Durbin, Busted on National TV

If you've followed Illinois politics long enough, you know that Dick Durbin has flip flopped on abortion. He was elected to the U.S House as a conservative pro-life Democrat. Then, as he became ensconced in Washington, he did as so many other Democrats have done. He changed his position in order to make himself palatable on a statewide and national level. And like so many Democrats, his flip flop has degenerated into shrill negative attacks against those who held the positions on which Durbin was first elected.

Tim Russert today called him on it in beautiful fashion. Unfortunately, after sticking him, Russert allowed him to draw out the spear without a followup thrust.

Durbin conceded that his position had changed. Here is his rather bizarre reason which shows a shockingly immature way of decision making.

"But I was really discouraged when I came to Washington to find that the opponents of abortion were also opponents of family planning. This didn't make any sense to me. And I was also discouraged by the fact that they were absolute, no exceptions for rape and incest, the most extraordinary medical situations. And I finally came to the conclusion that we really have to try to honor the Roe vs. Wade thinking, ..."

So Durbin used to be pro-life, but he didn't like the attitude of other people who were pro-life so he changed his position? I'm not shocked at this, just shocked that he admitted it. Durbin as much as announced that he bases important public policy decisions like abortion on personalities, not on what is right or wrong.

I hope Durbin continues to get run in front of the cameras. After the 2002 election I didn't think there was a chance to ever beat him. But as he continues to drift deeper into the left wing of the Democratic party I can't help but think that the relatively moderate people of Illinois will rebel.