A few things:
1. Sanders is not the keynote speaker, he is merely the opening speaker. Maxine Waters's speech, which is at a later point in the conference, is designated as the Keynote.
2. Hillary never actually defined at what point she felt an abortion should be classified as "late-term", she just said she was in favor of a "late term regulation with exceptions". No one knows exactly what that would look like, but considering she enthusiastically defended her past support of some partial-birth abortions during the final GE debate, it's obviously something way more limited than a 24-week ban. Jfern is correct that Sanders explicitly rejected any limitation on abortion, but at the end of the day, there's likely little difference between Sanders's view and Hillary's view in practice.
3. I'm sorry, DNC, Women's conference, and Tom Perez, but the pro-choice movement has no serious following in Nebraska, and that will always be the case. If you're looking for a democrat with a perfect pro choice record in Nebraska, I'd be very surprised if you ever found one. Even the candidate at the top of your bench, Brad Ashford, lacks a perfect pro-choice record. But I can tell you that Brad Ashford or Heath Mello will vote with you way more than Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer ever will.
4. Sanders was not the conference's first choice, they went to him after several prominent women declined, including Hillary Clinton, and he is one of just two men speaking at the conference.
1 - Just to add the people who rejected key slots are Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand. Sanders despite his busy schedule took time out of it & should be applauded for it. Kamala Harris is busy doing a fundraiser.
2 - The candidate in Nebraska was not anti-choice & never advocated for banning abortions, overturning Roe vs Wade etc. Anti-choice is too strong a word here. He was personally pro-life & had support of local Planned Parenthood. By this logic, Casey, Manchin, Tim Kaine & many others should be booted out of the Dem party.
3 - No candidate in modern history has only supported super pro-choice candidates 100% of the times. The Nebraska candidate was very progressive in economics & environmental issues & moderate in abortions. Hillary choice a staunchly anti-abortion Tim Kaine as her VP & Kaine would have become the most anti-choice Democrat in recent history. Kaine was way more anti-choice
4 - EMILY's list invited Bill Clinton as the keynote speaker & praised him. A group meant to support pro-choice women candidates invites a person like Bill Clinton with a shady history of sexual attacks.
5 - Sanders has a 100% pro-choice voting record, was to the left of Clinton on abortions, refused to take a stand against even late term-abortions which Clinton was mildly against, fought for pay equity for women. His economic agenda including Minimum Wage, Paid Maternity leave, Family Leave etc would have disproportionately benefited women & people of colour.
6 - Sanders is the most popular politician today & a key ally on many issues for women. I don't see the big deal about this when Bill Clinton headlines for EMILY's list. The hue n cry is from Neera Tanden, Joy Reid & some Clinton allies in the media.
