Pennsylvania Senate Race Tests Democrats' New Abortion Tack

[Omaha Steve]

Big Race
Pennsylvania Senate Race Tests Democrats' New Abortion Tack

By ROBIN TONER
Published: April 23, 2006


LANCASTER, Pa., April 20 — As the Democratic Party tries to inch its way toward a new, less polarized politics of abortion, seeking some common ground between supporters and opponents of abortion rights, there is no better case study than the Pennsylvania Senate race.

Many supporters of abortion rights — sometimes grudgingly, sometimes led more by their minds than by their hearts — are lining up behind Bob Casey Jr., a Democratic contender for the Senate who opposes abortion rights. The invitation to a recent Casey event in Philadelphia, raising money for his campaign to unseat Senator Rick Santorum, a Republican, perhaps captured the mood. "Pragmatic Progressive Women for Casey," it declared.

The nine Democratic women in the Senate, including some of the strongest advocates of abortion rights, recently signed a letter of support that struck a similar note, describing Mr. Casey's election as "critical to our efforts of regaining the majority in the U.S. Senate."

Mr. Casey himself is emphasizing that while there is "tremendous disagreement" on abortion, there is also a broad consensus of which he is a part: to reduce the number of abortions by reducing the number of unintended pregnancies, through greater access to contraception and family planning.


Full story: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/washington/23abort.html?ex=1146369600&en=c4a923bd275c4d49&ei=5043&partner=EXCITE

[Larkspur]

1. While he helps reduce abortions by promoting better birth control

will he vote to keep abortion legal if a vote comes up about it? How does he feel about South Dakota's ban on most abortions?

[electropop]

2. We don't need to strip women's rights in order to reduce abortions,

we need to enhance women's rights by making honest sex education and a wide variety of contraception universally available.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. I am a Pennyslvanian by birth (Californian by choice)

IF I STILL LIVED IN THE KEYSTONE STATE I WOULD VOTE FOR BOB CASEY.

I DO NOT AGREE WITH HIS STAND ON ABORTION --

BUT I DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY OF RICK SANTORUM'S STANDS ON ANYTHING -

AND WE NEED BOB'S VOTE TO ORGANIZE A DEMOCRATIC SENATE WITH A DEMOCRATIC SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CHAIRS.


I was a Democratic County Committee member in Pittsburgh's 14th Ward - 18th District (from Forbes and Murray to Douglas and Shady in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill) - Colfax, Allderdice, "Tech", and Pitt; Westinghouse Bettis.

I voted 100% straight Democrat (except for Flaherty) - and worked on all of Ivan Itkin's Campaigns, and my kid was on Dick Caliguiri's kid's Little League team at Frick Park.

[WinkyDink]

30. I live here, and I agree 100%. And, superficial or no,

"Pinacchio" is simply an unfortunate name.

[LiberalFighter]

32. I agree with you

If the choice is between Santorum and Casey I would vote for Casey in a heartbeat.

[drm604]

37. If Casey wins the primary

then he's got my vote in the general election. We need a Democratic senate. I just wish that Pennacchio had a better chance.

[rocktivity]

42. ...I DO NOT AGREE WITH (CASEY'S) STAND ON ABORTION--

BUT I DO NOT AGREE WITH...SANTORUM'S STANDS ON ANYTHING...

DING DING DING! CoastieForTruth, you're our grand prize winner!

Most decisions are between bad and good, in which case you should always choose good. But some decisions are between bad and worse--in which case you should ALWAYS CHOOSE BAD.

:headbang:
rocknation

[InsultComicDog]

52. Casey will get my vote but that's IT

I won't lift a phone for him, knock on a door for him, send a penny to his campaign.

Furthermore organizations such as MoveOn that helped shove this guy down our throats are not getting any support from me anymore, either.

[bleedingheart]

60. If you saw how poorly Casey has done in the Democratic debates

you might change your mind.

The man is a moron and when he wins Santorectum will slice and dice him in a debate.

Casey has split the party up here in PA. He has half as much money as rick. The pro-choice crowd may support him but they won't give him any money....AND...he will not win over the hardline Republican voters...they never split their tickets...

[Nomen Tuum]

4. Another Pennsylvanian in Exile for Casey

I'm from Ambridge in Beaver County. I've lived in Los Angeles since 1982. I'm in the same mold, I worked for Bob Sr when he ran for governor in 1978, worked for Udall and Kennedy.

Bob Casey Jr and I agree on 95% of the issues. I am NOT going to reject him because we have differing opinions on abortion. I've been giving him my support because we NEED every Democratic seat when we get.

I've seen the posts for Pennachio, frankly he has no chance. Slick Rick wants to run against him because Pennachio will lose in a landslide. Sorry, Chuck, but that is the truth. Neither Pennachio or Sandals have a realistic chance against Slick Rick.

Besides, I'd love to see Senator Casey go after the so-called piece of crap called No Child Left Behind. He knows what a lie that law is.

[Coastie for Truth]

43. Sandals would be a fantastic assemblyman from Pgh's East End

Certainly be better then Dan Frankel.

---If I still lived in the 'burgh, I would have run for Ivan's seat after Ivan ran agianst Tom Ridge.

SEND ANOTHER NUKE E TO HARRISBURG

[VegasWolf]

5. No way in hell that I would vote for an anti-abortion candidate. Even if

they have the magic (D) after their name. Same goes for ANY candidate that is for killing more American children in Iraq to support the illegal, imperialistic, nation grab for OIL.

[Renew Deal]

7. So you prefer Senator Santorum.

One issue voters are just smarter than everyone else.

[chaumont58]

8. I agree with bleachers, a lot of time, adults have to make choices

that are not absolute right versus wrong. Shit, most voters choice the lesser of two evils most of the time. An air breathing Democrat is better than any fuckin' repuke, whatever the issues.

[VegasWolf]

11. I did not say that. Your grandiose generalizations are laughable. nt

[Renew Deal]

18. Yet

you don't seem to think it's that funny. You said it. You prefer Rick Santorum to a anti-choice Democrat.

[VegasWolf]

23. Sure, that's it. Do you always follow others and live your life with

blinders on, following the party line, never questioning. You must be a regular church goer. People like you elect Zell Millers. I prefer any 3rd party candidate to a DINO. They are too hard to tell apart from RINOs. Or do you actually buy that there are differences between the two?

[Renew Deal]

26. There is a difference.

First of all, you didn't make a 3rd party an option. The choices were Santorum and Zell. The difference between the two is that Zell would vote for Harry Reid for majority leader. So let me give you a choice. Your vote is for a Dino that would give us control of the Senate and a homophobic, racist, sexist republican (Santorum). Who would you vote for? Staying home and blowing your head off are not options (though I can understand why you would feel that way :))

[VegasWolf]

13. Too bad Zell Miller is not running, he has a (D). nt

[Renew Deal]

17. Zell Miller or Rick Santorum? Tough decision

Let's pick the one that will vote for Harry Reid for majority leader.

[VegasWolf]

25. Why? Abotions outlawed. Church freaks running amok? No end to the

death and destruction in Iraq. I'll vote when I find candidates that remember what a liberal is. I won't vote for a luke warm RINO.

[Renew Deal]

27. Casey isn't going to get abortion outlawed.

He would not have that kind of say. How about investigations into Iraq, Plame, Spying, etc.? How about a Dem as majority leader? How about our Democrats as committee chairmen with subpoena power? That's a fair trade for an anti-choice Dem that can't do anything about it.

Have a look at this. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=839051

[Nomen Tuum]

9. So you want to keep Sick Rick

Rick is like every other Republican, he moans about Frankie or Freida Fetus, but once they come out of the womb, screw them.

Unlike Sick Rick, Casey cares about kids even after they're born.

[VegasWolf]

12. I will vote my priciples, to bad if the narrow minded, vote for any (D)

people don't like it. Too bad. There needs to be an opposition party in this country.

[Renew Deal]

19. Right

Those that vote for an anti-choice Democrat are more narrow minded than a single issue voter. :rofl:

[VegasWolf]

24. Hey, you are the follower, blindly going where you are told to go. Single

issue voter? I named two issues. Apparently you are as arithmetically challenged as you blinders steer you down the D path regardless of principles.

[Renew Deal]

28. Simple math

would be all you need for your IQ. We are discussing Casey and abortion. BTW, what office do you hold? You are so ideologically pure that you certainly must be an elected official. And if not, I am sure that you are the leader of some movement. I mean, your ideological purity is the kind of leadership we need.

[VegasWolf]

29. Nah! I'm not pure! It seems to me symmetrical that some people are

the rabid left, the 20% that could never vote anything other than D, just like the rabid right FReepers, that 20% that could never vote anything other than republican. I'm not in the rabid left. I am a voter that votes for a candidate that holds my values. If they lose, hey that's politics. I am firmly convinced that the current two party system has turned into a disaster for this country. I identify myself as a liberal, and I vote for Democrats that share my values. BTW, I wouldn't vote for Joey Lieberman either. My choice, my vote.

[bigworld]

39. Geez, let's calm down everyone.

I don't agree with your choice not to support Casey, but that is your choice to make - and it is what sits right for you.

No one on this board should be attacking VegasWolf or others for their views or votes on abortion or anything else. We all have these choices to make -- let's try to convince others to change their view instead of attacking 'em.

[geek tragedy]

20. Think of it as a vote for Ted Kennedy as chair of the Senate

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee!!!!!

Think of it as SUBPOENA power to look into the crimes of the Bush administration.

Unless you prefer the status quo . . .

[Coastie for Truth]

45. Think of it as

a vote against Rickie

a vote against Dr. Frist (my gosh, I even prefer Cyril to Frist -- actually, I think Cyril is kinda cool - and I always voted for him)

a vote for impeachment

[Coastie for Truth]

44. Does that mean you support Dr Frist for Senate Majority Leader

and that you would vote impeachment of Bush?

[VegasWolf]

47. There won't be a difference between Frist and Reid if the party keeps

giving up its vital principles. Flame away, but I have thought my position through, and I see no difference between lukewarm DINOs and RINOs. The two party system is nothing more than cronyism and corruption.

For a long time I bought into all that party line stuff you guys are preaching. I had many friends more liberal than I who long ago abandoned the democratic party in favor of 3rd parties. After the failure to stand up in support of the Alito confirmation, the rolling over on the patriot act, etc, I have now joined their ranks.

The democratic party is losing progressives, the DINOs only hope is to attract more luke warm republicans into their fold in order to compensate for the loss. We will see if their calculus is correct, and if their calculus is correct, then that is not a party that I identify with at that point.

[Coastie for Truth]

48. I paid to support H3 in 1968

I was court martialled (UCMJ Article 88 and 5 USC 7323) for having a Humphrey sticker on my book bag while on active duty. (Beat the charges by filing an Article 138 against my Commanding Officer)

[VegasWolf]

49. The world is different in 2006. This is not your father's democratic party

any longer. The current set of democratic "leadership" can't seem to fight their way out of a wet paper bag.

[Coastie for Truth]

53. That is too bad

see - I grew up in a "Steel Valley"-"Coal Valley" household - Dad was a lawyer for the Unions and a dedicated Dem, Grand dad (who lived with us and thoroughly indoctrinated me) was an old fashion socialist, a union organizer, and -- among other things -- an ESL instructorfor the immigrants in the mill.

I was passing out "door hangers" and sample ballots at the age of seven.

And I remember all of those fund raisers and rallies at bars and union halls and legion posts on 8th Avenue in Homestead, and Butler St in Lawrenceville and 2nd Avenue in Hazlewood.

IT WAS FUN BEING A DEMOCRAT IN THE OLD DAYS!!! - WHERE HAS THE FUN GONE?

[VegasWolf]

54. True, sounds like your granddad was a good man! nt

[VegasWolf]

50. BTW, I was in the Coast Guard in '68 also. nt

[PaDem]

56. So you didn't vote for Kerry?

Afterall he voted in support of the Iraq War.

[VegasWolf]

57. I gave him the benfit of the doubt in 2004, in 2006 there is no excuse

to support the war.

[bleedingheart]

59. I am voting for Pennachio in the primary.

because I can't stand Casey...

[Mojambo]

6. You're either for civil rights and choice, or you're not.

Let's just hope Casey never has to vote on the issue.

Better get and keep the majority, Democrats.

[American Tragedy]

10. In a country in which the MAJORITY support abortion rights

which has been consistently supported in polls for years, I do not understand why we are ever in a position to choose between two anti-choice candidates. I accept that voting often consists of selecting the lesser of two relative evils, especially when one is as grievous a threat as Rick Santorum, but for both major candidates to be in opposition to the mainstream stance seems odd to me.

[Mojambo]

16. I think old, white men are the only demo that is against choice

And what is our government comprised of, mostly?

That is why we are sometimes forced to choose between two anti-choice candidates.

[dsc]

34. That is baldly false

Poll after poll after poll after poll show all of the following.

Men and women are very close on the abortion issue. While I would think pro choice women may care more than pro choice men, poll after poll, after poll show that they are around 2-3% apart on the issue.

African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to be pro choice than whites. Again no poll suggests otherwise and it is way beyond the MOE.

I will give you age. With the exception of the youngest of voters the older you are the less likely you are to be pro choice. The youngest of voters are a bit less likely to be pro choice than those in their late 20's.

[drm604]

38. Do you have to start attacking white men?

I see this way to often on DU. :eyes:

[geek tragedy]

21. Most Dem candidates are pro-choice.

Casey is an anamoly--the exception rather than the rule.

Bob Casey isn't going to be voting against any pro-choice judicial nominees. He will vote to give Carl Levin subpoena power to investigate Donald Rumsfeld.

[Coastie for Truth]

46. Cause that's Pennsylvania

When you leave the East End and Montgomery County and Center City - Pennsylvania is very socially conservative.

[Gloria]

14. When do we stop ceding territory? When the Democratic

Party becomes like the Republican Party?? Casey isn't Cuomo, who managed to separate his religion from what is right for EVERYONE--the right to follow one's own mind and heart and religion.

This is one helluva strategy...acting like the Republican Party.

[geek tragedy]

22. There ARE issues other than abortion.

Single-issue voting is for people who like losing elections.

A vote for Casey is a vote to make Ted Kennedy the chair of the Senate committee on Health, Education, and Labor.

If you think that's the same as voting Republican . . .

[madfloridian]

15. Casey's religion stops at my rights.

And the sad part is that he does not seem to think so. He thinks his religious views are ok to campaign on...like the stem cell research he does not support past 2001 limits. He has even talked out against the morning after pill.

He does not have a right to think his religion trumps my rights as a woman to choose my healthcare and medication.

[PaDUer]

33. The Casey family

has been personal friends of the bishops of the Scranton Diocese for MANY years, and all the Casey's have large families..what does that tell you.

[dsc]

35. yeah politicians with large families suck

I just hate the Kennedies, and FDR had four children. Lord the humanity.

[saigon68]

58. I guess the Priests didn't punk his kids

In the rear end

[bemildred]

31. The primary is May 16th, vote for someone you agree with in the primary.

If you get stuck with this weasel, so be it, but there is no need to be a sheep in the primary.

[Mountainman]

36. I think it is a shame that Dems are running an anti choice candidate.

If I were in PA my conscience would tell me to stay home even if I helped Santorum. I don't feel that we should go the middle of the road route to get repuke votes. The more we turn away from progressive ideals the more we become like Santorum. I just think of the women who feel we are throwing away their rights so we can win. You seem to be willing to dump the support you have for the support you don't have.

How ever noble you feel about winning so you get control is tainted by how you did it IMHO.

[drm604]

40. Believe it or not this isn't about moving to the middle

Believe it or not this isn't about moving to the middle to get Repub votes, the party would be doing this even if he was pro-choice. Weirdly enough, it's about the name "Bob Casey". If you don't live in Pennsylvania it's hard to understand, but the name "Bob Casey" is almost like some kind of magical charm. This excerpt from here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_P._Casey

explains it well. The Casey mentioned in the first sentence was the father of the current Bob Casey.

Will the real Bob Casey Please Stand...

Restricted from seeking another term as Auditor General, Casey declined to seek the office of state treasurer in 1976. Instead, a county official who also was named Robert Casey won the primary and the general election, spending virtually no money and doing virtually no campaigning. Voters merely assumed that they were voting for the outgoing Auditor General. In 1980 the Republicans launched an extensive advertising campaign to clarify that "Casey isn't Casey," and the state treasurer was defeated for re-election.

In 1978, another candidate named Robert Casey, a different Robert Casey, this one a teacher and ice cream parlor owner, likewise received the Democratic party's nomination for lieutenant governor, again with a no-spending, no-campaigning strategy. This Casey, who joined Democratic gubernatorial nominee Pete Flaherty, narrowly lost to Richard Thornburgh and William Scranton III.

Fourth Time is the Charm

After a decade practicing law, Casey made a fourth bid for governor in 1986, billing himself as the "real Bob Casey" to distinguish himself and make light of the mistaken identity follies of the past. Dubbed "the three-time loss from Holy Cross" by detractors, Casey hired James Carville and Paul Begala to his campaign staff, two then-generally unknown political strategists.

Unlike his three previous tries, Casey won the Democratic primary, defeating Philadelphia district attorney (and future governor) Ed Rendell. He then faced Thornburgh's lieutenant governor, William Scranton III in the general election. The race was considered too close to call until the week before the election, when the Casey campaign staff, led by Carville, launched the now infamous "guru ad" which attacked Scranton's practice of transcendental meditation. The ad campaign depicting Scranton as a "dope smoking hippie," complete with 1960s-era pictures of the lieutenant governor wearing long hair, a beard, and tie-dyed clothing. Casey defeated Scranton by a margin of 79,000 votes.

Bob Casey Sr. was a popular governor. I think the phenomenon is related to that plus the simplicity and recognizability of the name.

It's not about moving to the right, the party would be doing this even if he was pro-choice. What it's about is taking advantage of this weird Pennsylvanian herd behavior. Sometimes desperate times call for pragmatic measures.

[bleedingheart]

62. actually it is a love or hate relationship with that name...

Casey's father created some problems here in Western PA...in fact there are people who say the only reason he won his race for governor was by letting people confuse him with another Casey fellow...

[drm604]

63. I'm not saying I necessarily agree with the strategy.

I'm just saying that that's why I think they want to run him. I want people to understand that this isn't a case of the party moving to the right to get votes.

In my opinion it will probably work, but I wish that silly things like name recognition didn't affect elections. I'm supporting Pennacchio in the primary, but intellectually I know Casey will be the nominee and when the time comes I'll hold my nose and vote for him. :(

[rocktivity]

41. What's "polarizing" about choice?

"As the Democratic Party tries to inch its way toward a new, less polarized politics of abortion..."

That's a curious choice of word. What's polarizing about advocating that people should make their OWN reproductive/medical decisions without interference of goverment OR religion? It's the Republicans' all-life-all-the-time stance that's nailed to a pole!

:headbang:
rocknation

[bcoylepa]

51. Santorum Must GO

but
we must not stop working on Casey and we need to support Valerie MacDonald Roberts for Lieutenant Governor www.valerieforpa.com
so that there is an excellent pro-choice candidate in line for Governor.
Bob Casey has interest in the governorship and I for one would not want him to ever get there

[mvd]

55. I'm voting for Pennachio in the primaries

Casey Jr. in the GE, if he's the nominee. If Democrats or even moderate Republicans dominated the government, I'd be more likely to make statements. Right now, I just want Santorum out - regardless of Casey's abortion stance and other stances. I bet Dean likes Pennachio, but doesn't call all the shots. I really don't think Casey Jr.'s the kind of Democrat that most Democrats in PA want.

Do any PA posters know about Alan Sandals? He's another candidate running against Casey Jr. in the primaries. Another progressive - better or worse than Pennachio?

[bleedingheart]

61. Casey has some competition in the Primary

and they are far better than he is...

I am voting for Pennacchio in the Primary.