Ok...Listen Up South Dakota boycotters. . . . .

[kevinbgoode]

According to one post in the South Dakota forum, a DU member talked with a Democratic legislator in that state and he said that this abortion legislation was NOT homegrown and was financed by outside interests. . .duh. So we know that money poured into this state, into the state legislature and the governor's office to encourage the passage of this law.

Now I support boycotting tourism and anything else in the state over this travesty, but I am disturbed that we are so busy reacting to every puppet string being pulled by the Repukes that we don't get time to organize and actually respond to this crap.

It seems to me that a BIG part of our position on this matter is that the legislature of the state of South Dakota - AND their governor, is violating the trust and responsibility to the PEOPLE of that state by the manner in which they are pandering to outside interest groups in passing this legislation. It should not be that difficult to plant that in the minds of voters in that state, and if a petition effort is started to veto the legislation, we should ALSO be exploring whether the governor can be recalled or impeached and what actions can be directed toward the sponsors of this legislation.

I believe one DUer mentioned that the woman who was a chief sponsor of this bill has ties to certain groups which encouraged this bill - and that should be brought to the attention of the people in South Dakota. No...and I mean NO....citizen, particularly in the Midwest, likes the idea that an entire state legislature and a governor would pander to special outside interest groups at the expense of the people they are elected to represent, and, in my opinion, every effort needs to be made to launch a connection with that action to pandering by elected state officials.

If people in South Dakota are angry about this action, then they need to take a page from the playbook of the wingnuts, who have no problem proposing constitutional amendments right and left when it meets their agenda. Someone who lives there needs to look at how to amend their state constitution so that the government is restricted in its power to pass legislation based on outside interests - and it needs to be strongly worded to implicate the Repukes who did this in concert with anti-abortion activists outside the state.

I know we aren't afraid to engage in a discussion about a woman's right to choose. . .but I think it is paramount that we express this anger in terms of corruption in state government and accusing the legislature of selling the interests of the public they are sworn to protect to outside special interest groups. If South Dakota decides on a petition to veto this legislation, they also need another petition to recall the damned governor and legislature.

[stepnw1f]

1. Good Post

kick for veto and impeach or recall the Gov.

[liberal N proud]

2. Did you get any indication as to WHO is financing this thing?

I am sure that who ever it is has the money to finance it all the way to SCOTUS.
I heard on the radio that SD did not have the money to fight this thing itself.

[sam sarrha]

4. it is ESSENTIAL to keep hammering about WHERE the money is from...

the Abortion subject is poison, but the money thing is Current.. like Abramoff

what pisses of my Nazi brother is the Money being moved around.. not the destruction of the Constitution.

[kevinbgoode]

6. The DU South Dakota forum had a bit of information

about this. . .take a look at their threads on this issue. This is our chance to organize in support of them and how they are watching this unfold in the state. To me, the paramount issue is corruption and violation of the public mandate of the voters in the state.

I wouldn't want JUST a petition for a referendum to get rid of the legislation - I think there should be other referendums limiting the state legislature's powers from now on - and recalling the damned governor. Make them sweat over this travesty.

[kevinbgoode]

8. We get a bit of a clue from these posts

Please see post #3 and post #8 - it's a beginning. Frankly, I think the people of that state should DEMAND to know which "anonymous" source has donated $1 million to the STATE government to defend a STATE law, particularly if the source of that funding is out of state. It seems to me that the people of the state have a RIGHT to know who made this contribution.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=178x608

[Plausible]

3. are people in SD angry about it?

or do they all think the government should own female eggs and parts out there?

[kevinbgoode]

7. Well, it sounds like some are pretty angry

according to posts in the SD forum - and they are in the midst of this debacle and know their state.

[havocmom]

5. We are also letting the GOP pit liberals against rural populations

WRONGLY, and that is to OUR determent!

Believe me, the GOP is hurting right now in a lot of these 'red states' People are pissed as hell about lobbyist $$ buying their congress critters' votes. They are not happy with bushco. The war was based on lies, most of them get that and they are mad as hell. They are OURS for the picking if we just handle them with a little care.

Instead, now there is MORE red state bashing. Folks, when ya do that, you let the GOP drive ANOTHER WEDGE issue into the game and prevent constructive discussion of REAL issues!

Folks around here wanna hear what DEMS have to say on the ISSUES, not more res state bashing drivel! They want to know what WE would do differently. Give them some concrete answers to the ISSUES which they know are important. Address the corruption of lobbyists buying congressmen. Address the issue of job outsourcing. Address the issue of corporations not paying their fair share of taxes while they are paying politicians to write the laws THEY want and give them big contracts with little oversight. Take about REAL security issues; push the facts about how few containers actually get inspected and what private companies from abroad are doing security at ports and airports. Talk about kids' futures, offer hope there instead of just ignoring the monstrous deficit that the kids and THEIR kids will be saddled with. So many real issues!

And yes, talk about abortion rights, and civil rights for our gay/lesbian brothers and sisters and why that is just. But don't make it a red state/blue state harangue! That will just turn away the crowds we are starting to get behind us again in many places. That is just what the GOP wants! Don't do their work for them.

:rant: