Jim Clyburn says Dems shouldn’t shun Henry Cuellar over abortion opposition

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SAN ANTONIO — The No. 3 Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives billed into a raging countrywide firestorm more than abortion legal rights Wednesday as he visited Texas to campaign with U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a rare Democrat who opposes the apply, in his hotly contested principal runoff.

Residence Bulk Whip Jim Clyburn’s trip was announced about a week in the past, but it fell two days after Politico released a leaked draft impression from the U.S. Supreme Court docket that favors overturning Roe v. Wade. The timing of the information forged an unpleasant spotlight on Cuellar — and the senior Democrats who guidance him — as he was the only Home Democrat very last yr to vote in opposition to a proposal to codify Roe v. Wade.

As Clyburn traveled to Texas on Wednesday morning, Cuellar’s progressive challenger, Jessica Cisneros, issued a statement calling on Democratic Dwelling management to rescind its aid for Cuellar in mild of the Roe v. Wade bombshell. But Clyburn was unswayed as he attended a collection of functions across the town with the Laredo congressman, stressing that he does not normally agree with Cuellar but thinks divergent views are healthful for democracy. In carrying out so, Clyburn despatched a message that the Democratic Occasion should not shun abortion opponents.

“We have a large-tent get together, and if we’re gonna be a major-tent occasion, we acquired to be a large-tent occasion,” Clyburn told reporters after an night rally at an outside barbecue joint. “I do not consider we should to have a litmus examination in the Democratic Get together. I consider we have to carry as lots of people today into the bash as we potentially can.”

“This total notion that you’ve received to agree with every person on everything is very sophomoric to me,” Clyburn extra.

Addressing a group of about 80 people from the stage of his marketing campaign rally, Clyburn hailed Cuellar for his function as a main deputy whip, declaring alongside one another they have been “very efficient in obtaining Joe Biden’s [agenda] across the finish line.” He joked that he does not usually agree with Cuellar just like he did not normally agree with his late spouse of 58 many years. But he claimed people today do not “grow” if they communicate only with these they concur with.

“We have to sit down with men and women with whom we do not concur and consider to discover widespread floor so that you do what is important to go on moving this place forward,” Clyburn explained.

Cuellar did not shy away from his get together-splitting methods when addressing supporters.

“I’m a Democrat — but I comply with the phrases of [Lyndon B. Johnson], who mentioned lots of many years in the past, ‘I’m an American, I’m a Texan and then I’m a Democrat — in that get,’” Cuellar said. “If you set the bash 1st prior to your place, you are undertaking a disservice. I believe what we want to do … is make sure that we put our place, our district, to start with, and which is what I do.”

Cuellar and Cisneros are facing off once again after she very first ran from him in 2020 and lost by 4 percentage points in a head-to-head major. This time, she compelled him to a runoff just after a key that was upended in January when the FBI raided Cuellar’s property in Laredo. The FBI has not claimed what it was investigating, and Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing.

The runoff was fairly small-crucial until eventually information broke Monday about the Supreme Court’s intentions, which established off Democratic leaders vowing to combat back in Congress. But Cisneros and other progressives suggested people ended up hollow text if leaders continued to stand by Cuellar.

Cuellar has the assistance of not only Clyburn but also House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the No. 2 Home Democrat, The vast majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Their names and others ended up highlighted prominently on marketing campaign literature that was handed out at the rally.

“​​With the Dwelling the vast majority on the line, [Cuellar] could extremely considerably be the choosing vote on the long term of our reproductive rights and we can not find the money for to consider that hazard,” Cisneros stated in her statement. “I hope Democratic Social gathering leadership won’t stand in the way of delivering for South Texans.”

Questioned about the significant court’s leaked belief immediately after the rally, Cuellar reiterated a statement he issued Tuesday evening. He criticized the draft opinion, indicating it is “not centered on precedent” and “not incremental in nature like they must be.” But he instructed reporters he is a Catholic and “you know my posture,” incorporating that quite a few persons in his district believe that in “at minimum some sort of limitation on exception.”

Soon after the rally, attendees claimed they supported Cuellar, generally offering effusive praise and recalling a lengthy partnership with him, but produced clear they disagreed with him on abortion.

JoAnn Ramon, a 78-12 months-previous occasion activist who stated she has recognized Cuellar considering the fact that he served in the point out Dwelling, flatly claimed she would disagree with the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

“I have in no way had an abortion, would hardly ever have an abortion, none of my young children have had a single — thank God none of my grandchildren — but I really don’t tell men and women what to do with their bodies,” she mentioned. “So no, I’m not pro-abortion — I’m professional-alternative and Henry is not, and which is Okay. I’m a Catholic, also. Henry and I can agree to disagree. That is the attractiveness of Henry Cuellar.”

Condition Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins of San Antonio, a Cuellar endorser who spoke at the rally, also stated her views on abortion did not align with Cuellar’s. But she stated she recognized that belief was grounded in his Catholic faith.

“I’m pro-choice all the way, Ok? But that is a single difficulty,” she reported.” That a person issue really don’t independent me from supporting anyone in my social gathering mainly because we can agree to disagree, and I hope we as Texans and we as People in america definitely start out wanting at it that way. A single difficulty doesn’t quit us from having a relationship.”

The rally was component of numerous situations that Clyburn did with Cuellar on Wednesday in San Antonio. Previously in the working day, they attended a personal collecting with faith leaders on San Antonio’s East Aspect and soon after the rally, Clyburn was established to headline a fundraiser for Cuellar.

Irrespective of who wins the runoff, Republicans believe that they have a likelihood to flip the district as they force to make new inroads in South Texas. They are at present in a principal runoff for the seat, while the nationwide GOP has coalesced powering Cassy Garcia, a previous staffer for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

In defending his campaigning for Cuellar, Clyburn nodded at the possible for a competitive standard election.

“I would talk to anybody: Which is additional crucial — to have a professional-existence Democrat or to have an anti-abortion Republican?” Clyburn claimed. “Because come November, that could incredibly properly be the option in this district.”

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