Tim Kaine blasted by NARAL for okaying Crisis Pregnancy Center. Also oks Choose Life license tag.

[madfloridian]

First, here is a definition of a Crisis Pregnancy Center, also known as a Pregnancy Resource Center.

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), also known as pregnancy resource centers, are non-profit organizations established by pro-life supporters that work to persuade pregnant women to give birth rather than have an abortion. Most CPCs are in the United States. CPCs are usually affiliated with pro-life Christian organizations; two such organizations are Care Net and Heartbeat International. CPCs are distinct from pregnancy options counseling, which offers secular, medically-based information about choices concerning pregnancy, including information about abortion.
Crisis Pregnancy Center

They do not offer secular, medically-based information on pregnancy. They are faith-based, supported by churches. They do not offer or even refer a woman to abortion providers.

From the Boston Globe:

NARAL blasts DNC chief

The abortion-rights wing of the Democratic Party is none too happy today with a top leader.

Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia, President Obama's hand-picked chairman of the Democratic National Committee, signed a bill including state funding for crisis pregnancy centers, which abortion right advocates calls "anti-choice organizations."

The NARAL Pro-Choice America political action committee said today that Kaine has "taken action that’s inconsistent with the strong pro-choice platform adopted by party leaders last August."

"This is the first piece of legislation involving a woman’s right to choose that Kaine considered since being elected chairman of the national party," said the committee, which says it sent 17,266 messages from activists to the DNC urging Kaine to veto the measure.

..."It is unfortunate that, even after receiving thousands of messages from Virginians and pro-choice activists across the country, Gov. Kaine has opted to sign a bill that advances a divisive political ideology at the expense of women’s health,” Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said in a statement. “This action reminds America’s pro-choice majority that we must hold elected officials in both political parties accountable when they take actions that are inconsistent with mainstream pro-choice values.”

Kaine also signed a bill to create a Choose Life license plate. Over half the money will go toward funding the Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

From the Washington Post:

Kaine Signs Bill Creating 'Choose Life' License Plates

Gov. Tim Kaine has signed legislation that would create a "Choose Life" license plate in Virginia. With Kaine's signature Monday, Virginia joins 23 other states that offer the plate -- some after lengthy court battles.

Republican Sen. Kenneth Cuccinelli attached the proposal onto a bill that also adds plates honoring the Washington Capitals, the Blue Ridge Parkway and others to the 200 specialty plates the Department of Motor Vehicles already offers.

Under law, more than 350 people must sign up for a plate before DMV can produce it. Cuccinelli said 450 people have prepaid for the plate.

After the first 1,000 plates are sold, $15 of the $25 fee would go to crisis pregnancy centers.

Planned Parenthood last month had an article about why such Crisis Pregnancy Centers get funding where others do not.

Immaculate deception: Why Florida's crisis pregnancy centers retain their funding while the rest of the state budget crumbles

During last April’s budget session, state reps Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, and Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, suggested to the House Healthcare Council that the annual $2 million to fund the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program – used to support a hotline and marketing for Florida “pregnancy crisis centers” – could be cut. That didn’t happen. Then the Senate’s proposed budget came back with $1.8 million shaved from the program during the special session. In the end, the Legislature settled on pulling $574,728 from the program.

It was a done deal, one that would probably shut the program down altogether.

But freshman state Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, had other ideas. He, along with some of his Republican peers, set out on a mission to convince Gov. Charlie Crist of the program’s importance to Florida parents in trouble, even while the budget crumbled. Plakon is a founding board member of his own, year-old Winter Park crisis pregnancy center, A Safe Harbor, and although his center is not currently receiving state funding, he lobbed a political Hail Mary to save the program for those that were. It worked. On Jan. 27, the governor vetoed the line item and the crisis for the pregnancy centers was averted.

“This is unusual for this to happen this way,” he told Charisma Magazine at the time. “I appreciate the effort and support that chairman Dean Cannon and so many other House leaders put forth in making sure that innocent human life was protected in Florida.”

Plakon is hailed as a hero by his peers. But for those on the other side of the aisle, the veto and the maneuvering behind it are signs of more muddying of the line between church and state.

With all the problems in our nation and the world, one of the larger Central Florida newspapers featured today a Crisis Pregnancy Center on their front page complete with pictures. It even pushed fundraising for them. Not bad publicity if you can get it.

I don't feel very good about the chairman of the DNC pushing anti-choice themes.

[JI7]

1. isn't this unconstitutional ?

[madfloridian]

2. Don't know. But it crosses a church/state line IMO

[Richard Steele]

8. It's WAAAAY over the Church/State line. nm

[KakistocracyHater]

62. they have a fetish for the fetus

they want EVERY zygote carried to full term, whether it has Treacher-Collins Syndrome, Trisomy 13, or perhaps lacks a head, plus all those healthy ones.

They have only 1 answer for everything, give birth.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

4. Those people are predators and Kaine should be ashamed of himself.

@sshole.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. Shit ...............

I like Kaine, and, so far, he's kept his personal beliefs separate from his official duties.

This does cross a line. I'm not happy with my Governor tonight.

[Occam Bandage]

6. I think there's a conflict of interest in being Governor of a state while being Chairman of the DNC.

[MADem]

56. He's almost finished. Terry McAuliffe and two others will be running for election

The contest will be decided this fall--they already have roughed out a primary debate schedule.

The campaigns of Democrats Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran announced the agreement Wednesday.

The first of the debates is April 19 in Williamsburg and the last is May 19 in Annandale. In between, they will face off April 23 in Hampton, April 28 in Danville, and the next day at Virginia Tech.

Exact times and format details of the debates still have to be resolved.

The joint appearances will be in Reston on April 3, in Richmond on April 21, and in Greensprings on a date not yet determined.

It's the most ambitious itinerary of intraparty debates in decades by either party, and its announcement energizes what is already a race closely watched nationally.

It features the candidacy of former Democratic national chairman McAuliffe, high expectations for current DNC chairman Tim Kaine to ensure that a Democrat succeeds him as governor and a once-dominant Republican Party desperate to end a seven-year losing skid.

Because Virginia and New Jersey are the only states to elect governors this fall, the elections represent the first referendum on the Obama White House and the Democratic Congress.

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1633052

[Bluebear]

7. Tim Kaine is only going to sing one song, get over it.

:crazy:

[Occam Bandage]

9. Yep, he's a pretty bad Governor on abortion rights.

[MADem]

10. Isn't he a practicing Catholic? Why are people surprised when Roman Catholics

practice their faith without equivocation? They elect the guy, and then they're SHOCKED when he goes for what he knows....

Four hundred idiots signed up for those "Ah don't truck with you murdering bastards" in-your-face license plates. That's all it takes, apparently. Virginia makes a bundle on vanity plates--they're smarter than some states in using that as a revenue stream, they make 'em cheaper and go for the volume sales.

Maybe four hundred people ought to ask for a "Don't Be Bullied By the Prolifers" tag--then the competing sides can play demolition derby on their way up 395 to work in the morning!

[Solon]

18. This guy wasn't elected to push Roman Catholic ideas in the public sphere...

if he can't separate out his DUTY as a public servant with that of his private faith, then he should resign.

[madfloridian]

20. Agree with you.

It's a step too close to bringing religion into politics. Stopping funding for Planned Parenthood...doubles my anger.

[MADem]

33. No, but it's part of what he is. It was known when he was elected. And pushing it isn't illegal.

Now, I'm not a supporter of "it," so don't shoot the messenger, please. But what he's doing isn't illegal, and he does have friends within the party who agree with him.

Every time they've tried to shoot down those license plates, they've failed. This is a case of fighting speech with more speech.

The Democratic Party is going out of its way to AVOID being labeled the "choice" or "abortion" party. There are a few pro-lifers who have fairly high profiles in the party, some are in leadership roles--Harry Reid is one. Kaine, though he says he won't stand in the way of choice for those who want it, is another. A good piece of the PA delegation (Murtha, Casey) are anti-abortion rights types, too.

[Solon]

34. Free Speech does NOT include helping to promote or fund fraud...

if it was just letting people have a "Choose life" license plate, I wouldn't care, but giving some of the proceeds to a fraudulent organization is atrocious. Apparently Kaine's "Catholic Values" don't extend to "Bearing false witness".

[MADem]

35. What do you mean by "fraud?" It's an organization that holds the opposite views

of myself and most people here. But it's not a "fraud."

[Solon]

36. Many CPCs have been known to lie to their patients to make sure they aren't aware...

of all options during a pregnancy. This includes exaggerating about the health risks of abortions, downplaying the health risks of pregnancies(even high risk pregnancies), etc. They are not legitimate centers for medical consultation, period.

[MADem]

39. Well, that may be unethical, but is it "illegal?" I mean, really, does Macy's tell Gimbel's, as

the old saying goes....

They are probably over the line ethically, but I'm betting they aren't breaking any law. Otherwise, they wouldn't pull that and Planned Parenthood would have sued by now.

I'm sure they aren't "legitimate" in terms of being open and honest about options available. But again, you'll have to show me where a law was broken.

Don't shoot the messenger, now. I think women should have all options on the table, but again, being morally reprehensible does not translate to behaving in an illegal fashion. I think they're within the law, like it or not.

[Solon]

41. There are rules within medicine that, while they don't break the law, still have consequences...

misleading patients may be perfectly legal, but doctors who do so may end up with their licenses being pulled and their clinics closed. In addition, I do find it appalling that Virginia supports unethical medical practice.

[MADem]

55. They will aver that they do not "mislead." They will aver that they

don't consider alternative solutions efficatious or "safe." They won't end up getting their licenses pulled. Their clinics will not be closed. That's wishful thinking.

If there were any risk of that, it would have happened already. Planned Parenthood and NARAL are not without resources, after all.

As for Virginia, they will say that all sorts of options are available to women in that state. The state doesn't give you a big lecture about all your options before you go to get a cavity filled, now, do they? Which filling is best, mercury or composite?

They don't lecture patients about medical procedures at all, in fact. If they're providing funding for a particular service, the voters of the state need to be the ones to gripe if they don't like how their tax dollars are being spent.

Caveat emptor, and all that.

[madfloridian]

38. These groups often told women that abortions increased risk for breast cancer.

And other such tales.

They are strictly religiously supported, but pretend to be otherwise. Planned Parenthood gives other medical help plus contraceptives.

Kaine does not appear to even know the difference.

[MADem]

40. See my remarks just above. As for the study they cite--and there must be one--

it may be a crappy study, but their citing of it plainly isn't illegal, otherwise they would wind up in court. PP would have already sued them.

Kaine surely knows the difference, but he's a practicing Catholic and not a "cafeteria" one, apparently. This is not news, either. His selection as DNC chair is a nod to the Roman Catholics and the antiabortion crew that they are welcome to the party and the Democratic Party is going to make this one of those "agree to disagree" issues.

They're, in essence, taking the starch out of the GOP "baby killer" argument. It's a "party growing" exercise, IMO.

Don't shoot the messenger, now.

[madfloridian]

49. Kaine can carry his religion to the workplace.

You can defend him. That is your right.

I just won't bother to donate anymore to the party that thinks stuff like this is okay now.

They don't need my money anymore anyway. The other night Obama had a huge fundraiser with Kaine for the DNC. The people were giving 30,000 plus...I wondered about that I thought 25,000 was the limit. They raised 3 million in one sitting.

He has every right to be a practicing Catholic in office. I guess it is not illegal, though it may be unconstitutional.

However when he is speaking for the party, no, he does not.

[MADem]

53. OK, this is getting tiresome. I am not "defending" him. I am stating simple facts.

Why, pray tell, is it impossible to have a fucking discussion on this forum without ASSumptions of advocacy, even when I caution "Don't shoot the messenger" and make my leanings about the subject of choice quite clear? On more than one occasion?

WHY is that?

Yes, he has every right to be a practicing Catholic.

YES, the voters of Virginia had every right to vote him in--or not--as their governor.

YES, the President had every right to name him as DNC chair, because the President, like it or not, is the Party leader.

YES, you have every right to not contribute to the Democrats, or leave the party entirely.

NO--it is not "unconstitutional" to be a practicing Catholic, or a Muslim, or a Seventh Day Adventist, or a Tree Worshipper. That remark was fucking idiotic. Harry Reid is a pro-life Mormon, and no one is telling him he can't be Majority Leader.

And, per the Catholics and the prolifers who inhabit the party, his speaking in the way he does is just fine with them. It's also, apparently, just fine with the President. Like it or not, this is another big fat honking piece of the triangulation pie.

It's how it is.

And one more time--do NOT shoot the messenger.

[Bluenorthwest]

72. You make a strong argument

for never electing anyone who proclaims any faith.

[pnwmom]

67. What's so bad about allowing people to choose a "choose life" license plate?

There's nothing coercive about a license plate.

But I agree that the money shouldn't go to the Crisis Pregnancy Centers UNLESS the Centers are absolutely clear that they are pro-life centers, set up for women who are looking for help continuing their pregnancies. (Which is obviously unlikely.)

[madfloridian]

11. Last year VA stopped funding Planned Parenthood.

Did they ever reinstate it?

Planned Parenthood offers contraception, wellcare exams, and so many other services. It is my understanding that any abortions are provided by private funding anyway.

Yet, the state and its governor are providing a source of funding for anti-abortion clinics. :mad:

http://www.technologywoman.com/2008/03/planned-parenthood-of-va-losing-state.html

"The Virginia Senate recently voted to cut off state funding for Planned Parenthood because it offers abortions. Ironically, Planned Parenthood probably does more to prevent abortions than almost any other organization in the country. Planned Parenthood offers pregnancy prevention education, contraception, breast exams, STD testing, etc. Why is it that the people who claim to care so much about the death of a fetus aren't doing anything to stop the fundamental cause? To stop abortions, you need to stop unplanned pregnancies. That's what Planned Parenthood is doing."

Despite the separation of church and state, we are essentially funding religious institutions on the grounds that one service they provide is worthwhile. Other services (eg, religion) provided by the religious institution are unconstitutional to fund. We still fund the institution.

Planned Parenthood of Virginia provides many services with goals that Pro-Lifers would support. They offer contraception to prevent abortion, STD testing to save lives, etc. Yet, because law makers simply don't like one service (which is perfectly legal to fund), they revoke funding for all of these services.

Where's the logic? Why does a church get funding because of one service even though it's unconstitutional to fund another, while Planned Parenthood loses funding for all services because law makers morally oppose one (legal and constitutional) service?"

[madfloridian]

21. Apparently Planned Parenthood funding not restored..from last month.

"An attempt by Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico, to restore funding for drug courts, which are being eliminated in the House budget, also failed. The Republican majority rejected attempts by Democrats to restore funding for Planned Parenthood and to encourage embryonic stem-cell research in Virginia."

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/BUDGGATER13_20090212-195805/205277/

But the Crisis Pregnancy Centers will thrive. :shrug:

[defendandprotect]

12. This is not the kind of influence we need on the DNC . . . nor Obama . . .

nor other Democrats!

[burythehatchet]

17. Its OK. There's a grand plan that silly voters like us simply cannot comprehend.

By the way, does anyone know where I can score a bag of hope dust?

[madfloridian]

22. It sends a message to those of us who are pro-choice.

And I don't like it at all.

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. The message is that people with differing views on abortion are welcome in the party

[Solon]

27. No, it sends a message that lying to women about their own health is somehow moral...

and should be partially supported by the Government.

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. The government doesn't financially support this, those buying the special plates do

[Solon]

30. Hence my use of "partial", the government condones it, that's bad enough. n/t

[MADem]

57. Four hundred NARAL or Planned Parenthood advocates could get together and do the same thing.

Come up with a jazzy CHOICE plate.

Now, if the government condoned that, it would be just fine, yes?

[madfloridian]

59. CPC's should NOT be compared with NARAL or Planned Parenthood.

It legitimizes the CPC's and does not recognize that the other two offer real services that matter.

CPCs are a religious thing.

Kaine should know better.

[MADem]

60. Ok, then. Sit quietly and stew. Don't pipe up. Be a professional victim.

One more time--there's more than one strongly held view on this issue in the Commonwealth of Virginia. You think your view (and the one I share, FWIW) is the only one that has a "right" to be considered. IT ISN'T.

Some people don't marry their view on this issue to religion--many do, but not all. Trying to insist that the only basis for this viewpoint is religious is your weak spot, you see--atheists can be prolife, if they'd like.

Kaine knows his state--see, he does know "better"--he knows how to satisfy his constituency. There's a substantial crowd in the commonwealth that agree with him. He wouldn't have done this if he were going to take excessive heat, you know. Or maybe you don't...?

[madfloridian]

61. Don't try those misleading arguments on me.

Nothing you say changes the fact that CPCs are religious in nature.

[MADem]

63. They aren't misleading. They're fact-based. You just don't like them.

I can understand why you don't like them, because they don't support your (and my) position on this matter, but that doesn't change the fact that the arguments are grounded in solid truth.

VA is getting bluer by the day, but it's not LIBERAL blue. On a good day, it's MODERATE blue, and often, it's CONSERVATIVE blue.

Getting mad because that's how it is isn't helpful. The way to counter their arguments is to Just Do It--and those Planned Parenthood license plates are a great place to start.

[madfloridian]

64. You think CPCs are fact based. Then you need to do some research.

I just did a search, and found a whole lot.

Here's a start for you.

http://www.google.com/search?pz=1&ned=us&hl=en&q=%22crisis+pregnancy+centers%22++advice&btnmeta%3Dsearch%3Dsearch=Search+the+Web

[MADem]

65. OK, now you aren't even bothering to read what I wrote, and that's on YOU.

I said my ARGUMENTS were fact-based. The points I was making are FACTS. Go back and read, again.

RIF.

[Solly Mack]

13. K&R

[theHandpuppet]

14. Ah yes, the good ol' Commonwealth of Virginia...

Home to some of the most gay-hating laws in the entire country. Should we be so surprised that homophobia and misogyny go hand in hand?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

15. Well, you're always free to start your own political party if you don't like it.

It can be you, hubby, and a cardboard cutout of Howard Dean, and you can all discuss how best to punish voters who live in states where they changed the primary date.

[LynnTheDem]

16. "CHOOSE life."

CHOOSE.

So they're actually PRO CHOICE.

Just like me.

[pnwmom]

66. And that's why I don't have a problem with "Choose life" on a license plate.

It doesn't say "make abortions illegal."

If people want to encourage women not to have an abortion, that's okay with me. What's not okay is coercion or denying freedom of choice.

[Blue_Tires]

19. not good

but i don't know what people expected...like Warner, it's not like he ever claimed to be to the left of Chavez...Kaine is the latest in a long line of centrist, moderate, trying-to-build-a-consensus governors...

[madfloridian]

23. 15 of the 25 dollars for plate will go to funding these "fake clinics"

From the Feminist Daily News:

http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=11610

"March 31, 2009

Virginia Governor Signs Legislation that Will Fund Fake Clinics

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine signed legislation Monday that will enable the sale of a "Choose Life" license plate in the state. According to the Washington Post, $15 of the $25 fee for the license plates will go towards funding crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). CPCs pose as legitimate health centers and offer "free" pregnancy tests. Some CPCs coerce and intimidate women out of considering abortion as an option, and prevent women from receiving neutral and comprehensive medical advice. They are typically run by anti-abortion volunteers who are not licensed medical professionals.

In a press release, Governor Kaine defended his decision: "I sign this legislation today in keeping with the Commonwealth's longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages. Furthermore, if Planned Parenthood--an organization that is already a recipient of state budget funds--or another similar organization ever chooses to seek a specialty license plate in Virginia, I believe the Constitution would require the state to approve that plate to protect against any viewpoint discrimination."

NARAL Pro Choice America released a statement from National President Nancy Keenan and Virginia NARAL President Tarina Keene. Both leaders said "the revenue from the 'Choose Life' plates would go to many CPCs that use deceptive, intimidating, and emotionally manipulative tactics to block women from learning the facts about, or choosing, legal abortion…No pro-choice license plate would make that right."

Virginia NOW released a statement that they are “outraged by Governor Kaine's shameful decision to allow 'Choose Life' license plates to be sold by the state. His rationale in today's press release – basically, there are lots of message license plates out there, this is just one more – ignores women's health and safety. It also insults us by suggesting that the remedy is for pro-choice supporters to get their own license plate. Virginia NOW does not think that license plates are the place to debate this sensitive personal issue.""

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. So don't buy the pro-life plate and your money won't go to the pro-life organization

Seems pretty simple to me.

[MADem]

58. Better still, get four hundred friends together to buy NARAL/Planned Parenthood plates

and let fifteen of every twenty five go to them!

[Freddie Stubbs]

69. That would require work, rather than just whining and complaining

[Bluenorthwest]

73. And don't give to the DNC

and your money won't support anti-woman and anti-gay Tim Kaine. So very simple. And being done by thousands of actual donors.

[madfloridian]

25. Kaine seems to equate these clinics with Planned Parenthood.

From the Feminist Daily News:

http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?i...

"March 31, 2009

Virginia Governor Signs Legislation that Will Fund Fake Clinics

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine signed legislation Monday that will enable the sale of a "Choose Life" license plate in the state. According to the Washington Post, $15 of the $25 fee for the license plates will go towards funding crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). CPCs pose as legitimate health centers and offer "free" pregnancy tests. Some CPCs coerce and intimidate women out of considering abortion as an option, and prevent women from receiving neutral and comprehensive medical advice. They are typically run by anti-abortion volunteers who are not licensed medical professionals.

In a press release, Governor Kaine defended his decision: "I sign this legislation today in keeping with the Commonwealth's longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages. Furthermore, if Planned Parenthood--an organization that is already a recipient of state budget funds--or another similar organization ever chooses to seek a specialty license plate in Virginia, I believe the Constitution would require the state to approve that plate to protect against any viewpoint discrimination."

http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?i

Maybe he is not aware of what CPC's actually are?

I guess Planned Parenthood does receive some funding, though the state did try to cut it last year.

He seems unaware of the difference.

That is just so sad.

[madfloridian]

31. Is he wrong about funding for Planned Parenthood?

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/BUDGGATER13_20090212-195805/205277

This is from last month:

"An attempt by Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico, to restore funding for drug courts, which are being eliminated in the House budget, also failed. The Republican majority rejected attempts by Democrats to restore funding for Planned Parenthood and to encourage embryonic stem-cell research in Virginia."

[KamaAina]

29. At least this way, progressive Virginians will know who to block in in the parking lot

:evilgrin:

[Forkboy]

32. I like the cut of your jib!

:)

[backwoodsbob]

37. he's my Governor and I cant stand the SOB

He has screwed the working poor in my little corner of the state big time and now this.

Fuck Kaine

Felt good to finally get a chance to say that :)

[LostinVA]

42. Ah yes, the honored head of the DNC

:eyes:

[Bluebear]

44. Quiet, he's only singing one song.

:eyes:

[LostinVA]

45. And it's only two minutes

[Bluebear]

46. And it's all a big chess game behind the scenes that we don't "get" anyhow.

[LostinVA]

47. Because poutrage fogs our mind

[Bluebear]

50. And choice is just a "pet project" for some far-left DUers.

[bertman]

43. This gives me the perfect opportunity to tell the DNC that I will never send them another

fucking dime as long as Kaine and his ilk are in charge.

I constantly get reminders to renew my donation and membership to the party. This tells me the party is leaving me behind, so I'll gladly send my money elsewhere.

I wonder if they'd sell Virginia license tags with "Abort Kaine" on them? That'd be a moneymaker.

[kaygore]

48. He's my governor and I sent him a scathing email

He is Catholic and is against abortion, but always claimed that he would not impose his beliefs as governor.

As I noted in my email to him, Kaine's term as governor is almost over and he can't run again, so why not in his last few months in office impose his beliefs.

He was a very bad choice for chair of the DNC but he was the national co-chair of Obama's campaign and an early supporter so the DNC chairmanship was his payoff.

[torbird]

51. In order to be "pro-choice"...

...don't you have to offer people a "choice"? Wouldn't that include a stupid, revenue-generating license plate?

Am I supposed to subscribe to the idea that the Democratic Party is closed off to pro-lifers?

Real classy, y'all. And smart, too. That'll win otherwise sane people over!

[madfloridian]

52. Your terminology is interesting...very.

"closed off to pro-lifers"

[Bluebear]

54. "Real classy, y'all." - - Well hush my mouth, what do you mean "closed off to pro-lifers"?

[ima_sinnic]

68. another asinine appointment? who woulda guessed?

DNC will not get one thin dime from me. I will also no longer support political candidates with money. Only organizations such as NARAL, NORML, ACLU, and local food banks and homeless shelters--organizations that are working on causes I believe in and that will actually benefit people, unlike the clowns "in charge."

[Bluenorthwest]

70. Wow! Kaine does not represent me in anyway

And his chairmanship should be revoked at once. He is also dogmatically anti-gay, opposing not just marriage equality, but also any form of civil unions. Tim Kaine could not post his opinions on DU without being tombstoned, according to the rules as written.
In addition to his right wing and sexist policies that he calls a faith, his fundraising efforts are bringing poor results. Much of that is because so many Democrats oppose him in so many ways, but it is also because the man is stage weight, a wet blanket, a dull, droning bore.
Kaine needs to be replaced at once with an actual Democrat. A Democrat who can raise money and is not a walking sleeping pill.

[spanone]

71. in tennessee, you can get your 'choose life' license plate...but nothing for 'choice'

[DemBones DemBones]

74. In the Boston Globe article, it says:

"The abortion-rights wing of the Democratic Party is none too happy today with a top leader."

But the pro-life wing of the Democratic Party is happy to see a governor approve "Choose Life" license plates, as requested by four hundred citizens of his state, with a portion of the money from license plate sales going to crisis pregnancy centers in the state. Crisis pregnancy centers not only provide free pregnancy tests and discuss pregnancy facts with women but also help mothers-to-be to get clothing and furniture for the baby. They absolutely do not do abortions. They also don't get megabucks from the government, as Planned Parenthood does. Why are my taxes paying for abortions?