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Pro-Life Missouri Democrat Gets Called A ‘Dinosaur’

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Grace Carr Reporter
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A longtime Missouri Democrat and state legislator alleged that her Democratic peers express disgust at her pro-life views, illuminating a growing party schism over abortion.

Missouri legislator Joan Barry has served the Democratic Party for 53 years, and propelled the Democratic State Committee to recognize pro-life Democrats and their “diversity of views” on abortion before retracting the newly adopted party platform in August.

Following Barry’s proposal for a more conservative view on abortion, she allegedly received emails and other messages calling her names like “dinosaur.”

“Mom, your life is in danger,” her daughter told her, adding that “you’d better get some mace,” The New York Times reported Tuesday.

When Barry spoke to a woman about her views during her 2008 state Senate run, “[the woman] looked at me like I had the plague,” Barry said. “She had this horrible look on her face of just disgust and she walked away from me.”

Barry cited former Democratic President Bill Clinton, who in 1996 called for abortion to be “safe, legal and rare,” noting that Democrats have abandoned that stance for a much more expansive one she fears is too far left. (RELATED: Pro-Life Democrats Will Not Be Denied Party Campaign Funding)

“I love the Democratic Party and I love what it stands for, but it’s like they were saying you are not part of us,” Barry said, according to TheNYT. “It was the final nail in the coffin.”

With midterms expected to be close, Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill must win votes from moderate Republicans in order to keep her seat.

(Sen. Claire McCaskill, May 2018. REUTERS/Erin Schaff)

Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court has also heightened calls for compromise while sparking battles over abortion, according to TheNYT.

“Right now it’s really important to stand for something,” ad agency Stealth Creative associate director Carolyn McMahon told TheNYT. “Being ambiguous is not the way to win votes.” (RELATED: American Bar Association Quietly Closes Kavanaugh Assessment: Report)

Retired Missouri Judge Christopher Kelly says ousting pro-life and conservative Democrats is a mistake.

“When you become contemptuous of conservative Democrats, you promote the election of their opponents,” he said, according to TheNYT.

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