Marquette, Michigan (CNN) – Nine-term Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, will reveal Friday he is retiring from Congress, several Democratic sources close to Stupak tell CNN.
The anti-abortion Democrat has been facing opposition from both the right and the left for his 11th hour deal with the White House that he says bans federal funding for abortion. The deal ultimately led to his decisive vote in favor of the health care bill.
Stupak first informed Democratic leaders last week that he was considering retiring. He has received calls from President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others urging him to run again.
Democratic sources in Washington and Michigan say they fear losing Stupak, a historically popular Democrat in a sprawling conservative district, will mean likely losing his seat to the Republicans.
According to one Democratic source familiar with his plans, Stupak is expected to make the case that he is leaving because he has accomplished what he went to Washington in 1992 to do - pass health care reform.
He will also say he considered retiring several times in the past.
Responding to news of the retirement, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain said: “After selling his soul to Nancy Pelosi, it appears that Bart Stupak finally found the courage to tell her no. The political fallout over the Democrats’ government takeover of healthcare has put the political careers of many Democrats in jeopardy thanks in-part to Stupak’s decision to abandon his alleged pro-life principles. Unfortunately for Pelosi, she was unable to strong-arm Stupak one last time as she becomes increasingly aware of the fact that her hold on the Speaker’s gavel is loosening by the day.”
From CNN Politics
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Another Democrat leaving office, thats kind of shocking. Slowly, the Democratic empire that supposedly existed after the election of Obama is crumbling away, person by person. As a libertarian...this is great! PS, Hate republicans too.
Best news I've heard all day! I hope he is replaced by someone with priciples that will not weaken under Pelosi's arm twisting.
Perhaps Stupak's conscience couldnt deal with him selling his soul to the guy who voted to stop medical attention from being giving to babies who survive abortion. You all remember the guy who cant answer directly about his stance on abortion and when life begins because its above his pay grade.
Now, this is a big deal. As much as TEA and the Republican wanted him defeated, it would have been an up-hill battle. President Pelosi is looking more and more like her rule is in trouble. Thank goodnes!
Dear Bart Stupak,
You are a fraud and a coward.
This is a glorious day for America.
-Jack Peterson
mr spain
this is the sickest and most contradictory thing ive ever heard you sir are a mad man
I love what Ken Spain said. It basically shows exactly what the Republican Party thinks and how they think it: ie. the opposition is the devil and anyone who joins them sells their soul.
Makes you glad to know that this is how America works isn't it?
Bart Simpson leaving Congress? DOH!
Passing the health care bill was an idea whose time had come, one should never fight the winds of change otherwise you could risk being swept away. Whether congressman Stupak retires or not , as the latin saying goes "Alea Iacta Est " meaning the die is cast. it will in my opinion be extremely difficult if not impossible to reverse this health care bill. Let posterity be the judge as to whether this bill was the right thing to do or not.
If you're pissing off the right and the left you probably are doing something right. I wish he would have pushed for stronger anti-abortion language but I applaud him for the stand he made. He seems like a good guy.
This guy's smart enough to know that spending all that money to win his seat for another term would be a lost cause .
As long as conservatives/republicans have people like Palin and Gingrich talking for them, Democrats will have no problem. Here we have Newt Gingrich making profound statements about what Obama knows and how he only uses certain words from documents he quotes but never uses the entire document. Gee I woner if that is why they are called "quotes" instead of reading sessions. Then he makes a really intelligent statement about wanting Obama to meet the same fate as Jimmy Carter, "a one party president".. Don't look now genius, but all presidents have been one party presidents. What he meant to say, obviously, was "one-term" president, but he could not even get his slamming act together to pull it off. Yes indeed. Nothing to worry about at all as long as numbskulls like Gingrich and Palin are the mouth pieces for the repulicans.
This is great News. A sign that he and others in congress are feeling the growing anguish of the American people. Our repersentatives were put in office with the belief and hopes that they would protect the freedom that so many true Americans have fought and died for. Stupak, Pelosi and other liberals are pushing us in the direction of socialism and we have to vote them out of office.
I need some civility from the right and Senator Coburn was the last to voice it. Where are you Tom?
Thank you for your service to our Nation, Rep. Stupak! And THANK YOU for the courage to do the right thing by giving America healthcare!
The HEALTHCARE BILL WILL SAVE THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN LIVES!
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Let the house cleaning begin.
He's retiring because he knows he has zero support.
He knows everyone knows he's a sellout.
He knows he has zero chance for reelection.
He knows his name now carries the weight of absolute corruption.
What he does after 'retirement' may be very revealing. If he gets some lucrative job as a lobbyist, political consultant, Dem party post, ambassadorship, or the like, then it will confirm that there was more bribery and corruption in the congressional vote buying that occurred for ObamaCare.
If not, it will then confirm that he was just a 'useful idiot' for Pelosi and henchman.
He made his pact with the devil so now he suffers. He will retire as a disgrace. Unfortunately, he sold the rest of us down the river before his departure. Good riddance.
Something tells me Bart Stupek will make even more money in Retirements.... I'm sure he sold his vote for something, and he needs to retire to collect.
Who knows, he may be the next CEO of ACORN.
He got his payoff and is now going to enjoy it. What a sell out.
Mr. Stupak – I commend you for helping bring health care reform. Thank you for your service and the best of luck to you and yours.
Are there going to be any dimocrat incumbents left to run for reelection? obozo has led them off the cliff. Notthing like having a leader like this clown who thinks we have a least 57 states. lol
Should have done the whole country a favor and retired last year instead of leaving your name as the one who opposed give health care because of your ideaology.
That's right Ken, spin it so the story feeds your delusional GOP needs. Though, as a nurse, I disagree w/Stupak on abortion and feel government has no right to me or any woman what to do with my body, I wish him well in retirement and thank him for his efforts on Health Care.