jenny erikson
Jenny EriksonFlorida is the latest in a line of states (including South Dakota) that has recently passed bills that would allow pregnant women considering an abortion to make an informed decision. The Florida bills, passed last week by a large majority in the State House of Representatives, include measures that would require mothers to undergo an ultrasound before an abortion, and also outlaw the termination of viable babies in the third trimester.

One freshman representative, Daphne Campbell, was chewed out as a traitor and had her job threatened by follow house member Scott Randolph over her support of the bill. Both politicians are Democrats.

“I was the victim of an altercation by my fellow state representative, Scott Randolph,” said Campbell on Monday. “Several items were thrown in my face, foul language was used against me, and I was insulted and ridiculed in front of all my colleagues. I was called a ‘traitor’ and was told that I was going to be kicked out of office next year.”

Apparently a person can’t be both a Democrat and a supporter of informed choice or fetal rights in the Sunshine State. Since when did people have to believe in everything on a party platform in order to belong to it? There are only two major parties in our political system; it’s a rare person that will support every single position upheld on their side of the aisle.

It’s probably also the same person that lacks conviction and the ability to think for themselves. 

It is unfair to ask a woman to set aside her ideology simply because her label of ‘black female democrat’ dictates that she should believe a certain way. There was a time in our country when women and people of color were expected to act/think/feel/live a certain way because they were non-male or non-white. 

Scott Randolph and his defenders should think long and hard about forcing someone to behave like a black woman, or Democratic politician, because that’s what’s expected out of her. A woman is not a traitor to her gender, ethnicity, or political affiliation simply because she goes against the flow at times.

She’s a unique and individual person, and her positions are worthy of respect. If the Tea Party can support Scott Brown, liberals should be able to support Daphne Campbell.