Jan 10, 2005
Massachusetts Chairman Opposes Anti-Abortion Rights DNC Chairman
The Associated Press


WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party said Monday that it would be "extremely foolish" for Democrats to chose someone who opposes abortion rights to lead the party.

Phil Johnston, who heads the Democrats in losing presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry's home state, spoke out amid news of former Rep. Tim Roemer's decision to seek the national party's chairmanship.

"The fact that we lost the 2004 presidential race by a narrow margin should not result in the abandonment of our party's core principles," Johnston said.

Democrats, he said, can only regain the White House by choosing someone who can articulate the values of the party and strengthen its grass-roots organization.

"It would be extremely foolish if the DNC were to be led by a chair who agrees with the Bush administration's position on abortion," Johnston said.

Roemer, a Catholic from Indiana who opposes abortion, said he respects the position of Democrats who favor abortion rights and have written it into their party platform.

Others who have expressed interest in the chairmanship include former Texas Rep. Martin Frost, Democratic activists Simon Rosenberg and Donnie Fowler, former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and former Ohio Democratic Party chairman David Leland. Howard Dean, a former Democratic presidential candidate, is considering whether to join the race.

Some Democrats have approached current chairman Terry McAuliffe about remaining in the job.

Democrats will vote on the choice in early February.

AP-ES-01-10-05 1605EST

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBLIQB5T3E.html

# Go Back To The Story

Good! I was WONDERING when REAL Democrats would speak up against this shill.
He is a dangerous man.

We don't need a stealth Dominionist DNC chair to be a shill for Fearless Leader.

The guy is worse than smegal! He is atrue Demo-con or demopublican

Roemers has support from somewhere in the party. Anyone know anything? Thanks.

Those in the Democratic Party that support Roemer need to be educated soon and if they still suport him, need to be looked at themselves. We are not talking about someone who is leaning slightly to the right here, we are looking at someone with a hidden Dominionist agenda.