Illinois Representative Dan Lipinski, the last of the prominent pro-lifers in the Democratic Party, has been ousted from the party ranks as the DNC forms a more encompassing approach with what many are referring to as the “abortion litmus test.”
This “litmus test” was coined during the Clinton presidency and implemented by the Democratic Party Chairman Tim Perez. This may come as a shock to many as Representative Lipinski has been solidly placed with the party on many of the social issues including such hot-button issues as military-funded sex change operations and legalizing gay marriage throughout the United States.
It appears the Democratic Party may be positioning themselves as all or nothing on their social measures. Now, the representative from Illinois is not only facing opposition from conservatives vying for his seat, but now challengers from within his own party. He will also face activists from the abortion lobby giving him an uphill battle for his Democratic primary that is scheduled in March.
There has been much debate in the Democratic party on whether or not to support anti-abortion politicians. On the one hand, some in the party felt that to sway voters who may agree with much of the party’s social issues but have an anti-abortion stance will be swayed to vote for candidates who may share their party values, but also their beliefs in a right-to-life.
On the other side of the coin, many in the party feel that downplaying their pro-choice stance or allowing candidates to be backed that don’t support their views will not provide the benefit that they will need. Therefore, the chairman of the Democratic Party laid down the now referred to abortion “litmus test” which will have the Democratic Party proceed together as one house on the stance of abortion by removing support from candidates who still have pro-life views. This line in the sand has now been officially drawn, and the last of these candidates cleared with the removal of support for Lipinski.
Without the support of his party, Lipinksi is likely to have no shot against primary challenger Marie Newman. Newman has staunchly supported the left-wing agenda. She also has support from many abortion activists and feminist support groups such as Pro-Choice America, Gloria Steinham, Planned Parenthood, EMILY’s List, and NARAL. With heightened rallying by pro-choice activists, falling in line with the party’s stance is sure to secure her seat in the primary election.
EMILY’s List went so far as condemning Lipinski in a statement endorsing Marie Newman by stating that Lipinski’s opposition, “has put women’s reproductive health care in jeopardy.” #VoteProChoice also endorsed Newman with their comment, “there’s only one real Democrat in this race, and that’s Marie Newman.”
Lipinksi’s own collegues, including Illinois representatives Schakowsky and Gutierrez, are falling in line and endorsing Lipinski’s opponent even after serving with him for two years. Pro-life supporters have stated that this recent move has solidified the abortion platform that seemed to gain even more traction during Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
This development suggests that Clinton’s 2016 run helped mainstream the pro-choice lobby within the Democratic Party even further than it already was. The executive chairwomen of Democrats for Life summed it up in her statement, “I think it’s become much more hard-line now. What happened is the pro-choice Democrats kinda felt like Hillary Clinton is going to win, and they made the abortion platform more radical. But what they didn’t realize is they alienated pro-life Democrats who didn’t vote for her.”
The question that lingered after Clinton’s defeat was whether or not the party should allow more diversity on the support of their social issues to avoid alienating parts of their base.
The Democrats have made it painfully clear: there is no more room for pro-lifers in their party.
~ Liberty Planet
