After welcoming pro-lifers, Missouri Democrats quickly backtrack

Jefferson City, Mo., Aug 17, 2018 / 10:11 am

Missouri Democratic leaders have voted to remove language acknowledging different views of abortion from their party platform, drawing criticism from pro-life Democrats who say they deserve to be recognized and the move could harm the party's prospects this November.

Kristen Day, president of Democrats for Life of America, said the actions of state party chairman Stephen Webber "send the message that pro-life Missourians are unwelcome in the party."

"If that is his intention, then he should state it clearly and explicitly in an official statement," Day said Aug. 11. "Missouri pro-life Democrats are real Democrats who support labor and helped to defeat the right-to-work proposition this week. They support health care, a living wage, and a host of other issues on which all Democrats agree. We want to be in this party, and we will wait for a clear statement from Chairman Webber on where we stand."

The previous party platform language was approved at a June meeting of the state party platform committee by a 31-25 vote, the St. Louis-based newspaper The Riverfront Times reports.

"We respect the conscience of each Missourian and recognize that members of our party have deeply held and sometimes differing positions on issues of personal conscience, such as abortion," said the added language. "We recognize the diversity of views as a source of strength and we welcome into our ranks all Missourians who may hold different positions on this issue."

The Missouri Democratic Party's central committee voted to remove the platform language on Aug. 11. It then added language saying the party opposes "any efforts to limit access to reproductive health care" and backs "a woman's right to choose and the right of every person to their own bodily autonomy and to be free from government intrusion in medical decisions, including a decision to carry a pregnancy to term."

The central committee also added a preamble stating that the platform reflects the party's values, though candidates must articulate their own policy positions.

"We made a mistake," said St. Louis alderwoman Annie Rice, "Abortion is a legal healthcare procedure, and as a party we must support access."

Rice tried and failed to block the change to the platform in June.

Webber, the party chairman, said the platform discussion wasn't contentious, telling the Kansas City Star "We got it right, and the final product is something that can unify the whole party."

Day, however, made the case for acknowledging Democratic voters who oppose abortion.

"Pro-life Democrats have stayed in the shadows and have been taken for granted long enough. We must be recognized and heard," she said. "Right now, we are hearing that current leaders of the Democratic Party do not want us and we should look elsewhere."

She said the unilateral removal of ratified platform language is "very unusual."

"It makes you wonder about the kind of pressure supposedly 'progressive' groups exerted and why," Day said. "They know that this removal will cause chaos."

Day defended the platform language proposed in June by former Missouri State Rep. Joan Barry.

"Joan didn't ask for much," said Day. "She put forth a reasonable amendment that merely made a point of recognizing that while some Democrats do not agree with the party position on abortion, they should be treated with respect and included in the party."

At the August central committee vote, Barry abstained. She said she was disappointed by the change but was committed to electing Democrats in the upcoming elections.

"Diversity has been a matter of strength in this party," Barry told the Kansas City Star. "I just felt that we needed to be sure pro-life Democrats are recognized as members of the party. Some people in the electorate don't believe that you can be pro-life and be a Democrat. But that's not true. We are Democrats. And I'll do everything I can to help the party this fall."

Pro-abortion rights groups praised the platform change.

Alison Dreith, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, characterized the previous platform language as "anti-choice."

"The Democratic Party's overwhelming vote to re-prioritize reproductive freedom has put the party back on track just in time to pick up wins in November," she said.

Rachel Sweet, who is regional director of public policy and organizing for Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, welcomed the change, saying, "Democrats across the state have let their party leaders know that a woman's right to make her own health care decisions is non-negotiable."

After the June vote, Sweet had said "Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes will hold accountable any party or candidate who doesn't believe in every person's right to make their own personal medical decisions without government interference," the Kansas City Star reported.

Day compared the previous language to the 1996 national Democratic Party platform language included by U.S. Rep. Tony Hall (D-Ohio). She characterized the language as non-combative. While it suggested the party has an official position on abortion, it also suggested "that the party does not want to lose the votes of Democrats who may disagree on that one position."

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The platform change could have political consequences for Democrats, Day argued. She cited the competitive race facing incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), who backs legal abortion but has said she welcomes votes opposed to abortion. According to Day, the McCaskill race could have a pivotal role in determining the outcome of U.S. Supreme Court nominations and even impeachment of President Donald Trump.

"Missouri Party Chairman Stephen Webber thinks that the best way to support Senator McCaskill and other Democrats in Missouri is to create an unnecessary battle over abortion," charged Day.

Day said that efforts to silence pro-life Democrats have produced poor results for the party in Missouri. Democratic legislators have been in the minority in both houses of the state legislature since 2002, they hold only two of Missouri's eight Congressional seats, and Democrats "have a difficult time winning seats outside the urban cores," she argued.

"If I were the party chairman, I would try to decipher what was going wrong and try to unite the party, not highlight the divisive issue of abortion by reversing a moderate amendment that says we are a big-tent party," Day said.