Why reproductive rights groups are taking sides

[BlueMTexpat]

Bernie Sanders Struggles to ‘Champion Women’ like Hillary Clinton

http://time.com/4192885/bernie-sanderss-abortion-hillary-clinton/

So why would Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign and NARAL Pro-Choice America endorse Clinton? Why wouldn’t they just sit on the fence until the general election? “If you have 100 percent Planned Parenthood voting record, 100 percent pro-choice voting record, there are people who are asking, why is the leadership not either supporting Bernie Sanders or why are they, you know, opposing him?” Sanders asked Monday night. What more do they want from him?

Good question, and NARAL had an answer. “Senator Sanders once again highlighted the difference between an ally and a champion,” Kaylie Hanson, NARAL Pro-Choice America National Communications Director, said in a statement about the Town Hall. “His voting record is sufficient, but it doesn’t make him a champion for women. That champion is Hillary.” Cecile Richards has echoed that sentiment: “We have a lot of friends in Congress, but we have one true champion,” she said.

Clinton has championed abortion rights as central theme of her campaign to be the first woman president, while the Sanders campaign has been largely focused on fixing systemic income inequality and campaign finance reform, sometimes at the expense of other priorities. “Once you get off of the social issues—abortion, gay rights, guns—and into the economic issues,” he told Rolling Stone last year, “there is a lot more agreement than the pundits understand.”

That quote—offered early in the campaign—has been widely interpreted to suggest that Sanders has ranked his political priorities, and that “social issues” like abortion could take a backseat in the Bernie revolution. “We can’t afford a Democratic nominee for president who treats abortion rights like an afterthought,” wrote Emily’s List president Stephanie Schriock on Friday. She went on to accuse Sanders of treating reproductive rights like “extra credit,” and noted that Sanders doesn’t mention anything about abortion, contraception, or reproductive care anywhere in his entire health plan.

I too want a "champion."

[William769]

1. We got a champion in Hillary.

[misterhighwasted]

2. There is no other champion for Human Rights

..and everyone of these women's groups sees that.

This isn't about stump speech one liners, its about deeds over a lifetime .

Its just too late for Sanders to fit into that position anymore. Quit complaining & move on.

[Hekate]

3. 5th Rec and off to The Greatest with you

[SunSeeker]

4. Yes, PP, NARAL and HRC aren't among the folks who can afford to roll the dice on Sanders.

I had not read about him saying that. But then again, the media has ignored Bernie up to now, and anything bad about Bernie tended to get a hide around here.

That is quite a compelling reason. I could see Bernie bargaining away women's abortion rights to further his glorious revolution. He basically already did that with the gun issue. By promising to vote against the Brady Bill, Bernie got into Congress after the NRA ran negative ads against his opponent. And then he proceeded to vote against the Brady Bill five times.

I assume an additional reason they went with Hillary is that they know Sanders would be a weak candidate in the GE and they wanted to make sure Hillary got the nomination. Maybe some folks can afford to take a chance on Sanders, since their lives won't change all that much under a President Trump. But poor women would be directly hurt, and that is who PP and NARAL are committed to protecting. The Human Rights Campaign knows the LGBT community is in a similarly precarious position.

[Gothmog]

5. I stand with Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign and NARAL Pro-Choice America

[Thinkingabout]

6. Hillary has championed women's rights for a long time, decisions which should be left

to women.

[Cha]

7. Good I'm glad BS was on the "defensive".. he deserves to be after what he says..

"The Vermont Senator was on the defensive at the CNN Town Hall Monday night when an audience member asked him about his assertion last week that Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign are part the “establishment” he plans to bring down. Both organizations recently endorsed Hillary Clinton, in the first primary endorsement in Planned Parenthood’s history."

Hillary answers her questioners with dignity and aplomb.. the other guy not so much.

#soestablishment LOL

Thank you, BlueMTex!

[DURHAM D]

8. Did you see this today ?

http://feministmajority.org/feminist-majority-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president/

Feminist Majority Endorses Hillary Clinton for President

[Cha]

9. No I hadn't.. Mahalo Durham.. this is really a wonderfully strong endorsement for Hillary!

JANUARY 26, 2016 – The Feminist Majority is proud to announce today its endorsement of Hillary Rodham Clinton for President of the United States. Hillary has a decades-long record of achievement in advancing both women’s rights and civil rights, and has made fighting for low-income families a priority. She has demonstrated the leadership and vision necessary to move our country forward.

Hillary has worked to close the gender and race pay gap, fought to end race-based segregation in education, and is a champion of reproductive rights. She has supported ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, fought for passage and reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, prioritized women’s rights globally, and successfully used her power in the Senate, along with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), to push for FDA approval of emergency contraception. Hillary supports paid family and medical leave and played a major role in passing the State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides 8 million low-income children with access to health care.

[DURHAM D]

10. I thought you might enjoy that.

I don't know about you but I am ready to go home now. Who needs a cloud when you have Hillary? Have you seen William.

[Cha]

11. ..

Yes, I've seen William.

[William769]

12. I'm here.

When you soar with eagles, you undoubtedly will end up in the clouds.

[okasha]

17. I've been watching pottery videos

while you're flapping around up there, William. This evening it was a Brit potter--from Yorkshire or Northumberland by his accent--demonstrating how to make a salt box. I never even knew what a salt box was before. (In case you're wondering, it looks like a miniature fireplug with a loudspeaker attached to the side.) That's desperation, William.

[displacedtexan]

21. Have you seen The Great Pottery Throw Down?

There are six episodes. It's one of the best competition shows ever! I learned a whole lot about the history, the techniques, and the current trends in pottery.

[okasha]

23. I haven't seen it.

Thank you! I'll look.at it when I get home. On break in drawing class right now.

[murielm99]

13. Has there been an OP about this endorsement? nt

[DURHAM D]

14. Not that I know of. Have at it. nt

[murielm99]

15. Okay.

[murielm99]

16. Posted in GDP.

Let the snark begin.

[BlueMTexpat]

20. Courageous you are!

[BlueMTexpat]

19. Great news!

Thanks for the link, Durham D!

[BlueMTexpat]

18. You are very welcome, Cha!

[Dawson Leery]

22. Sanders is a high risk bet.

Also, he has not been on board with the party and considers these groups to be establishment.

[BlueMTexpat]

24. He also seems to have attracted some

of the most vile and vicious of Trump's supporters - unless they are plants from the GOP who are here simply to tear HRC to pieces. That is not only possible, but in some cases, probable.