Progressives find Democrat Omaha Mayoral Candidate Heath Mello Too Moderate On Abortion
In the Democrat party it is possible, we’re learning, that a party candidate even in a mayoral election, can be too restrained – too measured on the question of abortion.
The city of Omaha, Nebraska is electing a new Mayor on May 9th, and Democrats are divided on their candidate, former Nebraska state legislator Heath Mello. Mello is an ironic name for a candidate in his position, because a fair number of Democrats in the state, believe Mello is way too mellow regarding what they regard is a woman’s unfettered right to abort a fetus and an unrestricted timeline to exercise it.
Mello’s unforgivable transgressions? He audaciously voted in favor of some reasonable and moderate restrictions on abortion. The official head of the party, DNC Chairman Tom Perez requires Democrat candidates to walk in lockstep with the party dictate that “every woman should be able to make her own health choices.”
The items in Mello’s legislative record that the no-compromise element of the party are balking at and withdrawing support of him based on, are essentially these. Mello co-sponsored a bill in 2009 that would require doctors performing an abortion to inform the patient that ultrasound is available. “Oh, the horrors. Oh, the coercion. Why, a woman might just have second thoughts about her decision. How dare he?” It’s pretty unpardonable – that’s clear.
Then there was his co-sponsorship of Nebraska’s 20 week abortion ban – prohibiting in most cases, an abortion procedure after that milestone had passed. How regulating abortions after 5 months is considered too extreme, stretches credulity to the breaking point.
To add insult to injury, Mr. Mello also voted in 2010 to prohibit insurance coverage for abortions in Nebraska under the health exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act. The final nail in Mello’s coffin is that he voted in favor of a bill that required a doctor’s personal involvement in telemedicine abortions – never mind that the main premise of that bill was to add a safeguard to the health of the patient.
Equally, if more egregious is his vote on a law requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions. After all, what say does a parent really have in their child’s decision to terminate a pregnancy?
From the point of view of the hard left on this issue, politicians like Heath Mello cannot be rewarded at the ballot box for such breaches of progressive orthodoxy. Adding to suspicion about Mello, no matter how many times he tells Democrat voters that he supports choice (even though he personally opposes it), is that he is a Catholic. Guilt by association.
From the point of view of the hyper-orthodox pro-abortion element, any deviation from the commandments must be punished. Mello cannot be rewarded with an endorsement or a vote. What’s next – other candidates taking a second look at the science of embryology post Roe v. Wade? No – that can’t be allowed to happen. This must be nipped in the bud. Mello must be made a political human sacrifice.
Strangely enough, Mello still retains his endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. They evidently see in Mello, a rising star in national Democratic politics, in the same vein as Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
Maybe someone should take a second look at their (Sanders and Warren’s) ideological credentials, because for the devout ‘abortion at any time for any reason’ element, there is no room for concession – only absolutes and only strict compliance.
