The Nation: Why Was Heath Mello Thrown Under the Bus?

[Omaha Steve]

Was the candidate for mayor of Omaha held to a different standard than other Democrats?
By D.D. Guttenplan Twitter YESTERDAY 8:25 PM


 Heath Mello of Omaha, April 20, 2016. (AP Photo / Nati Harnik)

 Omaha—On my first morning here in Nebraska, I walked right into a glass wall. “Wow! Didn’t see that coming,” I thought, as the blood poured down my nose. So I have some sense of what it must have been like for Heath Mello, the young Democrat trying to get elected mayor of the biggest city in one of the country’s deepest-red states, when Tom Perez and the Democratic National Committee threw him under the bus last week.

Mello, who finished three points behind Republican incumbent Jean Stothert in the five-way, nonpartisan primary on April 4, has been attracting national attention—and support—from progressives for months now. Our Revolution first endorsed Mello on March 9 as one of two dozen candidates the group is backing in 2017. Daily Kos jumped in after the primary, pointing out that in addition to offering the chance to flip City Hall (Omaha makes up most of Nebraska’s Second Congressional District, which the Democrats lost by just over one point), “a good showing” in the race “will energize progressives and encourage strong candidates to run” in 2018.

 An Omaha native first elected to Nebraska’s unicameral legislature in 2008 at the age of 29, Mello successfully led the fight to overturn Republican Governor Pete Ricketts’s veto of a bill permitting young people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to obtain a driver’s license. Last year, he again put together a coalition that managed to reverse another of Ricketts’s vetoes—this time of a bill allowing young undocumented immigrants to apply for professional or commercial licenses. In Nebraska, which resettled more refugees per capita in 2016 than any other state, that kind of leadership stands out. As does Mello’s outspoken emphasis—unusual in a state dominated by Big Agriculture, and which still gets most of its energy from coal—on fighting climate change and protecting the environment. Likewise his record on LGBTQ issues, including a call for a law to ban discrimination in housing and employment. With strong union support from firefighters, teachers, and city workers, the Sierra Club’s enthusiastic endorsement, and the backing of an array of Democratic heavyweights, from former senator Ben Nelson to former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, Mello was beginning to look like the party’s best chance for a win after disappointments in Kansas and Georgia.

Especially since his opponent, Stothert, ousted her Democratic predecessor in 2013 by promising to repeal an unpopular restaurant tax—and never kept her promise. With registered Democrats in the city actually outnumbering Republicans—while Donald Trump won nearly 60 percent of the vote in Nebraska, Hillary Clinton carried Douglas County, which includes Omaha, by over 5,000 votes—the arrival of the Democratic “Unity Tour” on Friday was supposed to provide a final burst of enthusiasm to carry Mello across the finish line on May 9.

FULL story: https://www.thenation.com/article/why-was-heath-mello-thrown-under-the-bus/

[bettyellen]

1. You get "huge" endorsements people will actually scrutinize your record! Does this article explain

That this is a concern in the context of withholding an endorsement for that much more important seat in GA?
Or is it lacking context like most articles about this man?

[Omaha Steve]

3. Yes finish the story

Snip: That was followed by a petulant “second thought: Sanders shouldn’t endorse Ossoff. He should just remain silent and not hurt the efforts of those of us helping in #GA06.” Sanders actually did endorse Ossoff. But Nir has yet to apologize to Mello’s campaign—or to admit that his actions were based on what it’s hard to avoid calling “fake news.”

[bettyellen]

5. Sanders only endorsed him after he was criticized for the "feint praise" schtick.....

You know the silly game reporters do when they get him to make pronouncements over who is or isn't progressive enough? It's a shame he's still allowing the press to use him as a wedge like that- but we all know that's exactly what's going on.

[boston bean]

10. The author speaks of "disappointment" in Georgia.

I'm wondering what that means. I didnt feel disappointed did you?

Same thing about Kansas. I wasn't disappointed about that either.

Article definitely has a bias.

[pnwmom]

2. Because he supported legislation that threw women under the bus. nt

[killbotfactory]

19. He's been no worse than Tim Kaine has been on the issue. nt

[musette_sf]

27. "He's been no worse than Tim Kaine"

WRONG.

Heath Mello's Regressive Record:

LB 1103 Prohibiting Abortions After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy Bill Passed - Senate (44 - 5) Yea

LB 594 Abortion Screening Requirements Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 9) Yea

LB 22 Prohibits Insurance Coverage of Abortion Bill Passed - Senate (37 - 7) Yea

LB 521 Requires Physician Presence During Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 9) Yea

LB 675 Establishes Procedures for Ultrasounds Performed Prior to Abortions Bill Passed - Senate (40 - 5) Yea

[ms liberty]

6. This is a good article, and informative. K&R. n/t

[Demsrule86]

7. He sponsored a 20 week ban among other anti-choice activities.

20-Week Abortion Ban

This bill bans abortion at 20 weeks post-fertilization except an abortion is permitted if it is necessary to avert death of the pregnant woman or to “avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function” or it is necessary to “preserve the life of an unborn child.”

1103 LB 1103
LEGISLATIVE BILL 1103
Approved by the Governor April 13, 2010
Introduced by Flood, 19; McCoy, 39; Langemeier, 23; Pirsch, 4; Fulton, 29;
Coash, 27; Krist, 10; Schilz, 47; Heidemann, 1; Utter, 33;
Stuthman, 22; Wallman, 30; Dubas, 34; Sullivan, 41; Fischer,
43; Janssen, 15; Price, 3; Harms, 48; Cornett, 45; Gay, 14;
Nordquist, 7; [font color="red" size="4" face="face"]Mello[/font] , 5; Lautenbaugh, 18.

http://www.legislature.ne.gov/FloorDocs/101/PDF/Slip/LB1103.pdf

https://rewire.news/legislative-tracker/law/nebraska-pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act/

[BainsBane]

15. But he's a Progressive, along with Pat Roberts and Steve King

Jesus. The Nation has really gone to hell under the heiress and her Putinista husband.

[musette_sf]

28. "The Nation has really gone to hell"

Agreed 100%.

[Omaha Steve]

17. Joe Biden once voted for a late-term abortion ban and received low marks from NARAL in 1999 and 2003

https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/53279/joe-biden-jr#.WPqT4lPyve0

https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues/abortion/20-week-bans

Nearly 99 percent of abortions occur before 21 weeks, but when they are needed later in pregnancy, it’s often in very complex circumstances — the kind of situations where a woman and her doctor need every medical option available.

[bettyellen]

36. I know- that's a reason why he was never good enough to run for president, in my book.

I'm getting a little disgusted being lectured to people who don't know or care as much as I do. It's not a good look for DU.

[ProfessorPlum]

8. he has been working with PP since 2012

"What’s more interesting is what happened next—and what didn’t. In 2012, Mello voted with Planned Parenthood on two out of three bills tracked by the group—and was excused from voting on the third. After that, Mello, who had become the influential chair of the state legislature’s budget committee, voted with Planned Parenthood 100 percent of the time. By 2015, the group was celebrating a “fourth straight year…without enacting any new abortion restrictions in Nebraska, thanks largely to committed women’s health advocates engaged in the legislative process."

[tammywammy]

9. I can't find the 2012 votes. Do you know what they were on?

[ProfessorPlum]

13. I don't, I'm sorry

[musette_sf]

30. PPVN begs to differ

“Planned Parenthood Voters of Nebraska has never endorsed Heath Mello for public office nor has Planned Parenthood Voters of Nebraska given Heath Mello a 100% rating, as some media outlets have erroneously reported,” the group said in a statement.

[ProfessorPlum]

37. needs link

[panader0]

11. Hey Steve, as a local, what's your take on his opponent--Jean Stothert?

Do you know her views on this subject?

[Omaha Steve]

14. Scott Walker came to town for her yesterday

She is a concealed carry in her purse anti-abortion hack. Hangs out with billionaire Gov Ricketts that is trying to pass tax breaks for the rich.

[BainsBane]

16. How exciting to be visited by such a progressive hero

You must have been thrilled.

[Omaha Steve]

18. I had union friends on the picket line outside

[BainsBane]

24. Boy, funny how the same positions merit picketing in one case and adulation in another

[Omaha Steve]

25. Here are the three of them together yesterday

[boston bean]

12. Ahem!! You email to me!!!

[LexVegas]

20. I really feel for poor oppressed white dudes in the midwest.

[Kentonio]

38. I assume you have the same complete lack of sympathy for the people of Omaha

Who will likely now end up with a savagely anti-choice GOP mayor thanks to this crap?

[killbotfactory]

21. That people are using this race as a vector of attack on Bernie is pretty gross.

I'm sure the women of Omaha will be better served by a republican, rather than a democrat backed by the state and national democratic parties who has pledged to not restrict their reproductive rights.

[ProfessorPlum]

23. and who has PP's support

it is gross

[musette_sf]

31. "and who has PP's support"

Health Mello does NOT have the support of PPVN:

“Planned Parenthood Voters of Nebraska has never endorsed Heath Mello for public office nor has Planned Parenthood Voters of Nebraska given Heath Mello a 100% rating, as some media outlets have erroneously reported,” the group said in a statement.

[ProfessorPlum]

22. reading the article

it seems like the whole thing - his misrepresented position on abortion, Sanders endorsement, everything - was deliberately set up as a smear job. Against him and Sanders.

Really shitty.

[Kentonio]

39. I don't think it was set up against him, he was just a convenient tool to use against Sanders.

[ProfessorPlum]

40. Right

And he was beschmirched as well.

[Chathamization]

26. Clinton was in favor of a late term abortion ban:

Politifact:

Earlier, in an Oct. 8, 2000, candidate debate, Clinton said: "I have said many times that I can support a ban on late-term abortions, including partial-birth abortions, so long as the health and life of the mother is protected.

In March 2016, more recently, Bret Baier of Fox News asked Clinton during a Democratic presidential town hal whether she favors legal restrictions on abortion at any stage of pregnancy.
...
BAIER: "Just to be clear, there's no -- without any exceptions?"

CLINTON: "No -- I have been on record in favor of a late pregnancy regulation that would have exceptions for the life and health of the mother.

"I object to the recent effort in Congress to pass a law saying after 20 weeks, you know, no such exceptions, because although these are rare, Bret, they sometimes arise in the most complex, difficult medical situation."

Kind of odd that people are upset with Mello for having once supported a late-term abortion ban (with exceptions for the life of the mother), but were OK supporting Clinton who also supports a late-term ban (with exceptions for the life of the mother) and who picked Kaine (who said he was in favor of the Hyde amendment even after getting the VP pick). Particularly strange since Mello is running against a Republican who is worse on the issue, while Clinton was running in the primary against someone who opposed restrictions, and Clinton picked Kaine as the VP over pro-choice Democrats.

[beam me up scottie]

29. +1

[musette_sf]

32. False.

All Sec'y Clinton did was reiterate the parameters of Roe v Wade.

[Chathamization]

34. "I can support a ban on late-term abortions" seems pretty clear to me

As well as: "I have been on record in favor of a late pregnancy regulation that would have exceptions for the life and health of the mother."

It seemed pretty clear to Politifact too:

However, she’s said since 2000 that she’d support a legislated late-term limit on abortion if it included an exception to protect the health of the woman--which the law against partial-birth abortions does not. She hasn't pitched for unlimited abortion on demand.

[musette_sf]

35. Again, each and every comment you cite

simply reiterates the parameters of Roe v Wade. Period.

[guillaumeb]

33. Recommended.