Missouri Democrats toss out pro-life Democrats

Thanks to Jessica for sending me this. UPDATE: See the two minute video at the end.

The Missouri Democratic Party made it clear pro-life Democrats are not welcome Saturday when it voted to remove platform language encouraging a “diversity of views on abortion.”

The Riverfront Times reports the state party approved the language in July, prompted by calls to be more welcoming to voters who think unborn babies deserve a right to life.

“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,” the amendment read. “We recognize the diversity of views as a source of strength, and welcome into our ranks all Missourians who may hold differing positions on this issue.”

However, the radical pro-abortion groups NARAL and Planned Parenthood quickly expressed outrage at the move. And on Saturday, the state party reversed course and voted to remove the amendment, according to the local news.

In a statement after the vote, Missouri Democrat chairman Stephen Webber implied strongly that pro-lifers are not welcome in the party anymore. He said Democrats should display an unwavering commitment to abortion on demand (“reproductive healthcare”).

“Democrats will continue to fight defend the full spectrum of women’s reproductive rights ensured in Roe v. Wade, including the right to safely end a pregnancy, to safely carry a pregnancy to term, and the right to raise your family in a safe and healthy environment,” Webber said.

Here’s more from the report:

The July amendment, which was pushed by former state Representative Joan Barry (D-St. Louis County), had been a last-minute amendment to the work of the party’s platform committee. It was emailed to members one day before a scheduled vote on a new platform — and the vote ended up taking place on a day that many party activists had already committed to being at immigration protests. After its narrow 31-25 approval, anger ran high.

And perhaps that’s one reason the vote to strip the amendment’s language just one month later wasn’t even close. Even Barry voted in its favor. (An unofficial tally live-tweeted by Planned Parenthood staffer Sarah Felts listed sixty-one in favor, two abstentions, and none opposed.)

Here's the video