Connie Saltonstall released a statement yesterday in light of passage of health care reform by the House.
"First, let me say ‘thank-you’ to Congressman Stupak for his vote on this historic reform bill...
Fair enough! But the bottom line is that she is not giving up her primary battle against Bart Stupak, and I say in total agreement "Give him hell, Connie!"
Even more importantly, in her statement Saltsonstall endorsed single-payer and says that she will fight for it if elected.
This is not a perfect bill. I believe universal healthcare is a right, not a privilege or a luxury. When I get to Congress, I will continue to fight for a single payer system which I believe is the most efficient and cost effective way to deliver healthcare to all. Quality healthcare also allows women the opportunity to make responsible life decisions for themselves and their families."
Saltonstall has already raised more than $72,000 on Act Blue, and has gotten endorsements from a number of progressive organizations. She seems positioned to give Stupak a serious challenge.
It would be way cool and psychologically impressive to get that Act Blue contributions number up beyond $100,000.
It's true that Bart Stupak finally negotiated a truce. It's true that he gave a fiery speech on the House floor attacking the motion to recommit, which basically attempted to reinstall the 'Stupak language' into the bill.
But as Saltonstall notes,
The healthcare debate should never have been sidetracked into an abortion debate.
Truth to tell, Bart Stupak caused me a couple of sleepless nights, worrying that he would die on his sword rather than see this health care legislation signed into law. (I really thought it was going to fail.) And of course he undoubtedly caused Nancy Pelosi and President Obama an awful lot more pain and agony than my petty worries and anxieties. Not to mention holding the entire nation hostage to demands he knew could not be met for his 15 minutes of fame. Enough is enough.
I don't want to have to ever have to think about Bart Stupak again! And I urge you to help make it so by supporting Saltonstall.
While Congressman Stupak is primarily on my mind today, I'll mention a couple of other primary challengers to members of Congress who decided, for their own bizarre reasons, to put roadblocks on the way to this historic day.
Yes, Blanche Lincoln, I'm talking about you and your challenger Bill Halter, but I suspect nothing more needs to be said on this site in that regard.
And less famously, but even more notoriously, Stephen Lynch (D-MA) who just makes my blood boil for coming out of nowhere in the last days leading up to the vote, even rejecting a plea by Vicki Kennedy to vote for the legislation. A Democrat from Massachusetts voting against this bill! Well, he almost officially has a primary challenger,Harmony Wu, and if she runs I'm going to support her along with Saltonstall.