Bart Stupak to Quit Congress

The first of many to pay the price for betraying principles and the voters in health care debate!

Rep. Bart Stupak to retire, putting seat in play
By MIKE ALLEN & JOSH KRAUSHAAR
Politico
April 9, 2010

...President Barack Obama called Stupak on Wednesday and asked him not to retire. Stupak, 58, also resisted entreaties from Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the dean of the Wolverine State delegation.

Republicans immediately attributed Stupak's decision to step down as a direct consequence of his health care vote.

“After selling his soul to Nancy Pelosi, it appears that Bart Stupak finally found the courage to tell her no," said National Republican Congressional Committee communications director Ken Spain. "The political fallout over the Democrats’ government takeover of healthcare has put the political careers of many Democrats in jeopardy thanks in-part to Stupak’s decision to abandon his alleged pro-life principles."

Republicans believe that other pro-life Democrats, like freshman Reps. Steve Driehaus (D-Ohio) and Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.), will also face serious trouble because of their support for the health care legislation without strict anti-abortion provisions.

The way this guy jerked everyone around during the health care debate is unforgiveable. In the end, he sold out his principles for a party which has no principles. I would have rather he stayed in the race and been soundly defeated, but like his vote on health care, he took the coward's way out.

Goodbye traitor to principle. You won't be missed!

One down, 40 more to go to dump Pelosi from the Speaker's Chair!