Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) may have ended his political career today by deciding to cast his vote in favor of government-run health care with abortion funding. His district, Michigan’s 1st, is a Republican-leaning district almost 94% white and middle class. Also, he has been elected in the past in large part promising to protect the sanctity of life.

In addition to the inevitable general election challenge (which we’ll get to in a minute), Democrats intend to primary Stupak. Connie Saltonstall is a pro-abortion, pro-government  health care liberal — like Stupak! — who announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination on March 10th.

Why would Democrats want Stupak out of the picture? While he may have buckled to the pro-abortion lobby in the end, he caused headaches for the far-left along the way. They’re not going to forget the trouble just because he eventually sold out his professed convictions.

Now, as for the general election, Stupak already has a Republican challenger. His name is Dr. Dan Benishek and he’s the son of a miner.

I graduated from West Iron County High School in 1970. I earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan in 1974 and graduated from Wayne State Medical School in 1978. I have served as a general surgeon in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula since 1983. My wife Judy and I live in Crystal Falls. We share five children and two grandchildren. I am an avid hunter and fisherman and an NRA member.

I have never held political office but I feel compelled to seek a position at this time because of disturbing developments in our nation’s capitol. I have watched with horror and disbelief as congress has voted to spend trillions of dollars on legislation that no one even read.

Benishek supports the free market and believes job creation lies with the small business community. He opposes government bailouts and entitlement expansions, and he believes we need to get our nation deficit and debt under control. In accordance with those beliefs, he believes in tax relief.

Benishek believes in a strong national defense, secure borders, energy independence, and the sanctity of life. He also interprets the Second Amendment as an individual right to keep and bear arms, so he’s a supporter of the Constitution that actually exists rather than the one imagined up by liberals.

I’ll let you know when his site is fully up and running. In the meantime, you can drop a note of support over at Facebook.