Thursday, March 18, 2010

Oh Dear. Foot-In-The-Mouth Stupak



When sixty leaders representing 59,000 Catholic nuns came out in support of the Senate health care legislation, what did our Bart do?

He put his masculine shoe straight into his mouth:

Congressman Bart Stupak, D-Mich, responded sharply to White House officials touting a letter representing 59,000nuns that was sent to lawmakers urging them to pass the health care bill.

The conservative Democrat dismissed the action by the White House saying, "When I'm drafting right to life language, I don't call up the nuns." He says he instead confers with other groups including "leading bishops, Focus on the Family, and The National Right to Life Committee."

Bolding by everyone who reads that paragraph and then writes about it, pretty much.

Care to think of the differences between nuns and those other organizations? Well, nuns are wimminz, after all, though disguised. Those other organizations are guy groups. They are also not exactly in the Democratic Party. The Focus on the Family, for instance, has its rifle focus on independent women and egalitarian families and so on.

I found that statement shocking, because I didn't think he would come out in the open about his deep distrust and dislike of women in general. But he did do exactly that.

Then he complained about the bad treatment he has received. Nobody should call his house or harass his family. That is wrong and disgusting.

But Jodi points out that life under such harassment is the norm for some:

The Hill reports that "Leading a revolt against President Barack Obama’s healthcare legislation over abortion has been a “living hell” for Rep. Bart Stupak."

The telephone lines in his Washington and district offices have been “jammed” and he’s gotten more than 1,500 faxes and countless e-mails — most of which he says don’t come from his constituents.

The fight has taken a toll on his wife, who has disconnected the phone in their home to avoid harassment.

“All the phones are unplugged at our house — tired of the obscene calls and threats. She won’t watch TV,” Stupak said during an hourlong interview with The Hill in his Rayburn office. “People saying they’re going to spit on you and all this. That’s just not fun.”


Welcome, Mr. Stupak, to the daily life of reproductive health providers, who are subject to such harassment every day courtesy of your friends at Focus on the Family, National Right to Life, and the USCCB.

Do read Jodi's whole post. It's excellent.