In a message dated 11/3/05 11:40:01 AM, lbo-talk-request at lbo-talk.org
writes:
>It's not that I'd back away from the abortion issue in politics, but even
>strong liberal activists unfettered by that corporate money still downplay
>the clear rightwing economics
-Hmm, so basically feminism is just a boat anchor. Cut it loose and suddenly -working class consciousness and unity will appear on the horizon.
Jenny, reread the sentence above and rewrite your post.
I never said cut abortion loose. I said emphasize other economic issues that are mentioned less.
The hard reality is that the rightwing isn't stupid enough to call for repeal of Roe-- they slice and dice on positions that are far more popular, such as going after "partial birth abortion" and parental notification.
I've worked on minimum wage campaigns in places like Florida where it won in a cake walk. Progressives will hopefully defeat parental notification in California, but even in that very pro-choice state, it's going to be close.
But here's the thing-- if every politician who opposed the minimum wage was kicked out of Congress, you would also end up with an incredibly pro-choice Congress as well. So why isn't it pretty good politics to target both judges and politicians on an issue where they are unpopular with their own constituents, such as minimum wage.
That's not an argument for ignoring abortion in public discourse, but it is an argument for taking out politicians where they are more vulnerable, and a lot of these conservatives are solidly in culturally conservative districts but would be vulnerable on issues like the minimum wage.
Nathan