MARQUETTE MICHIGAN- Bart Stupak has put an end to his 18 year career as a pro-life, pro-gun Democratic congressman. Stupak chose snow covered Marquette Michigan to announce his retirement at the end of his term, saying he wanted to spend more time with family, and that “my main goal (national healthcare reform) was accomplished”. He called the efforts to campaign in one of the largest districts in the country “exhausting”. In a district that covers much of the upper peninsula of Michigan and part of the lower peninsula, its more than ten hours to drive from one end to the other.
At the start of the press conference, a teary eyed Laurie Stupak, Bart’s wife, spoke for a few minutes about his years of service, and the last few months, since he voted in support of the healthcare legislation. She says there were death threats via phone call and emails. In a word, she says it was “scary”. “We have gotten a number of very ugly phone calls and faxes into the congressional offices, into the campaign office, at home. I actually had to disconnect the telephone at home and our answering machine”. She practically sobbed as she introduced her husband of 36 years to the waiting media. An hour and a half away from the presser location, in Escanaba, Michigan, hundreds of members of the Tea Party gathered to celebrate and claim credit for what they called the downfall of the congressman.
Many people believe the backlash on Stupak’s vote for the healthcare bill is the reason for his retirement, but Stupak says he’s proud of his vote. And despite those who labeled him a “baby killer”, Stupak’s priest, Father Ron Skufca, told me he thinks that’s unfair and that he fully supports him. “I think the pro life people put a spin on everything that kind of, unless it specifically says this is not going to impact the money spent, they take offense to that…I think this amendment is very pro life. Its pro life not just for cute little babies but its pro life for people like you and I who need protection from the insurance giants”
As for Stupak…he says he’s not leaving right away, he still has 8 more months left in his term. His future plans? Stupak says “Maybe I’ll just sit on my deck, look at lake Michigan and watch the boats go by”