I have given a name to my pain. And it is “Blue Dog” Democrat Bart Gordon of Tennessee for showing an appalling lack of courage. Truly, if Gordon had wanted to personify everything that’s wrong with politics he couldn’t have done any better.
Gordon yesterday turned his back on the unborn for political gain in such a blatant manner that it’s shocking even by the low low standards set in our nation’s capitol.
A House committee voted for an amendment to the health care legislation that would essentially prohibit the government from imposing requirements for abortion coverage. Rep. Bart Gordon of Tennessee who is often described as a “conservative Democrat” was the decisive vote for the amendment. Hooray.
But then a few hours later, committee chairman Henry Waxman pulled a fast one by invoking some odd House rules that allowed him to bring up the amendment for a second vote.
And a funny thing happened. Just a few hours after voting for the amendment, Gordon switched his vote to no, dooming the amendment to the trash heap and allowing abortion to be included in the health care bill, according to AP .
I’ve got to know. What was Gordon threatened with? What was he given in order for him to turn his back on the unborn?
A few months ago, Gordon didn’t vote on the controversial auto bailout. He called it a “technical glitch” which oddly didn’t affect any other legislator. Maybe this was a “conscience glitch.”
No matter what, this is the latest and greatest example of why we despise politics and politicians. Too many of them will say or do whatever it takes to further their own career. But this one should rank Gordon as nearly despicable as Mary Jo Kopechne’s killer.
July 31, 2009 at 3:33 pm
After reading this, I called his office to ask what the reason for this flip flop was. His staffer told me it's not what it appears.
I said, "Well, a vote's a vote, right?" He said, "Yes, but nothing is set until the bill goes into markup. Watch what happens there."
I'm assuming this is a stalling technique, but I encourage EVERYBODY to watch what the rep. does…and let me know about it if he doesn't do anything to block abortion.
Rep. Bart Gordon
Phone: (202) 225-4231
July 31, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Whoops…I meant let HIM know about it.
July 31, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Patrick and Matthew, did you know there are ads for abortion clinics and contraception access in your Google ads on the CMR main page? I'm not sure how they work, but my guess is they search keywords and match ads.. but I'm sure those aren't things you want advertised on your site!
-Tina
July 31, 2009 at 6:02 pm
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
July 31, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Good question. And I find it interesting that it's usually a bunch of snotty rich liberal white closet racists who are in favor of abortion rights. When will the civil rights activists wake up and see what abortion really is: the systematic legalization of killing black people. Look at the statistics because the numbers do not lie! It is the poor black babies who are being aborted not rich white babies. Abortion is wrong no matter what, but the forces behind it are even more evil than people realize.
July 31, 2009 at 7:00 pm
When I called his office in DC, the poor girl that answered hemmed and hawed and stuttered and said "I honestly don't know what to tell you. I don't know what happened . . ." Keep the calls coming!
July 31, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I'm pretty certain that pro-abortion Congressman Gordon has earned himself a real race in pro-life Tennessee.
July 31, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Steve,
According to the Weekly Standard, this is exactly what it seems. Representative Gordon is saying he misunderstood the amendment the first time around. He favors federal funding of abortion.
July 31, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Still, it's Friday, so let's have a slice of hope. Five years ago there would not have been this blog, nor those two phone calls.
Come 2010, I'd like to believe that Washington will REALLY get scared. They can't keep selling an America that couldn't possibly exist.
Maintain Mass, everybody! (Maine, Tenn, Mass: the three states that failed in their extensive health insurance)
August 1, 2009 at 12:16 am
Thank you, Denise,
The rep is going to get another phone call from me on Monday, and it won't be a pleasant one. I'm not a constituent, but he'll be hearing from me anyway.
August 1, 2009 at 4:54 am
So who's going to run against him, and are you ready to get out and pound the pavement for them?