Roemer ends bid for national post

[hippiechick]

Roemer ends bid for national post
Indiana representative's stance on abortion put him at odds with Democratic Party's platform.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/220490-4337-092.html


By Maureen Groppe
Gannett News Service
February 7, 2005


WASHINGTON -- Former Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer today abandoned his bid to lead the national Democrat Party, leaving former presidential candidate Howard Dean the only remaining candidate for the job.

"While we lost on the votes," said Roemer, who had urged the party to expand its appeal on moral issues, "we've certainly won on the conversations this party is going to have in the next 20 years."

Roemer was the last candidate to bow to the reality of Dean's support among members of the Democratic National Committee who are meeting Saturday to select a new chairman. Democratic activists Simon Rosenberg and Donnie Fowler pulled out last week.

Roemer never gained traction in his bid, hampered in large part by his anti-abortion position. The Democratic Party's platform favors abortion rights.

Roemer had unsuccessfully argued that the party needs to be more welcoming of people with different views on abortion and other issues.
:mad:

more ...

Why do people refuse to acknowledge that being pro-choice is just that, pro CHOICE. Choice, by definition, does 'welcome different views'.

[HereSince1628]

1. Just having something that the DLC wanted is a little victory...

Lots to do though there won't be much time to celebrate.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Exactly.

Democrats don't demand every women gets an abortion. Why doesn't the media go after the absolutist positions that are the hallmark of the Republican Party? Why isn't anti-choice synonymous with anti-democratic?

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

3. And more stupid commentary from the Star...

Yeah, and local Ruth Holliday had to comment as well. Did you catch the Star's slant on him? It seems he had a message of inclusion (must have been well-hidden somewhere...)

From today's Indy Star:

Democrats missing Roemer's message of inclusion
February 6, 2005

What a shame that Indiana's Tim Roemer is not the front-runner to lead the Democratic Party out of the wilderness. As it stands now, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is poised to take over as chairman of the Democratic National Committee when the 447 delegates vote Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Roemer, 48, a South Bend native, has the right stuff. He served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives until 2002, when he stepped down. He was on the 9/11 commission. He is the bearer of a strong, centrist message for party inclusiveness. He talks about the need for Democrats to run a "bigger bus," attracting once-loyal voters back on board -- Catholics, Hispanics, women.

His smarts and his strategy are noted in high places. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada back him, as do several other party leaders. Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker said Roemer is more than the home favorite.

Roemer is the real deal, he said. (snip)So why isn't Roemer resonating with the DNC? "I have had to spend 80 percent of my time talking about abortion," Roemer said.

He didn't sound angry or disgusted -- but he should be.

Roemer personally opposes abortion. His party's platform is solidly pro-choice -- which he supports. Despite his emphasis on inclusiveness, militant pro-choicers have made it clear that he's not welcome at the table.

They have booed and hissed when he has tried to speak. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, refused to meet with him. Her group feverishly has lobbied DNC delegates against Roemer.

Roemer, a Catholic, said he has tried to articulate a view that he worked on when in Congress: "Not spending time trying to overturn Roe v. Wade but reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies by supporting family planning. Better adoption tax credits. Health care programs for the poor."

That strategy is so sensible that prominent Democrats have recently begun to echo it. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy gave speeches that emphasized just those points.

Roemer is still in the race. "We made the right fight," said Roemer, the president of the Center for National Policy, a think tank. "It might have been to the wrong audience. But it is right to articulate inclusion."

Inclusion is what Democrats stood for once upon a time. That is, until abortion became the litmus test, and a shrill faction shouted down any dissenters and drummed out any other message.
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Wish the Repubs would mind their own business, as they have no real insight to share -- just stones to throw...

[Voltaire]

4. Buh Bye

Too much of the same old, same old with Roemer. DNC is moving on with the Good Doctor. Let him whine if he wants, I ain't all that impressed with Hoosier Values anyway.