Backlash Against NARAL: an Example that the DNC Should Seriously Consider

by Deb Cupples |  Earlier today, I blogged about the backlash that many Democrats predict will come if the DNC continues to insist on disenfranchising Florida's and Michigan's primary voters. Just a few hours later, I came across a good example of a backlash: the one brewing against the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) for jumping into the fray and endorsing Barack Obama on Wednesday.

It's a move that even Obama-supporting NARAL members consider ill-timed and ill-advised, especially given that Hillary Clinton has a long, strong, and impressive record of supporting NARAL's cause and women's rights generally.  Politico reports:

"It was seen as a gratuitous slap in the face to a longtime ally, and it sparked a fear even closer to home: that the move will alienate donors loyal to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. Many on this week’s conference call were stunned on learning the news, making urgent pleas for the group to remain neutral until after the June 3 Democratic primaries.

“'It’s created a firestorm,' said NARAL Pro-Choice New York President Kelli Conlin, who was on the conference call. 'Everyone was mystified ... saying, "What is the upside for the organization? And, frankly, [there was] a lot of concern about the donor base. ... There was real concern there would be a backlash."'” (Politico)

Apparently, the backlash started immediately: it was swift and hard and is likely of a continuing nature.  Here's how Politico describes the backlash that is now underway:

"At last count, there were more than 3,300 comments in an electronic chat about the endorsement, the overwhelming majority of them negative. 'Shame shame shame!' read one, with many correspondents threatening never to support NARAL financially again. 'No more donations from me!!!' wrote another."

DNC "leaders" (e.g., Howard Dean and Donna Brazile) should go read the commentary at NARAL's website -- you know, to help them grow accustomed to receiving similar comments from ordinary Dems who are upset about the disenfranchisement of Michigan, Florida and who resnet certain DNC leaders' misleading statements about those states.  Politico continues: 

"In Washington, two dozen women members of Congress who support Clinton held a quickly organized press conference to tout her abortion-rights record Wednesday night. Ellen Malcolm, founder of the abortion-rights women’s fundraising group EMILY’s List, sharply rebuked NARAL for its endorsement....

"Things moved equally fast at the grass-roots level. A day after the endorsement, Laura Taylor, political director of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, had heard from more than 100 people, including some from out of state. 'They’re frustrated; they’re angry; they don’t understand why this decision was made or why it was now,' she said....

"Taylor, Conlin and their counterparts in eight of NARAL’s 25 state affiliates — Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Texas, Oregon and Washington — posted statements on their websites rejecting the national endorsement. They explain that the state affiliates will remain neutral until the general election and that the national endorsement was made without consulting the state affiliates."

Now that's a backlash: 32% of NARAL's state-level affiliates openly rejected national NARAL's premature endorsement of Obama.

Kelli Conlin, the president of New York's chapter of NARAL, commented:

“'The supporters of Obama that I know on our board and in our membership thought it was ill-timed and ill-advised and really antithetical to people coming together in common purpose to beat John McCain....'"

"Given the 'massive healing' needed to keep Clinton’s staunchest women supporters in the fold should Obama become the nominee, Conlin said, the endorsement was like 'throwing a flaming spear into a tinderbox of raw emotion.'” (Politico)

Well put, Ms. Conlin!  It's exactly like throwing a flaming spear -- a tactic that many Obama-supporting DNC leaders and media personalities have repeatedly used without stopping to consider the serious and longer-term consequences of that tactic.

NARAL's president gave disturbing commentary on the controversy:

"'At the end of the day, the heart heals and you get on with the business of politics and what’s doing right by the country....  It’s the old Montana saying: You dust yourself off, and you get back in the saddle.'” (Politico)

In other words, National NARAL thinks that upset Hillary supporters should just get over it and move on.  Doesn't that sound familiar?   The DNC seems to be saying that to Hillary supporters nationwide, especially in Michigan and Florida.

And we all remember whose surrogates said that to Al Gore in Florida back in 2000. 

No doubt, Republican strategists are cracking open Champagne bottles, laughing their heads off, and practicing writing the words "President" and "McCain" right next to each other.

Memeorandum has commentary.