NO CHOICE

A Democratic Party?: Anti-abortion Group Seeks DNC Web Link (Josh Kurtz , June 2, 2003, Roll Call)

The Web site of the Democratic National Committee links Internet users to the sites of 279 political and advocacy organizations, labor unions, religious groups and government agencies.

The list, divided into 28 categories, includes everything from the Willie Valasquez Institute to the Oneida Indian Nation to the National Association of Social Workers.

But the DNC is resisting adding a 280th link.

For almost a year, an organization dedicated to electing Democrats to national, state and local offices has been pressing the national party to add its Web site to the DNC's list of linkable sites. The problem is, the organization is dedicated to electing Democrats who oppose abortion rights.

So far, the DNC, whose quadrennial platform in 2000 included a plank affirming the party's support for a woman's right to have an abortion, has refused to respond to the query by the group known as Democrats for Life of America.

In the past month, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) has written to DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe urging the party to add the Democrats for Life link to its Web site. In addition, 17 House Democrats wrote to McAuliffe
defending the anti-abortion-rights group.

In their May 14 letter, the House Members said the DNC's refusal to add the Web link amounted to "ostracism" of loyal Democrats and contradicted the party?s abortion plank in the 2000 platform, which said in part, "We respect the individual conscience of each American on this difficult issue."

"Actions speak louder than words," the 17 House lawmakers wrote.

But the DNC apparently does not know how to respond.

It really is this simple: as an intellectual matter you can't be both pro-life and a Democrat. Senator Nelson will make a fine addition to the GOP. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 5, 2003 2:27 PM