Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Billionaire Dem Donor Tom Steyer: ‘We Are Absolutely Committed’ to Abortion



Billionaire Dem Donor Tom Steyer: ‘We Are Absolutely Committed’ to Abortion
by Dr. Susan Berry 15 Aug 2017
Billionaire Democratic donor and liberal activist Tom Steyer says he will not support pro-life candidates in the upcoming 2018 elections.

“We’re pro-choice,” the hedge fund manager told Politico during the leftwing Netroots Nation conference in Atlanta, Georgia over the weekend.

“We do not work for a single candidate who is not pro-choice,” he added. “I think people like to have litmus tests. We are explicitly pro-choice. We work a lot with Planned Parenthood, we work a lot with NARAL. We are absolutely committed to it.”

Steyer was asked to weigh in on the controversy over abortion that has ripped the Democratic Party – whose 2016 platform was the most pro-abortion ever – as it struggles to become more inclusive of pro-life candidates and, ultimately, regain control of Congress.

The debate came to a head in April when Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez announced that pro-life individuals are not welcome in his party.

“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Perez said, as HuffPost reported. “That is not negotiable and should not change city by city or state by state.”

Perez’s comments came after the DNC decided to support Heath Mello in the Omaha, Nebraska, mayoral race. Mello, it was discovered, had previously voted in the state legislature consistent with his personal pro-life views.

Abortion lobbying group NARAL Pro-Choice America immediately slammed the DNC for its embrace of Mello.

“The actions today by the DNC to embrace and support a candidate for office who will strip women — one of the most critical constituencies for the party — of our basic rights and freedom is not only disappointing, it is politically stupid,” fumed NARAL’s president, Ilyse Hogue.

Perez responded to the scathing bashing with the compliant statement that he “fundamentally disagree[s] with Heath Mello’s personal beliefs about women’s reproductive health,” adding that “every candidate who runs as a Democrat should do the same.”

A number of Democrats – including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former 2016 presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders – attempted to soften Perez’s exclusionary message.

“I couldn’t disagree more with what Tom Perez said, I think it’s not correct that our party should have litmus tests about who wants to join our party,” pro-abortion rights Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO) said in response to the DNC chair’s announcement, as reported by the Atlantic. “We may disagree on various issues, and I just don’t think we should say ever anyone is not welcome in our party based on one of those issues.”

“What Mr. Perez said makes no sense to me,” objected Sen. Joe Donnelly (IN), who identifies personally as pro-life. “This is a deeply personal issue, and we should be about respecting one another.”

“I don’t know why we would want to start walking away from folks, like myself, who have a personal conviction on the pro-life issue,” Donnelly added. “We ought to be able to include everyone, as opposed to saying ‘no, we don’t want these folks, even though they fight with us on jobs, even though they fight with us for economic rights, even though they fight with us on healthcare.’ It just seems to me to be very, very short-sighted.”

In contrast to Perez, Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) – chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) – announced in July that “there is not a litmus test for Democratic candidates” on abortion rights.

“As we look at candidates across the country, you need to make sure you have candidates that fit the district, that can win in these districts across America,” Luján said, according to the Hill.

Last week, however, DCCC spokeswoman Meredith Kelly contradicted her boss with the statement, “The DCCC has no interest in working with Democrats for Life of America, despite their attempts.”

“Protecting a woman’s health care, her right to choose, and her economic security are fundamental tenets of the Democratic Party, and as long as Republicans control Congress and the White House those values are constantly at risk,” Kelly said.

The Atlantic reported, nevertheless, that Kristen Day of Democrats for Life said the “lines of communication are open” between her organization and the DCCC.

The firestorm that has erupted within the Democratic Party led Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List, to observe, “Spokeswoman Meredith Kelly’s statement that the DCCC flatly refuses to work with Democrats for Life contradicts the comments previously made by her boss, Rep. Luján.”

“It is further evidence that Democratic Party leaders are likely stringing pro-lifers along, using them for their votes without intending to back away from their extreme position on abortion,” she added.

Leftwing groups are protesting the notion that abortion is a negotiable issue by claiming the procedure is necessary for women to be able to contribute to the economy.

“Democrats will fail to retake power in 2018 if we allow ourselves to be forced into a false choice between a populist progressive agenda and reproductive justice,” said Charles Chamberlain, executive director of Democracy for America. “Abortion rights are inextricably tied to the fight against economic and racial inequity, full stop, and until all leaders of our party fully understand that we’re going to keep losing.”

Nevertheless, last week, Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA) also rejected the notion that his party needs to embrace “ideological purity,” and said the Democratic base is “shifting.”

“I’d say, look, even on the abortion issue, it wasn’t very long ago that a number of Catholic Democrats were opposed to abortion,” Brown said. “So the fact that somebody believes today what most people believed 50 years ago should not be the basis for their exclusion.”

“In America, we’re not ideological, we’re not like a Marxist party in 1910,” Brown added. “We are a big tent by the very definition.”

Ironically, Steyer, who reportedly spent some $165 million on Democrats during the 2014 and 2016 election races, praised Brown when he was asked by Politico about potential 2020 Democrat contenders.

“The best thing I can say is people do not realize how good Jerry Brown is, full-stop,” he said. “If you ask me about anyone else, it’s sort of like: Do you know who hit third for the San Francisco Giants after Willie Mays retired? How’d it go for him?”

HuffPost also reported that Harris – considered to be a potential 2020 presidential contender – said Democrats “can’t afford to have a litmus test in a way that really is a purity test.”

“My focus is going to be supporting all of my colleagues and doing everything we can to at least maintain our numbers as it relates to 2018 election,” she added.

The decision by Steyer and other Democrats to make abortion on demand its highest level priority, however, is at odds with recent data.

A Marist/Knights of Columbus poll released in January found that 83 percent of Americans oppose the use of tax dollars to support abortion in other countries, with 61 percent also opposed to funding abortions in the United States with taxpayer dollars. These results include 87 percent of Donald Trump supporters and 39 percent of Hillary Clinton supporters.

Additionally, the poll showed 55 percent of Clinton supporters and 91 percent of Trump supporters approved limiting abortion to – at most – the first trimester of pregnancy.

Knights of Columbus leader Carl Anderson said:

There is a consensus in America in favor of significant abortion restrictions, and this common ground exists across party lines, and even among significant numbers of those who are pro-choice. His poll shows that large percentages of Americans, on both sides of the aisle, are united in their opposition to the status quo as it relates to abortion on demand. This is heartening and can help start a new national conversation on abortion.

“The majority of Americans in favor of abortion restrictions has been consistently around 8 in 10 for the better part of a decade.” Barbara Carvalho, director of the Marist Poll, also observed, “Though self-identification as pro-life or pro-choice can vary substantially from year to year, the support for restrictions is quite stable.”

Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi is the minority leader for the U.S. House of Representatives, was invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, and Cecile Richards’s was her deputy chief of staff.

Note: George Soros was married in 2013 and Nancy Pelosi was invited to his 2013 wedding reception, was the chairman for the
Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, and Jonathan Soros’s father.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Aspen Institute (think tank), the Harlem Children's Zone, the Robin Hood Foundation, the Roosevelt Institute, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
Thomas F. Steyer is a director at the Center for American Progress, a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, the founder of the NextGen Climate, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, and was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
NextGen Climate is a national partner with America Votes.
NARAL Pro-Choice America is a national partner with America Votes.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.
Cecile Richards was the founder & president for America Votes, Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Cathy Hampton is a director at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and was a city attorney for Atlanta (GA).
Ted Turner is the chairman for the Turner Foundation, and the founder of CNN.
Walter Isaacson was the chairman & CEO for CNN, is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
William D. Budinger is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a trustee at the Third Way.
Claire McCaskill is an honorary co-chair for the Third Way, a U.S. Senate senator, and a trustee at the Truman Scholarship Foundation.
Madeleine K. Albright is the president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation, an advisory board member for the Truman Center for National Policy, an advisory board member for the Truman National Security Project, and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank),
Kamala D. Harris is an advisory board member for the Truman Center for National Policy, was an advisory board member for the Truman National Security Project, and an attorney general for the California state government.
Jerry Brown is the California state government governor, and Kathleen L. Brown’s brother.
Kathleen L. Brown was a California state government treasurer, is Jerry Brown’s sister, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Commercial Club of Chicago, Members Directory A-Z (Past Research)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
James S. Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the vice chairman for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Lester Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).    
Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Bloomberg Philanthropies is an umbrella organization for the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and a partner with the Risky Business Project.
Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, the founder of the Bloomberg Philanthropies, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, the founder of Bloomberg LP, was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, and Howard Wolfson was his adviser.
Howard Wolfson is the education leader for Bloomberg Philanthropies, married to Terri McCullough, was Michael R. Bloomberg’s adviser, and a partner at the Glover Park Group.
Glover Park Group is the lobby firm for Bloomberg LP, and was the lobby firm for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Terri McCullough is married to Howard Wolfson, and Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff.
Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff is Terri McCullough, is the minority leader for the U.S. House of Representatives, was invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, Cecile Richards’s was her deputy chief of staff, and a chairman for the California Democratic Party.
Gavin Newsom was invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, and is the California state government lieutenant governor.
Jerry Brown is the California state government governor, and was a chairman for the California Democratic Party.
Jonathan Soros is George Soros’s son, and is a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute.
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt is the chair for the Roosevelt Institute, and an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation.
Carl A. Anderson was an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, and is a supreme knight for the Knights of Columbus.
Mikhail Gorbachev is an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, an advisory board member for the Global Security Institute, and the founder of the Green Cross International.
David A. Hamburg is an advisory board member for the Global Security Institute, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Ted Turner is a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), an honorary board member for the Green Cross International, the founder of CNN, and the chairman for the Turner Foundation.
Green Cross International
Ted Turner is an honorary board member for the Green Cross International in the USA.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Jessica Tuchman Mathews is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), was the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).
Ed Griffin’s interview with Norman Dodd in 1982
(The investigation into the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace uncovered the plans for population control by involving the United States in war)
Ted Turner is a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), an honorary board member for the Green Cross International, the founder of CNN, and the chairman for the Turner Foundation.
Cecile Richards was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, the founder & president for America Votes, Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Cathy Hampton is a director at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and was a city attorney for Atlanta (GA).
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.
NARAL Pro-Choice America is a national partner with America Votes.
NextGen Climate is a national partner with America Votes.
Thomas F. Steyer is the founder of the NextGen Climate, a director at the Center for American Progress, a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, and was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
Alfred Sommer is a risk committee member for the Risky Business Project, a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and a director at the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation.
Martin Tolchin was a director at the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, and a co-founder for The Hill.
Sherry L. Lansing is a director at the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, and a friend of Arianna Huffington.
Arianna Huffington is a friend of Sherry L. Lansing, and a co-founder for HuffPost.
M. Kasim Reed is the Atlanta (GA) mayor, and was a partner at Holland & Knight LLP.
Holland & Knight LLP is the lobby firm for Atlanta (GA), and was the lobby firm for Global Green USA.
Global Green USA is a US affiliate for the Green Cross International.
Green Cross International
Ted Turner is an honorary board member for the Green Cross International in the USA.
Ted Turner is an honorary board member for the Green Cross International, a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the founder of CNN, and the chairman for the Turner Foundation.
Cecile Richards was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, the founder & president for America Votes, Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Cathy Hampton is a director at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and was a city attorney for Atlanta (GA).
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.
NARAL Pro-Choice America is a national partner with America Votes.
NextGen Climate is a national partner with America Votes.
Thomas F. Steyer is the founder of the NextGen Climate, a director at the Center for American Progress, a member of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, a co-chair for the Risky Business Project, and was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
Alfred Sommer is a risk committee member for the Risky Business Project, a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and a director at the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation.
Martin Tolchin was a director at the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, and a co-founder for The Hill.
Sherry L. Lansing is a director at the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, and a friend of Arianna Huffington.
Arianna Huffington is a friend of Sherry L. Lansing, and a co-founder for HuffPost.

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