the democratic process.

Here is a sobering press release from Indiana Right to Life:

"Whereas the Democratic Party officially endorses the right to unrestricted abortion on demand; and

Whereas Democratic leadership continues aggressively to advance federal policies that undermine the right to life of unborn children; and

Whereas Congressman Brad Ellsworth, Congressman Baron Hill, and Congressman Joe Donnelly betrayed the trust of pro-life Hoosiers by voting for the pro-abortion federal health care reform bill; and

Whereas the Democratic caucus in the Indiana House, under the leadership of Speaker Pat Bauer, continues to block all legislation aimed at limiting, restricting, and reducing abortions in the state of Indiana; and

Whereas candidates of the Democratic Party are responsible for the policies and actions of the party and its leadership;

Be it resolved that the Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee will grant no endorsements to any Democratic candidates for any public office."

The fall-out from the collapse of the Stupak-led pro-life group is clearly the final straw for Indiana Right to Life:

"Our leadership anguished over this decision," notes IRTL-PAC chairman Mike Fichter. "Had Democrats like Brad Ellsworth held firm in opposing federal funding for abortion in the health care bill, we likely would have rewarded such action with a bipartisan endorsement policy. Ellsworth's collapse under pressure from the White House and Speaker Pelosi, as well as the collapse of his colleagues Joe Donnelly and Baron Hill, leaves us with no alternative. Leadership matters, and the reality is that Democratic leaders are advancing an abortion agenda at an alarming rate that will only be checked by a Republican majority."

Fichter adds that Democrats who wish to see a return of a bipartisan endorsement policy must work to change the party's platform on abortion and to change its party leadership. "The ball is the the Democratic Party's court," says Fichter. "As long as it continues to advance an abortion agenda, its candidates will not receive our support."

We will see what happens to the Democratic Party in pro-life congressional districts in November. I'd say that short-term it is another gift to the Republicans as they attempt to take control of Congress this year and bring the Obama statist agenda to a screeching halt.