CA-50: Support Francine Busby & protect Women's Reproductive Rights

The right of a woman to have control over what happens to her body is something that many here hold close to our hearts and is a right that we will vigorously defend. In just four days a special election will be held in California that can play a big role in preserving a woman's right to choose. Democratic candidate Francine Busby is running against a slew of GOP wingnuts for the right to represent the people of CA-50. The prospects are good for Busby winning in this formerly GOP represented district and her victory would go a long way in the struggle to protect women's reproductive rights. Recent polls show Busby with strong numbers and her fundraising is tops among all candidates with over 8,000 contributions from individuals providing strong evidence of wide grassroots support.

Francine is a former adjunct Women's Studies Professor at CSU-San Marcos who was the founding President of the Casa Theresa Central Guild to provide assistance to pregnant women.

On her issues page, Busby clearly states where she stands on the issue of women's rights:
Supporting Women's Rights

- Support a Woman's Right to Choose
- Founded Casa Theresa Central Guild to Provide Housing
  and Counseling to Single Pregnant Women Who Keep Their
  Child
- Support Education Programs to Keep Teens From Getting
  Pregnant
- Stop Workplace Discrimination and Violence Against Women

Francine Busby has always been a strong defender of women's rights. She believes strongly in allowing women to make their own choices while continuing to work to reduce the number of abortions. That's why Francine founded the Casa Teresa Central Guild, which provides housing and counseling to single pregnant women who chose to keep their child. Francine is also a supporter of comprehensive education programs to keep teenagers from getting pregnant. She supports eliminating discrimination in the workforce and reducing violence against women.

Based upon the viability of her campaign and her pro-choice position, Busby received an endorsement from Emily's List which is the nation's largest grassroots political network. Here's some of what Emily's List has to say the race in CA-50:

While Democrats quickly coalesced behind Busby, Cunningham's resignation opened the floodgates for ambitious Republicans who are eager to keep hold of this GOP-leaning seat. But this is no ordinary year: Republicans are knee-deep in scandal and, with news of Cunningham's criminal greed and self-indulgence dominating local headlines for weeks, voters here are in the mood for change.

They won't find that change in the GOP field, which has fluctuated to include anywhere from eight to 11 candidates. Among the hopefuls are a millionaire who has already spent $300,000 on television advertising; a state senator who has been lauded by the Pro-Life PAC of Orange County; and a former assemblyman, also anti-choice, a leader in the effort to recall Gov. Gray Davis who was recently called "the Energizer Bunny of conservative activism" by a local columnist.

Busby's most serious challenger, however, is former U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray, who lost his seat in 2000 to Rep. Susan Davis, an EMILY's List candidate. Hardly a fresh face, Bilbray held one office or another without interruption from 1976 until 2000. Part of the Gingrich revolution of 1994, he faithfully stuck to the GOP party line -- voting to post the Ten Commandments in public places, to relax environmental standards, and to prohibit the EPA from enforcing clean air, clean water, and food safety laws. Bilbray voted to outlaw certain abortion procedures and make it a felony to transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion.

So you can see that there is a lot at stake in this special election. We can elect a fine pro-choice Democratic candidate in Francine Busby, or we will have to deal with another GOP wingnut who will continue the Republican drumbeat to end a woman's right to choose what happens to her body.

Let's help Francine win this seat which was formerly held by corrupt Republican Randy "Duke" Cunningham. You can contribute to the Busby campaign and help counter the huge amounts of money the NRCC had just dumped into the race. For those who would like to contribute through ActBlue, here is the link to the Netroots Endorsed Candidates page. If you live near the district, I'm sure that Francine could use some campaign volunteers.