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Bart Stupak (D, MI-01) cuts and runs.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  April 9th, 2010 at 09:01 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

(Via The Business Insider) No question mark on this: Marc Armbinder’s first mention has been expanded upon here, and CBS News is now reporting it as well.  This should surprise nobody: we’ve been expecting this announcement since Wednesday.  Particularly since the Tea Party folks are going to – justifiably – claim at least the assist on this scalp*.

So… Stupak betrays the pro-life movement and his district, then quits rather than face the wrath of either.  And don’t weep for him: he’ll segue right into the comfortable life of a DC lobbyist, which means that he’ll probably get a pay raise and will certainly enjoy the remainder of his term, free from the nagging terror beginning to fill the lives of his Democratic colleagues.  Because you cannot trust a ‘conservative’ Democrat.

Either side.

Moe Lane

PS: The Dan Benishek saga teaches us why we support as many candidates as we can, as much as we can, in as many districts as we can.  Three months ago this seat was deemed safe for the Democrats.  Now it’s a pickup.

*I was asked to inquire whether Stupak took the Tea Party’s offer of $700K to leave office.  After all, we already know that he can be bought.

Crossposted to Moe Lane.

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COMMENTS

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  • bk

    good riddance!

  • Kyle-MI

    He WAS principled up to the moment he sold his soul for Obamacare.

    I agree with you on the good riddance!

  • jeffdunetz

    http://www.redstate.com/jeffdunetz/2010/04/09/breaking-stupack-to-quit-today/

  • jaykali

    Sadly this isn’t much satisfaction but we need to run out these guys, there is no ‘conservative’ wing of the democratic party.

    For the public there are 2 choices, go liberal or go conservative, the lines are clearly drawn. There’s no ‘independent’ minded pseudo democratic conservative blue dog with pro life leanings, there are shill votes for party leadership on each side – which agenda do you want to cast your lot with?

  • http://biggator5.net/ BigGator5

    I normally don’t use terms like this, but Stupak is clearly a coward. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

  • jaykali

    Why did he jerk us all around for months? I just don’t get it. Either he was going to hold out and take the abuse or just give in. And he tried to do both? And what ab the morons that were in line behind him in the Stupak “8″ or “10″ or whatever? They should be the next to go.

  • Ausonius

    Where he can assist in MAObama’s complaisant de facto assistance to the genocide against Christians and others opposed to the regime there.

    That would seem to be an appropriate promotion for a slimeball! :)

    How many other Dem “retirees” will find their way back into government via the State Department or by becoming “Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Blah Blah BLah” in the bureaucracy?

  • IJB

    I don’t see any replacement Dem being able to hold on to this one. (See also: PA-12.)

    A few more like this go down to retirement, and even pro-Dem political pundits will be hard pressed to dismiss the idea of a GOP House takeover….

  • maggieblumenthal

    again.

    Stupak, not the head RAT, but a big one for sure, is gone for good. We’re right to claim the scalp. Its going to take a big, brave RAT to run this year. What do they have to run on? A Maosist takeover? Lies? No facts?

    Here are the facts:
    1) Stupak is a goner. Polls point to a total Republican takeover of Congress by next year. If that is true, we can assume that we will take the White House = HCR will be repealed and, ironically, the reforms Stupak claimed to support and then sold out will come to pass, with out his RAT self to claim any of the credit. Our scalp = Our credit. These are the facts we need to use to RAM and SLAM the RATS with. Day and night. No rest. Until the RATSNEST is clean.

    2) What events like these tell us is that there is no question anymore, the country is in total, unified lockstep against the corrupt, bewildered, destruction that these incompetent communists are trying and failing to wreak on the greatest country on earth. Things are changing.

    3) Polls point to a colossal resurgence of dead-center, fiscally, socially, morally conservatism to sweep the nation like a tidal wave of fire. Now that the word is spreading and the takeover of Congress is essentially a pickup, is it crazy to assume that these communist, Maosist, DEMOCRATIC policies are on their way out, permanently? Call me an optimist, but you know what, I’ll just point to the facts. Which are ALL on our side. Look at them.

    Sorry.

    They’re the facts.

    Boom.

  • mbecker908

    Someone who is purportedly “pro-life” cannot simultaneously support the Democratic Party. Period.

  • Common_Cents
  • earlgrey

    I am getting tired of the traditional conservatives (Krauthammer some at National Review, etc.) saying these things can’t be changed, and we are on our way to being like Europe. It is depressing me to the point I won’t read them anymore. Which means, either I am living in a fantasy world or no one really understands the impact of the past 1.5 years on tne nation’s psyche.

  • http://jhowell.net jameshowell

    We should start playing Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” as our new theme song.

  • izoneguy

    As many dems Reps see they are probably going to get creamed they will step aside so that the DNC can bring a fresh faced dem to the slaughter.

  • houstoneagle

    Public Enemy #1 is retiring. This is wonderful news!

    Catastrophic losses for the Democrats in the House. Major erosion of their majority in the Senate.

    Better jam the socialist agenda through while you still can, Comrade Obama!

  • Christine (Trelaina)

    As of my comment it’s now on four diaries.

    In other words, probably multiple people writing diaries at the same time. Some taking a bit longer to push the PUBLISH button than others.

  • izoneguy

    “All the democrats quit Congress and all I have left is this lousy HealthCare Bill”

  • proudgop

    with his head between his legs

    CQ politics says the Dem candidates may be: state senator Jim Barcia (a former congressman), Mike Prusi and Gary McDowell, and state representatives Joel Sheltrown and Jeff Mayes.

    Interested to see now what other Republicans jump in?

  • maggieblumenthal

    Moe is right: this is essentially a done deal. The Repubs take back congress next year = White House 2012 = America begins to heal from the wounds inflicted on our backs for the last two years by these Maosist lunatics who have failed in everything they’ve tried to do.

  • azaeroprof

    He can run and hide, but he will never be able to wash the blood of the unborn off his hands.

    “Out, damned spot!”

  • Scope

    for airports in his district, in exchange for his Obamacare vote. Give it a little while and we will find out what juicy position in Obama’s admin. he was promised.

    Dan Benishek is well on his way to terrific fundraising. He has never been in any government position (an asset) , and, it does show in his speaking abilities, but, that will improve. His positions on the issues are ideal.

  • techsan

    Ok…not trying to pour water on any fires here, but I think the Dems have a strategy that is fatalistic in the short term and which considers only the long term.

    I believe Dem leaders (whomever they are) know as they encode their socialist ideology into law, any congressional losses are, in their estimation, temporary. Until, and unless, a sweeping conservative movement actually does something to roll back and eliminate the liberal’s bankrupt agenda, they’re fine loosing even 100% of their congressional races in 2010. Liberals have been working 40 years to get to this election…what’s another 2 or 4 years?

    Americans have to elect conservative doers, not just talkers…these next elections are critical.

  • Kyle-MI

    n/t

  • Kyle-MI

    from the left, but I don’t see any traction for a far-left candidate in this district. On the right, we will see how the good doctor from the north does. I am a little worried that he is a bit green around the edges.

  • bigredone

    Tom Coburn promised that he would put a hold on every sellout for ObamaCare.

    I know Stupak voted yes both times, but the high profile he took surely drew the attention of the junior Senator from OK. I bet Coburn puts a hold on any chance Stupak has for an appointment to the Marxist administration.

  • rwb_hoosier

    Don’t let him off this easy. The people in his district should still treat him like the pig he is. They should refuse to shake his hand. They should remind him every time they see him that he is an unprincipaled pig. Restaraunts should put up signs that he is not welcome there. Tell him they don’t talk to [redacted] if he tries to carry on a conversation.

    We have to make sure we treat these pigs like the animals they are. If we don’t, other politicians will think they can get away with betraying their district and killing millions of unborn babies. Keep his life a living hell until he goes into hiding or moves somewhere where people don’t know him. Punish him until the day he dies.

  • acat

    The district got over 800 large.

    But.

    Unless that’s coming from money already allocated to the administration, Sen. Coburn has promised to block it in the Senate.

    Just how much TARP does Obama have left? *

    Mew

    * and, with Stupak folding like a cheap tent, does Obama get to renege on this bribe? I mean, why pay if the vote goes away?

  • acat

    I just like to phrase it slightly differently.

    Conservatives have to stop being elected to “block” or “stop” Liberals.

    Conservatives have to start being elected to “roll back” Liberals.

    Liberals reach across the aisle and form alliances with statist RINOs like McCain, Graham, the Maine Sisters, and protect these big-government programs once they’re enacted.

    This is *precisely* the kind of game the Libs have been playing since WWII – move the ball when in power, splinter the Repubs to prevent the ball moving the other way when out of power.

    Wake up, Conservatives. When we get to D.C. this time, we stay and govern. Period.

    No retreat, no going home. Hold until relieved.

    Mew

  • Jack_Savage

    It will be interesting to see where the weasel lands. He was holding out for much, much more than an executive order.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    nt

  • http://www.FranBaker.com frankieb

    And I’d like to think our throiwng out a longtime mayor on Tuesday as well as a longtime judge who had to retire in two years anyway is just the beginning of a national trend.

  • oldprospector

    The Politico article references Stupak’s decision being made while at the Final Four. Can anyone find out who provided the tickets?

  • ktsub

    Still worried about the seat, not a slam dunk, the D’s have a bench here, but the Republicans have been making gains at the local level.

    It would be classic to have State Senator Michelle McManus, jump in. She is running for Secretary of State, ran for the seat several cycles ago. Running for Secretary of State, and already has campaign on ground.

    http://www.michellemcmanus.org/

  • Money

    I’d buy it.

  • cwilson

    There is a LOT of hard work left to do; this won’t “just happen” — it is NOT a “done deal”.

    It may be highly likely — but ONLY because it is highly likely that a lot of motivated right-leaning activists ARE going to put in a LOT of hard work.

  • wilfranc

    I wish he would leave immediately. As one of his constituients, I wouldn’t mind the empty seat. I have never voted for him, and a vacancy would be as close as I’d see this seat representing me.

  • chbroussard

    when you make a deal with the devil (or multiple devils in this case). It’s always a lose-lose situation and you’re going to get burned. Maybe they’ll name that airport after you, Mr. Stupak.

  • joecollins

    Farewell to this rat.

  • wilfranc

    Stupak was history the day he flopped.

    Integrity is not the same as honesty or good intentions. Integrity requires a strength of character that is rarely seen in public figures today. It was a character trait of Reagan’s and is why he remains an icon.

    You cannot claim integrity to represent Americans and vow to protect and defend the Constitution and have voted for something like the Health Care bill (nor SS, Medicare/caid, etc.).

    Stephen Carter wrote a book called “Integrity” a few years back and I still find his basic concepts important: discernment, speaking up and acting in a way consistent with your speech. It has to be for good, and it comes sometimes at a cost. The Dems that voted for this and are then retiring are not integral, and Stupak leads that gang.

    It is extremely hard if not impossible to hold our politicians to some level of integrity if the press is unwilling to expose the conflict in words and deeds. The reason the administration wants to control the internet is to control people from getting information and organizing an opposition. And is the drive to discredit the tea party groups. The funny thing is, the oppostition to the Dems is nothing more than asking questions and expecting answers.

    I hate it when a reporter lets a politician carry on, and the only bright spot in recent times has been Bret Bair, mild mannered, quiet Bret Bair.

  • snopercod

    1. Will the media brand him a “quitter” like they did Sarah Palin?

    2. What cushy job in his (mal-)administration did Obama offer Stupak? An ambassadorship to some beautiful country far away from Michigan, perhaps?

  • IJB

    “Another Washington insider returns to feed at the trough. Haven’t the voters of MI-01 had enough of career politicians…” Etc.

  • http://www.libertytreehugger.com reverelth

    He was a pariah. If it were not for him, the House could have passed something a lot closer to the Senate version of Obamacare long before Scott Brown came along and messed things up. Less than 24 hours ago, Stupak got a “vote of confidence” from party leadership. A ruse and the kiss of death. Anyhoo, I’m sure they had to wait until the SEIU anointed successor to Stupak was locked and loaded.

  • http://www.libertytreehugger.com reverelth

    If the Republican Senate leadership annouces, early and often, they will block any nomination of Stupak to a Federal appointment.

  • http://www.libertytreehugger.com reverelth

    announce they will block it.

  • Jack_Savage

    Again.

  • rfpzzzzz

    I guess once you gets started down this path…it gets easier the next time!

  • DRayRaven

    Stupak betrayed his country, his district, future generations of Americans, and his own principles. It figures he’d cut and run like a coward.

    Good riddance.

    In the meantime, it’s too bad the rest of us will be stuck with the tax hikes and the increased debt unless and until the GOP can repeal the Obamacare train wreck.

  • texasgalt

    Not with a bang but a whimper . . . you hollow man.

  • Hugh

    it talks about machine guns and bullets causing “another one to bite the dust”. Probably should leave it alone in the conservative movement.
    But, great song. Better for a football game.

  • itrytobenice

    They *all* have expiration dates. Whatever he promised Stupak probably expired slightly before he told Stupak what it was.

  • Scope

    they are payback appointments for those doing favors for Obama. The Senate would have nothing to say about it.

  • http://www.hopeychangemas.com VizBiz

    The MSM is reporting that Stupak has been getting threatening phones calls from right wing extremist as a result of his vote, which in turn is force him to leave out of fear. Problem is, the comments he made about the phone calls was before his vote when liberals were hounding him.

  • NoDoze

    Conservatives must look to the future as well. One of the things that gives the DemoRats hope for their future is the long standing control of public education.

    Watch the other hand. If we allow them to continue to brain-wash our young (the majority of them), they will have a ready-made constituency for future Progressive/Socialist schemes.

    The other area where there is hope for their future is the number of people who are dependent of government, which they are trying to expand daily.

    We need people in congress, and the courts who will REVERSE, not just contain these threats to the future of our country.

  • JadedByPolitics

    Judas recognized that WE The People were on to him! What a tool and the Republicans BETTER keep their word that NONE of these Congressman will get a job that requires their consent!

  • Xasteius

    Yeah I bet George Soros has a job lined up for him.

  • Jack_Savage

    I really believe that what we need to do it start simply eliminating agencies, and Obama’s budget disaster has provided us the very excuse we need in order to do it. Not only will it be good policy, it will be good politics. Make the left defend the NEA, for example, and promise ordinary people they will not miss it when it is gone. Then, in six months, point out that they don’t.

    We need to take as aggressive a stance as the libs do, but the good part will be that not one person in our consituency will miss the government programs we eliminate.

  • Jack_Savage

    Watch for Stupak in higher ed in Michigan – Coburn can’t touch him, and he is already embedded with the libs in his home state.

    Punk.

  • Republican_Michigander

    Redistricting took Leelanau County outside of the 1st.

    Michelle’s a good Senator and would be a good Secretary of State but would have a tough time in the 1st.

    It’ll take a yooper to win the 1st.

  • Republican_Michigander

    Bay City is in the Kildee district. If Barcia runs for the 1st, he’ll get whacked up North. Mayes I believe is in the 5th as well. Sheltrown is running for State Senate and has a better shot there, as he’s a “troll”

    McDowell (also running for State Senate) would be tough to beat, although easier to beat than Stupak. Prusi I believe is pro-abortion, which will hurt him bad in this district.

  • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

    …and will wait over here at the call of Mr Soros.

    I really regret that we allow such a soft landing for Quislings like this.

  • ktsub

    Hearing Kevin Elsenheimer (R-105) is interested, house GOP leader. Not for sure on his location, looks like a stand-up guy. Any word?

  • Republican_Michigander

    He’s in the first district. Antrim County. I don’t like his geography location, but he’s a several generations family in North Michigan. He’s not a transplant, which is a BIG negative up there.

    He’s one of the better guys in Lansing, and I haven’t heard negative stuff about him. He originally was going to run for judge in 08.

    Interestingly, he was who defeated Saltonstall in 2008. She’s who was the primary challenger to Stupak among the dems.

    My concern with him is whether a “Troll” could win against a yooper. Geography is a huge issue in this gigantic district.

  • Repair_Man_Jack

    Stupak (n) – Term synonymous with dueche-bag. E.g. I dared Little Tim to fight me out back, but he was such a frikking Stupak!

    Stupak Airport (n) – Term denoting small, pathetic bribe. E.g. The Al-Quaida operative had no troubles getting the explosives past the TSA. He offered the creener a mere Stupak Airport worth of hasheesh and was waved right through the check point.

  • Adjoran

    First, Obama can veto any moves to repeal as long as he stays in office, and it takes 2/3 of both House and Senate to override it. So that’s just not happening.

    Second, if we try to defund the bureaucracy, or restore funding to Medicare Advantage by delaying implementation, or try to break up the HHS appropriation into “ObamaCare” and “Other” sections to be voted separately, assuming we have the party discipline to get that done on our side, Obama retains the option of shutting down the government to get his way. Republicans are ALWAYS blamed for it: Reagan vetoes the budget bill, he was blamed, but when Clinton did the same thing, the GOP Congress was blamed. Weaker MSM or not, you know how it will play out.

    Thirdly, even after we send Obama back to Nigeria or Indonesia or wherever Michelle says his home country is, Democrats will filibuster repeal. We’ll need 60 votes in the Senate, not 50 or 51.

    Lastly, even if we manage repeal in 2013, the damage done to the insurance industry specifically, and health care in general in America, will not be readily undone.

    Not to be a sourpuss, and of course we must do whatever we can to repeal it, but it’s not like we are going to be able to press a “RESET” button and have everything the way it was before. It will probably NEVER be the same again.

  • Adjoran

    machine guns and bullets . . .

    lol

  • acat

    Because being Arlen Specter is not a good career move. Neither is being Bart Stupak.

    Snarlin’ Arlen has a bit longer on career-death-watch, though only because the Senate has longer terms.

    Sellouts need to stop prospering – support Coburn’s efforts to block ambassadorships, judgeships, and other appointments. (the thousands of eyes of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy must remind Coburn that his feet can be held to the fire too …)

    Mew

  • Hugh

    I went to a high school football game that I forgot about them. I was thinking more about the NFL.

  • acat

    Is Ben Nelson dead in the water? He’s got a little longer to repair damage.. can he?

    Seems to me, the Cornhusker Kickback was just as large a sell-out, although on a less moral hot-button issue.

    Thoughts?

    Mew

  • The_Gadfly

    Nobody believes The Big 0 anymore, and they are catching on to the LSM. They WANT Obamacare defunded. That makes all the difference. And that means that while we might still WANT 68 seats in the Senate so we can override his veto, all we NEED is 220 Conservative Republicans in the House.

  • The_Gadfly

    that should read “before WWI” as the game goes back at least to Wilson, possible to “the good” Roosevelt.

    Otherwise, spot on.

  • throwback59

    or five

  • throwback59

    There once was a man named Stupak
    who sold his soul to a devil called Barack
    He thought he’d be rewarded
    but his plans were thwarted
    when the Tea Party went on the attack.

  • ktsub

    I keep hearing about this troll vs. yooper thing, dont understand not being from anywhere near the area.

    But somewhere else, I read that since the UP is such a small population now, compared to the rest of the district, it may not matter as much as before.

    Thanks for your imput, this is going to be an VERY interesting race, I cant wait to see how it shakes out.

    Thanks again.

  • Republican_Michigander

    In simplistic terms, a troll is from the Lower Peninsula. A Yooper is from the Upper Peninsula, aka the U.P. Most of the banter between the two is jokingly except when it comes to political representation. The first district is small town politics on steroids, which is very good and bad at the same time. The largest city has about 20,000. People know each other in those towns.

    Trolls will vote for yoopers. Yoopers are hesitant to vote for trolls. They voted for Stupak. They liked that Stupak was until recently pro-life and moderately pro-gun. They liked that he was a cop, and a Yooper (Wisconsin born, but graduated from a yooper high school).

    The UP has its own traditions, formerly mining and lumber, and currently largely corrections industry, as well as Northern Michigan University, Michigan Tech, and Lake Superior State. A lot of retirees live there and in the northern lower peninsula. It’s Green Bay Packers land. It’s the land of the social conservative democrat (although less so today, and the Eastern UP and Houghton Area will often vote Republican). There’s a large number of Finns, Swedes, Italians, Cornish, Italians, and some Slovaks and French Canadians. Marquette is the only real liberal area with Northern Michigan University. Ironwood tilts strongly democrat with mining.

    Northern Lower Peninsula can be largely separated into three areas. The Lake Michigan Coast which was more Ford Republican, less so today, slight inland East to I-75 which is largely conservative republican, and the sunrise side near Lake Huron which is a swing area, although social conservative democrat in Alpena and in the Standish (Arenac County) and Bay County area which is heavily union retirees and corrections workers.

    Anyone inland is hesitant to vote for someone near the Lake Michigan coast. Populist v rich folk. A transplant’s chances of winning are zero. “They aren’t one of us.” It’s a very unique area, and one concern I have about this race is if it gets nationalized. It’s somewhat similar to NY-23 in its demographics, although it is more socially conservative and more economically populist.

  • Republican_Michigander

    2008:
    District – 334,370 votes total
    UP – 194,269 votes

  • http://www.solidprinciples.com solidprinciples

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daIaBOfIBSI

    I spoke to Republican candidate in the 1st Congressional district of Michigan Dan Benishek about the sudden resignation by Rep. Bart Stupak in not seeking re-election in the 2010 Mid-Terms. This is a You Tube of the interview.

  • proudgop

    cq politics says Kevin Elsenheimer, the state House GOP leader, also is showing interest? thought?

  • calthorpe

    Is it true that when a Member of Congress retires, he gets to pocket any campaign cash still in his accounts? If so, then clearly Stupak decided better to pocket the cash than waste hundreds of thousands on a losing campaign. He quit while he is ahead money-wise. It will be very interesting to see what his new job will be, and also for hus wife and family members.

  • briefsynopsis

    being a resident of his district, it has been obvious that there has been a “crafting” of his image and voting,.. by moving so fast so quickly, the current administration is outstripping their historical ability to shroud their members in centrists clothing.
    by loosing Bart,.. this reveals something which should alarm us more then make us rejoice,.. if they (the Alinski-ites) are willing to move so fast as to sacrifice members which were once a solid hold,.. then we must watch forward for a quickening of the demise of all things which made us a world power,.. my dollar sez that this administration has a commitment to world government and a single world currency and that any burden,.. or any cost,.. will be born gladly for long term control and their vision of a Utopian “New World Order”.
    As an aside,.. did this cat Benishek really post an op-ed saying that anyone entering the race now is a “Johnny come lately”?? really?
    What is it that YOU have done?, said?, or in fact stand for?, that makes you entitled?
    (Gloating or Goating,.. either way good Dr. it is very unseemly and has went over poorly in North West Michigan!!!!!)
    Pretty words Hastily thrown together on a website do not a campaign make,.. absent were any indication of your support or acknowledgment of the “Tea Parties”, or the word Conservative!
    Cream always rises, if you are to be elected, you will stand before us and answer our questions, not pontificate with a sense of entitlement!

  • Republican_Michigander

    He?s in the first district. Antrim County. I don?t like his geography location, but he?s a several generations family in North Michigan. He?s not a transplant, which is a BIG negative up there.

    He?s one of the better guys in Lansing, and I haven?t heard negative stuff about him. He originally was going to run for judge in 08.

    Interestingly, he was who defeated Saltonstall in 2008. She?s who was the primary challenger to Stupak among the dems.

    My concern with him is whether a ?Troll?, especially from the Lake Michigan area, could win against a yooper. Geography is a huge issue in this gigantic district.

  • audax

    NT

  • audax

    lol