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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRed-state Dems face blowback from Planned Parenthood vote
Caitlin Owens 1 hour ago
Republicans have wasted no time in trying to make vulnerable Senate Democrats pay a price for voting last week against an amendment defunding Planned Parenthood.
Why it matters: No Democrats voted for it, including those in red states defending their seats. These Democrats need to win over independent or Republican voters to keep their seats, and thus need to be more conservative than the rest of their party. Tying them to liberal groups and the left wing of their party is one way the GOP is trying to deny them these votes.
The state of play: The National Republican Senate Committee almost immediately released a TV ad slamming Sen. Heidi Heitkamp for her vote against the amendment, saying she "doesn't vote like North Dakota."
NRSC also released a statement criticizing Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly for the vote, signaling that it sees tying Donnelly to the liberal wing of the party through Planned Parenthood as a potent line of attack.
The anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List has a TV ad against West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin that was running before last week's vote but is likely to be more relevant now. The NRSC has already accused Manchin of flip-flopping on abortion, and says this vote only furthers its argument.
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https://www.axios.com/2018-midterm-elections-democrats-planned-parenthood-defund-fdb2b536-e3e2-4d13-a295-f589577106d4.html
theaocp
(4,244 posts)I don't know how I feel about this anymore. Folk here tell me if they had voted with the Republicans, it may have been prudent, in order to keep red states with a Dem senator. However, if they had voted otherwise, they would risk the seat and vote due to some form of "purity". I want them to stand for what is fucking RIGHT, but there has to be a game plan in the larger nation. Where to draw the line?
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Whether you agree 100% with her voting record, she voted in the best interests of all citizens on this one. Any attack on Heitkamp for this vote needs to be answered by Democrats, and show that by casting an "unpopular" vote in support of the citizens, her supporters and her party has her back.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)The Repugs will try to use it against the Dems regardless. It is past time to be bold and make the point that being pro-choice is the moral choice.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,436 posts)Abortion is LEGAL. Republicans and anti-choicers in red-states can go pound sound for all I care.