Kate Michelman for Senate? (May Run as Independent in PA)

[tritsofme]

After Robert Casey, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination to challenge vulnerable Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, joined Santorum in backing the Supreme Court nomination of conservative judicial activist Samuel Alito, Kate Michelman was not happy.

After saying she was "sorely disappointed by the lack of commitment to women and fundamental rights by the United State Senate," the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America ripped into Casey and local and national party leaders who back the socially-conservative Pennsylvania Democrat who is an ardent critic of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed women the right to choose.

"As a Pennsylvanian, I am particularly appalled that local and national Democrats would hand our Senate nomination to someone who openly supports giving Roe an Alito-induced death," said Michelman. "Those whose political successes have depended on the ballots and contributions of pro-choice voters but now facilitate the career of someone who would repeal those rights deserve special enmity."

How angry was Michelman?

The veteran activist, who has lived for almost three decades in Pennsylvania, might just jump into the Senate race herself.

<SNIP>
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/06/opinion/main1374147.shtml

The most important thing is getting rid of Santorum.

Michelman would be nothing a but a spoiler.

[DaveinMD]

1. if she feels this way

she should have run in the Primary.

[movonne]

2. ssee

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/03/06/D8G682C80.html

[David Dunham]

3. Her running will only help Rick Santorum. She is a jerk if she runs.

[Pirate Smile]

4. She had NARAL endorse Lincoln Chafee. Didn't he work out

great with Alito's nomination? Her methods seem to be counter-productive.

Geez, let's help the weak Santorum get re-elected.
:eyes:

[Ignacio Upton]

30. She left NARAL when that happened

nt.

[Ignacio Upton]

5. Didn't she blast Nader for this in 2000?

I wish that she would understand how the Senate works. If we have a lot of Senator with a "D" then we have the majority. If we have the majority then we can decide whether or not a SCOTUS nominee even comes to the floor for a vote. If we get back the Senate in 2006 then if Bush nominates another Roberts or Alito in 2007 or 2008 then we won't have to filibuster him/her, we can kill the person's chance in committee. I doubt that Casey will be on the Judicary Committee, so he will never be given the opportunity to vote for such a nominee.

[tritsofme]

7. Actually SCOTUS nominees can go to the full Senate

with a negative recommendation from the Judiciary Committee, as was the case with Thomas.

[David Dunham]

9. They only get out of committee if a majority vote says so.

[tritsofme]

12. Not so with SCOTUS nominees

Clarence Thomas went to the full Senate with a negative reccomendation from the Democratic controlled Judiciary Committee.

[Ignacio Upton]

13. Why?

Then why do judges in lower Federal courts get killed in committee?

[tritsofme]

14. I don't know why.

I just know that this is the way it has traditionally been done.

[Ignacio Upton]

16. Well if we have control of the Senate, we still have the bully pulpit

Unlike in the Roberts and Alito confirmations where we were painted as "obstructionists" who are in the political minority. If we win the Senate, then WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN POLITICAL "CAPITAL" and we will be able to use the nationally pro-Roe vs. Wade public to support us. We will be able to decide what questions are asked and control the voting process. A no vote in Committee may also symbolically sned a message to the full Senate and our caucus not to vote for the right-wing nominee.

[tritsofme]

19. I certainly hope so.

It still makes me shiver that a Senate with 58 Democrats confirmed Clarence Thomas.

But that was a different time.

[Ignacio Upton]

28. You had more southern social conservatives like Sam Nunn

and Richard Shelby back then (Shelby was still a Democrat before switching.) A new Democratic Majority in the Senate will be the narrower because of the southern realignment, so we will have a more ideologically-consistent majority, even if it is only a bare one.

[David Dunham]

20. They only go to the full Senate if a majority so votes, even for SCOTUS

[tritsofme]

27. I'm sorry you're wrong.

Go look up Clarence Thomas.

He went to the full Senate after a majority voted against him in Committee.

[depakid]

21. What's more

and this is something that the DINO apologists never seem to get-

Democrats who profess Republican "values" or who repeatedly or consitently cross party lines to vote with the far right aren't going to magically stop doing so if the Dems (by some devine intervention) ever regained power.

People who think that are some kind of naive.

[chaz4jazz]

32. You're overlooking the issue

If the democrats hold the majority they control the committees. No longer will Repukes be able to foster scummy bills in secret. Whether the DINOs vote left or right doesn't matter initially. With control comes lots of perks.

[bottomofthehill]

23. She sure did

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 24, 2000
5:00 PM
CONTACT: NARAL
Julie Piscitelli or William Lutz, 202-973-3032 or in Oregon, William Lutz, 202-674-3388



NARAL To Launch Anti-Nader Ad

WASHINGTON - October 24 - News Advisory:
"A Vote for Nader Helps Elect George W. Bush."

NARAL President Kate Michelman will release a new TV ad on Thursday, Oct. 26, warning that a vote for Nader could propel George W. Bush into the White House. The ad asks potential Nader voters to consider the danger a Bush presidency poses to Roe v. Wade and the right to choose when marking their ballot. The ad will be unveiled at a press conference on at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26 in the Broadway One Room of the Portland Hilton.

WHO:
NARAL President Kate Michelman

WHAT:
New NARAL Ad on Ralph Nader/George W. Bush

WHERE:
Portland Hilton, Broadway One Room
921 SW 6th Street, Portland, OR

WHEN:
Thursday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.

Only journalists with valid press credentials will be admitted

[DemFromMem]

6. Well, look how well things turned out for us when Nader did the same thing

Nice that we learn our lessons. Which would you rather have - a pro-life Democrat in a pro-choice Democratic-controlled Senate. Or two more years of the GOP approving Supreme Court justices and war resolutions? We don't need to demand ideological purity like the Repugs. A little pragmatism will take us a long way.

[bottomofthehill]

8. Hay Kate STFU you fucking hypocrit

Good elective strategy just like thr brillant job you did in the RI Senate race. I swear, I am beginning to think you are Ralph Reed light with your help in protecting the Senate Republicans. Whats next, I know how about you endorse Bill Frist you dumb shit.

Here is a thought, some advice from you

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 24, 2000
5:00 PM
CONTACT: NARAL
Julie Piscitelli or William Lutz, 202-973-3032 or in Oregon, William Lutz, 202-674-3388



NARAL To Launch Anti-Nader Ad

WASHINGTON - October 24 - News Advisory:
"A Vote for Nader Helps Elect George W. Bush."

NARAL President Kate Michelman will release a new TV ad on Thursday, Oct. 26, warning that a vote for Nader could propel George W. Bush into the White House. The ad asks potential Nader voters to consider the danger a Bush presidency poses to Roe v. Wade and the right to choose when marking their ballot. The ad will be unveiled at a press conference on at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26 in the Broadway One Room of the Portland Hilton.

WHO:
NARAL President Kate Michelman

WHAT:
New NARAL Ad on Ralph Nader/George W. Bush

WHERE:
Portland Hilton, Broadway One Room
921 SW 6th Street, Portland, OR

WHEN:
Thursday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.

Only journalists with valid press credentials will be admitted

[David Dunham]

11. She needs to get a good, hard slapping until she comes around.

[bleedingheart]

10. Casey was a poor choice to begin with...

as a woman and a Pennsylvanian I think we could have done better.

The republicans will not vote for him.
A lot of women are pissed off by his anti-women views.
A lot of progressives don't like him either.

Casey is a poor public speaker and my greatest fear is that he will trip all over himself debating Santorum...and bet your booty that there will be a debate.

Casey's handlers have been very careful about not having him out and about because of the fact that he trips over his own words...

What a candidate..

[Ignacio Upton]

15. He's polling AHEAD of Santorum by more than 10%!

He also got the most votes out of any statewide candidate in history. Ideologically-speaking, I wish we had Hoeffel or Hafer, but Casey is our electorally-speaking heavyweight

[David Dunham]

17. The race will tighten up a lot. Michelman would throw it to Santorum

She would be the Nader of 2006. A real scum if she runs as an independent.

[bleedingheart]

22. actually for how the Democratic Party in PA has treated women..

I don't give a shit.

I have personally witnessed as women candidates have been shit on repeatedly and asked to bow out of races with promises of ..."eventually it will be your turn"...

I have watched our state grow more conservative and stupid on both sides of the political spectrum...hell many democrats try to out-republican their opponents.

If the Democrats throw this race...it will be due to their abandonment of the people the represented.

[Ignacio Upton]

Good point

Santorum hasn't dumped a lot of cash yet. The race is also more than abortion. We are dealing with a guy who doesn't live in Pennsylvania and was active in the K-Street Project. He's also anti-contraception and anti-women's right to work outside of the home. Casey may be pro-life, but Santorum will take us back to 1946 in terms of women's rights.

[bleedingheart]

18. So why isn't he in the news very much? Why are they hiding him?

As for being a heavyweight...they are relying on the name...There is bad blood in many parts of the state regarding that name though... Here in Western PA there are people who are still holding a grudge over some political stuff his old man did..(I don't even really know what it is about but all the older folks didn't like the old man Casey)

Bob hasn't got any "fire in his belly" he was born into politics he just went into the family business...he does not inspire people and you can tell that right away.

He is a personable person and I am sure a nice guy...but he was a dud to pick.

Santorum is a sly bastard and he and his minions will rally their troops.

What pisses me off most is that many pro-choice republican women who really hate Santorum have asked me...Why didn't you democrats give us someone to vote for??

[skipos]

24. Nader really helped America in 2000, she is looking to help PA in 2006.

Yeah... Gore=Bush like Casey=Santorum.
:sarcasm:

[bottomofthehill]

25. Run in the Democratic Primary.....

And you have a good chance to get my vote if I was still registered to vote in PA. Run as an Independent and receive my eternal scorn.

[bleedingheart]

26. Chuck Pennachio is the better candidate and he is in the Primary

and Michelman has said that if Pennachio or Sandals wins in the Primary...she would not run.

[Ignacio Upton]

29. If she wants to make a difference

then she should run. The time to resolve this dispute is in the primaries, not to throw a pissing contest in the election itself.

[alcibiades_mystery]

31. Six more years of Senator Santorum

Thanks, Kate.

[Broke In Jersey]

33. I love a woman that stands for something!!!! GO KATE!!!!

[bottomofthehill]

34. Like re-electing a Republican Senate,

Instead of "go Kate" it should read Go away Kate!!!

[Broke In Jersey]

35. I guess you'd rather have a bunch of Lieberman DINOs then - whatever.....

principles used to matter to progressives.....now its whatever it takes to get elected.

[bottomofthehill]

36. She had every opportunity

To run in the primary. It is not as if the Casey position (which is not mine by the way)should come as a shock to Kate. No a better idea would be to run with not a prayer of winning and keep a Democrat off the floor of the Senate, no even better, help keep Rick Santorum in the Senate. Way to go Kate!