Gov. John Bel Edwards joined other Democratic politicians in signing a letter urging the DNC to soften its stance on abortion.
By Mary Margaret Olohan, Daily Caller
Pro-life Democratic politicians are pushing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to adopt more moderate stances on abortion heading into the presidential election.
More than 100 past and present Democratic politicians, including Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, joined in sending a letter to the DNC Platform Committee on Friday calling on Biden, his vice presidential pick Sen. Kamala Harris, and the Democratic Party to make the platform more welcoming to both pro-life Democratic voters and pro-life Independent voters.
(Other Louisiana elected officials also signed the letter, including State Sens. Katrina Jackson of Monroe, Regina Barrow of Baton Rouge, Gary Smith of Norco, Gerald Boudreaux of Lafayette, Jay Luneau of Alexandria, and Greg Tarver of Shreveport; State Reps. Dustin Miller of Opelousas, Pat Moore of Monroe, Francis Thompson of Delhi, C. Travis Johnson of Vidalia, Kenny Cox of Natchitoches, and Malinda White of Bogalusa; former Reps. Jeffrey Arnold and Bernard LeBas; Trey Mustian, chairman of the Jefferson Parish Democratic Executive Committee; Larry Paige, committee member of the State Democratic Commitee; Evelyn Ware Jackson, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member for District 5; Teresa Carroll, secretary of the Jackson DPEC; Frank Edwards III, at-large member of Tangipahoa DPEC; Howard Castay, at-large member of St. Mary DPEC; and Storny Gage-Watts, Caddo Parish District 7 Commissioner.)
“We are concerned that many Democratic leaders support policies on abortion that are radically out of line with public opinion,” the letter says, emphasizing that the Democratic Party is “alienating voters” due to radical abortion policy. The letter also notes that pro-life Democrats are “concerned about the betrayal of Democratic Party values.”
“An extreme position on abortion rights violates our commitment to inclusivity and diversity,” the letter says. “Polling consistently shows that one in three Democrats are pro-life. We must respect and include these 21 million Democrats.”
Other signers include former Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson, former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr., Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, and Hawaii State Sen. Mike Gabbard. Thirty-one of the signers are past and present local officials.
“Never before in history have so many Democratic politicians challenged their own party on abortion,” Democrats for Life of America Executive Director Kristen Day said in a statement. “The Democratic Party is at breaking point. State legislators realize that taxpayer-funded abortion on demand is a losing issue.”
“If we really care about defeating Donald Trump in November, we have to bring our position in line with mainstream America,” she added.
The letter comes days after Biden announced Harris as his running mate, a move that sparked condemnation from pro-life groups who labeled the Biden/Harris ticket the “most pro-abortion presidential ticket in American history.”
“It is no surprise Joe Biden chose such an extremist as his running mate,” Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser previously said in a statement provided to the DCNF.
“If elected, they will immediately begin rolling back President Trump’s pro-life gains, as well as longstanding policies like the Hyde Amendment,” she continued. “They will stack the Supreme Court with pro-abortion ideologues, setting the pro-life cause back for generations.”
