An entire generation has grown up with legal choice. The youngest people who went to high school prior to Roe v. Wade are 45 years old. A baby born the day of the decision is 32 years old. Most of the college activists who fought for choice before the decision are old enough that Bush refers to them as "close to retirement".
Are people taking Choice for granted? Have Democrats taken Choice for granted? Has the GOP/DLC finally brought the Democratic Party far enough to the right where Democrats can no longer win votes for Choice -- even in our own caucus?
I don't know if this was sent nationwide or just to Pennsylvania, but Eleanor Smeal of Feminist Majority PAC and Kim Gandy of the National Organization of Women PAC sent out an email declaring that they weren't going to roll over for the establishment.
It remains to be seen whether this is saber rattling or an opening salvo.
The email was also co-signed by Martha Burk, Dolores Huerta, Gloria Steinem, Faye Wattleton, and Marie Wilson.
Could somebody break-down the Schrader numbers and let us know where we stand? And for those of you in-district, give me a call and let me know how we're doing.
Two words: Road Trip
Follow Chris BowersandPresident George Bush head to PA-08 and join the ground game in the most important congressional district in the nation.
Whatever it takes, get to Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. Call (888) GINNY04 and let them know they can count on you.
This is a must win district, GOTV strategically by working in the most critical district. (888) GINNY04
PA-08 has been getting national attention for the the NRCC "Hezbollah" mailer. In fact, Atrios and Chris Bowers we just talking about it on the Majority Report. We all knew that Ginny Schrader's 8th CD was a Kerry must-win, but it appears to now be one of the most fought-after congressional districts in the nation. From Zwire:
Not to be outdone, this week the county's GOP will gets its turn as President George W. Bush visits Bucks County during a campaign rally scheduled for Thursday at Meadowbrook Farm in Lower Makefield. The President is expected to deliver remarks on Wednesday at a Victory 2004 Rally in Lancaster followed on Thursday with the rally in Bucks County.
"Bucks County is enormously important for the President's re-election," said Mark Pfeifle, spokesperson for the Republican National Committee in Pennsylvania. "That's one of the reasons why it was chosen for a presidential trip so close to Election Day. The President wants one more opportunity to rally the troops and inspire the grassroots supporters to go out and knock on a few more doors and do their part to lend to the President's victory in Pennsylvania."
Anyone out there still think I am exaggerating about the Pennsylvania Republican Party?--Chris
In all my years in politics, I have never seen a hit piece so disgusting as the "Hezbollah"(pdf) piece the NRCC sent. From the Morning Call:
The mailing sent to 8th District houses includes a caricature of the film's director, Michael Moore, and the headline "Ginny Schrader: The 'Hate America' crowd has found their candidate."
Bo Harmon, a spokesman for the national Republican committee, said his group produced the literature and stands by its message. He said a British newspaper reported in June that Hezbollah offered to distribute Moore's film to its supporters.
Harmon said the film "does contain propaganda for Hezbollah. It's outrageous and out of the mainstream."
Markos Moulitsas, a Californian whose brainchild is the Daily Kos political blog, said that "when the race began, Ginny Schrader had no chance" against Greenwood and his $600,000 in campaign cash. "But the second Greenwood dropped out, I knew the district and knew that it would jump to the top of our list," Moulitsas said of his Kos Dozen, which lists important Democratic candidates, money raised for them, and the number of donors.
Thus began a blogger love affair with the Schrader/Fitzpatrick race, as they studied the Eighth District's moderate leanings and strong support for abortion rights.
