Stupak is retiring, received death threats from health care reform opponents

Bart Stupak, who has been in that national spotlight over the health care/abortion debate, isn't running for reelection:

Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak will not seek reelection this fall, a decision that comes hard on his front-and-center (and controversial) role in the recent passage of President Barack Obama's health-care legislation.

Stupak confirmed his decision to the Associated Press and is expected to formalize it as a press conference at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time in Marquette, Mich.

Sources familiar with Stupak's thinking describe him as burned out from the long fight over health care in which he emerged as the leading voice of pro-life Democrats wary about the possibility that the legislation would allow federal funds to be spent on abortions.

According to today's Washington Post, health care opponents threatened to kill Stupak:

Rep. Bart Stupak (Mich.), the leader of a bloc of antiabortion Democrats who eventually cut a deal with the Obama administration and voted for the bill, received a fax with a drawing of a noose and an anonymous voice mail saying: "You're dead. We know where you live. We'll get you."

Related to his retirement news?

Remember, Stupak recently referred to the threats from health care reform opponents and Teabaggers as "domestic terrorism."

SANCHEZ: Is it -- is it terrorism?

STUPAK: I guess you might as well call it domestic terrorism, sure. Sure.