Langevin’s fundraiser marked by abortion-rights protesters
The incumbent Democrat, who is weighing a run for Senate, opposes abortion, which he predicted would not be a main issue in such a campaign.
01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, March 1, 2005
BY EDWARD FITZPATRICK
Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE — As abortion-rights advocates picketed outside, U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin last night raised about $250,000, saying he’s close to deciding whether he’ll wage a big-bucks battle for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Lincoln D. Chafee.
About 250 supporters filed into the Rhode Island Convention Center for the fundraiser, praising the Warwick Democrat for his work in Congress and as Rhode Island’s secretary of state.
Outside the entrance, about 40 members of the Rhode Island National Organization for Women and other groups picketed, decrying Langevin’s opposition to abortion rights and noting that Chafee and Democratic candidate Matt Brown support abortion rights.
“It’s important we have senators who are pro-choice and support women’s reproductive rights,” said protester Miriam Inocencio, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island. “Many people think he is pro-choice because he supports stem-cell research, but he’s not.”
Protesters said the majority of Rhode Islanders support abortion rights, and they said Langevin might not do so well in the polls if people knew his views. “Langevin seems to be a stealth candidate because his anti-choice views are put away until after the election,” said protester Tom Ahern, of Foster.
In an interview during the fundraiser, Langevin said his views on abortion were thoroughly debated in the 2000 election for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District. During that year’s Democratic primary, Kate Coyne-McCoy devoted much of her campaign to attacking Langevin’s opposition to abortion rights.
“Abortion is an emotional issue, and I have respect for people’s views on both sides of this issue,” Langevin said. He emphasized the need to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions, saying, “I strongly support use of contraception and sex education and responsible family planning.”
Langevin, 40, the only quadriplegic in Congress, said his views on abortion were shaped by his experience in life; he has been paralyzed from the neck down since 1980, when he was a 16-year-old cadet with the Warwick police. A policeman’s .45-caliber gun discharged in the police locker room, striking Langevin near his Adam’s apple.
“I am lucky to be alive,” Langevin said. “I was given a second chance at life, and I wouldn’t want to deprive anyone of the experience of life despite the difficulties I face day in and day out.”
Langevin predicted the main issues in a Senate race would be the cost of medical care, the cost of prescription drugs and jobs — not abortion.
The fundraiser came on the same day that The New York Times ran an article about how wealthy Hollywood donors are raising money to defeat Langevin, should he run.
Victoria Hopper, wife of actor Dennis Hopper, enlisted 16 Hollywood actors, producers and philanthropists to sign a letter objecting to his potential candidacy. The letter writers say they support Brown, Rhode Island’s current secretary of state.
Last night, Langevin said, “I find it hard to believe people in Hollywood can relate to the struggles of working families in Rhode Island, and I’m more concerned about having the support of the people of Rhode Island than the people of Hollywood.”
Langevin said he plans to decide on whether to run for the Senate by April 1, and in speaking to the crowd in the Rotunda Room last night, Langevin said, “As you may have heard, I have a tough decision to make in the next 30 days.”
But Langevin certainly sounded like a candidate at times. He said Rhode Island was fortunate to be represented by Democratic Sen. Jack Reed. “But Rhode Island deserves two U.S. senators who are fighting for Rhode Island’s working families, who are going to be there on every vote for working families,” he said.
Langevin also took aim at Republicans, saying that if the GOP remains in power in Congress, there will be no progress on issues such as stem-cell research, expanding “access to affordable health care,” and “full funding of public education.” He said, “Rhode Island is at a crossroads — either catering to the wealthiest 1 percent or working to give everyone in America an opportunity to succeed.”
Langevin’s fundraiser came 10 days after the number-two man in the Senate’s Republican leadership, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, came to Providence to say that Chafee’s reelection is crucial to keeping the GOP in power. A pair of Chafee fundraisers that night raised about $50,000.
Tickets to the Langevin fundraiser ranged from $250 to $2,500. Democrats in attendance included Reed, U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, General Treasurer Paul J. Tavares, House Speaker William J. Murphy, Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and former Lt. Gov. Richard Licht.
The plans of other Democratic politicians could hinge on whether Langevin runs for House or Senate. Langevin last night noted that Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty and former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse were in attendance, saying, “Both of them will be running for higher office, and we’re anxious to hear what both of them will be doing.”