Bart Stupak to Retire

Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, the congressman who led anti-abortion rights Democrats in the House during health care negotiations, will retire this year, CBS News has learned. He is expected to announce his plans later today.

Had Stupak sought re-election, he would have faced challengers from both the left and the right backed by interest groups angered by Stupak's health care vote.

Stupak negotiated with Democratic leaders down to the eleventh hour for stricter abortion language in the health care bill, but he ultimately voted for it after President Obama agreed to sign an executive order assuring the new laws will keep taxpayer dollars from funding abortions.

That prompted the conservative Tea Party Express to launch a $250,000 ad campaign against Stupak this week. The group also scheduled a handful of stops on its bus tour in Stupak's district.

On the left, the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America has been working to defeat Stupak and instead elect his Democratic primary challenger Connie Saltonstall.

Like many other congressmen, Stupak received violent threats from citizens after his health care vote. However, the Michigan Democrat came under particularly intense scrutiny because of his role in the abortion debate.

Stupak Faces Heat from All Sides; Could He Decide Not to Run for Re-Election?
Bart Stupak Received Threatening Messages for Health Care Vote (Listen)
"Baby Killer" Mystery: Who Shouted At Stupak?
Stupak's Life a "Living Hell" because of Abortion Position

[vageorge]

If this stupac (not capitalized out of a lack of respect) guy or should we say stupid believes the health bill is so good why is it he will not renounce his congressional health insurance and him and his family rely on the bill for their health care. In fact it should be a law that any law placed on the American public should apply to the lawmakers

[jxknowles]

He's a good lawmaker. He has morals and scruples. We've chased a good man out of Congress.

[jgg000101]

seriously, if he has morals and scruples you'd think he'd stick around and defend them if he truly believed he did the right thing. He's either trying to avoid the embarassment of having made a bad decision, or what he agreed to will not be fulfilled and it is because of his morals and scruples he feels he cannot stick around. Nobody "chased him out of congress". This is purely his decision.

[tsigili]

That was the choice....retire, or have the voters retire you. He chose to take the graceful exit.

[superdem1]

Well, he ran with the "Pro-Life" loony mob, did everything they wanted for years, and they turned on him. Real Democrats know you cannot disregard a woman's rights and call yourself a Democrat. There is already a party devoted to the imaginary rights of "people" who don't exist, while disparaging the integrity of actual people in need. Democrats are better off without obstructionists like Stupak, and his anti-woman nonsense.

[harleyone8]

Why would not condoning the murder of innocents be considered "loony"? Hmm another typical tolerant lib. And as regards "a woma's rights", what about a woman's right to be pro-active choose her sexual partners more thoughtfully, with a healthy consideration of what may happen from this encounter? What about some personal responsibility to prevent that so called unwanted pregnancy? If you don't want to be a Mother why doesn't a woman exercise her freedom by actively PREVENTING pregnancy. Oh thats right libs cant' maintain their welfare society if people actually start to think for themselves.

[ChloeJessie]

I am very saddened that Stupak felt he had to resign, after so couragesly doing what was right and supporting health care reform!
I wish he would stand strong and run for reelection. I am trying to
have faith that the American voting public as a whole will not go
with the lies and distortions now circulating our nation by the
far-right wingnuts, including Palin, Beck , Limbaugh, ad nauseum!
Judy Lynch, Sarasota, FL

[harleyone8]

Far RIGHT wing nuts.......oh honey have you actually paid any attention to the ones on the left? Think for yourself, research the lefts talking points and compare them with the reality you should be able to see around you.

[kyleminli]

Big surprise? Not really. He voted against the People's will when he traded his integrity for a shallow "gain"--a promise of an executive order. Now the country is stuck with legislation they don't want, and he can ride off into the sunset, leaving all the damage behind. Good riddance to your political career, Bart! Others in your party will be joining you this November. It's a fine line between a hero and a zero. Had you stood your ground, most Americans would have seen you as a hero. But you gave in and now you're widely known as a political zero. That's why you're retiring. You know you could never win from voters who hold you responsible.

[jgg000101]

so if stupak believed in his decision and the healthcare bill why isn't he sticking around to defend them and convince the naysayers?

[stormerF2]

No one should be allowed to retire on the Tax Payers dime unless they have served at least 20 years and 6 months. Why should we have to pay for some one to retire after 11-19 years in the Senate or Congress? Time to make they face the reality of what the American Tax Payers faces daily.

[justsane-2009]

now we can get a real democrat in his seat.

[stormerF2]

Or at least someone who will not sell their vote.

[justsane-2009]

"Because the democrat's can't even tell us whether Obama is a citizen of Kenya or Indonesia." of course they can't, because he is a citizen of neither; he was born in hawaii, an american state. he is an american. sorry that doesn't fit into your delusional thinking.

[farmertommy]

America does not need religious whack jobs in the government,

he should join the Tea Party, that great ship of fools.