The Democrat party has decided that its official line on abortion is “all the time, everywhere.” What does that mean for those who insisted that the Democrats had a “big tent” philosophy that would tolerate multiple lines of thought on the subject?

It means that those pro-life Democrats are being ostracized within their party.

The head of House Democrats’ campaign arm is defending her decisions to help incumbents after canceling plans to attend a fundraiser for anti-abortion Democrat Rep. Dan Lipinski (Ill.).”

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Rep. Cheri Bustos (Ill.) defended efforts to maintain a big tent for the party in an interview with The Washington Post, saying it is up to each candidate to manage his or her district.”

“Everybody has to navigate their own district, and who am I to prescribe how anybody does that?” she said. “I just think, our core values as Democrats, we’re pretty much on the same page. We want to make sure that people have opportunities to do better.”

She told the newspaper that it is helpful to have people of varying ideologies in the party to help Democrats win swing districts and maintain their majority in the House, where they currently control all committees.”

“We lose 17 seats, and we don’t have a majority anymore. That’s pretty fragile,” she said, pointing out that 31 Democrats were elected in districts won by President Trump in 2016.”

“Who are they to say what the litmus test is?” she said of those on the party’s left. “Who is anybody to say?”

Lipinski’s district, however, was won by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016. His fundraiser, which Bustos pulled out of last month over his position on abortion, is scheduled for Thursday.”

Lipinski is being challenged in the primary by Democrat Marie Newman, who has received support from progressive groups including the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.”

Lipinski is one of the only pro-life Democrats left in the House – and he spoke at the March For Life last January.

Which means, of course, that the DNCC has wimped out in supporting him. Abortion > incumbency to the Democrat leadership, especially when they can primary Lipinski with a Planned Parenthood-approved candidate. Big tent? What big tent?

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, just signed his state’s version of a “heartbeat law.”

Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill banning abortions once a heartbeat is detectable, with no exceptions for rape or incest https://t.co/YXsrl9L521

— CNN (@CNN) May 31, 2019

Edwards, who describes himself as a “pro-life” Democrat, said in a statement Wednesday that he intended to sign the bill, stating, “I have been true to my word and my beliefs on this issue.” He added that it’s his “sincere belief that being pro-life means more than just being pro-birth.”

“I know there are many who feel just as strongly as I do on abortion and disagree with me — and I respect their opinions,” he said Wednesday. “As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.”

The governor has been staunchly pro-life throughout his political career, citing his daughter Samantha’s diagnosis of spina bifida in utero as the focus of his beliefs. Naturally, this sent pro-abortion Democrats into a tizzy, including erstwhile gladiator and presidential candidate Cory Booker (D-Spartacus).

At a time when Republicans across the country are mounting a coordinated, all-out attack on women's reproductive freedoms, it's unconscionable that someone in our own party would contribute. Democratic leadership should reflect Democratic values. https://t.co/DzdbhGHSS7

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 31, 2019

Oh yes, Spartacus, please tell me what “Democratic values” are. If you want to claim unfettered, unlimited access to abortion as a “Democratic value,” please go ahead. For that matter, make a campaign ad about it. Demand that every single Democrat on the debate stage pledge to follow the example of New York and the west coast. You really want to make the 2020 election about insisting that abortion be available through all 40 weeks of pregnancy for whatever reason? DO IT. I dare you, Spartacus.

MARIST POLL: 47% of Americans identify as pro-life, 47% identify as pro-choice.

Last month, pro-choice led 55-38%. Since then, Democrats have moved from 20% pro-life to 34% pro-life. The pollsters attribute the change to the late-term abortion debate.https://t.co/GZX2O8EP7y

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 25, 2019

That “big tent” that Democrats loved to brag about? When it comes to abortion, they’ve decided to kick down the poles and light the tarp on fire. It will be their loss.

Featured image via Pixabay, Pixabay license