This really pisses me off. I can actually remember where I was sitting when I read that column and the story has stuck in my mind and every time I think of the LP I think of their 'bad' position on abortion. Somebody said something the other day about "poorly sourced Cockburn crap" or some such -- well here's an example.
My sub to CP just expired, and after the blowjob he gave Larry Pratt in the last issue I've been wondering whether I want to renew or not -- this doesn't really encourage me to.
On Thu, 12 Aug 1999, Doug Henwood wrote:
>
> Here's the offending paragraph, from AC's Nation column, July 1, 1996:
>
> <quote>
> Discontent at the constant hustle to "expedite" broke out once more
> the next day, in a debate on abortion. Mazzocchi has always made it
> clear that he regards social issues as poison to the embryo party,
> and the draft language on this issue decorously avoided any mention
> of the dreaded A-word. The California Nurses Association tried to
> clear this fog with a simple declaration that. "the Labor Party
> supports safe and legal abortion." While Mazzocchi stood on the stage
> biting his nails, delegates debated the wisdom of such outspoken
> language, fearful it might drive away potential supporters. In the
> end, the Labor Party settled for obscure language on choice, putting
> it to the right of the Democratic Party on this issue. At least there
> was a debate on the matter, though the abortion fight left a sour
> taste, with compromises made entirely to the right, all surrenders by
> the left. No such opportunity for discussion was permitted on foreign
> policy, or on public ownership of basic industries.
> </quote>
>
> True, the dreaded A-word isn't in the platform - my source tells me
> the reason was to avoid "rubbing their faces" in it, "they" being the
> Farm Labor Organizing Committe and the Bakers. But the meaning is
> clear. I don't like the euphemisms myself, but I fail to see how free
> access to publicly funded abortion is "to the right of the Democratic
> Party."
>
> Doug
>
--
Joseph Noonan jfn1 at msc.com