John Kerry: Santorum is Totally Out of Touch With Reality Facing Americans

[kerrygoddess]

In his latest email to Kerry supporters, John Kerry asks his 5 million supporters on his email list to donate to his Keeping America’s Promise PAC to help Democrats win back seats in the Senate and the House and to help Bob Casey fight Rick Santorum. Santorum has recently taken his conservative fight to John Kerry’s backyard with some ugly attacks on MA liberalism. I recently exposed Santorum’s twisting of the truth here.

Here’s the email…

This weekend the GOP is kicking off its 2006 campaign cycle at the party’s annual summer meeting in Pittsburgh, with Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum playing host. What does it say about the Republican leadership that they’re putting a right-wing extremist at the center of their effort to keep control of the Senate? It says that their goal isn’t just to hold on to power, but to drag America away from mainstream values and the issues that matter to ordinary Americans.

I’m not up for re-election in 2006, but I - like every Democrat - must do everything in my power to fight to restore responsible leadership in the House and Senate that will act on behalf of the interests of average Americans whose voices are being drowned out in Washington today.

You bet we wanted to win last November, but it turns out that one of the things we did accomplish in 2004 was this: we built an incredibly powerful organizational force online and offline that can come together again in 2006 to win back the House and Senate.

Like it or not, that fight starts now.

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=146

[Greeby]

1. heh

"One of the finest minds of the 13th Century." That line still does it for me :rofl:

[cornermouse]

2. The entire Republican party is out of touch with reality and the

effect that all this garbage that they're pushing has on the rest of us.

They aren't ever going to lose their health insurance, live on half doses of medicine, and go without seeing a doctor when they're sick. They aren't ever going to worry about losing their home. They don't have to be afraid of having their utilities shut off. They don't know what its like to go without food because there literally isn't enough to feed everyone.

[Dulcinea]

3. Santorum is out of touch with reality.

And humanity as well. What a worthless sack of shite.

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. Santorum is out of touch with reality...period.

Just underscoring the general consensus. :)

[meow2u3]

6. Santorum belongs in a sanatarium

This excuse for a "man on dog" is absolutely psychotic! He needs to be committed, not reelected!

[LittleClarkie]

12. Or rather, a sanatorium

one just for him.

[elperromagico]

5. In reading that e-mail, I sensed that Kerry

intensely dislikes Santorum and not just in the political sense.

Guess he knows him well.

[dolstein]

7. Which one of his mansions was Kerry sitting in when he wrote that e-mail?

Hey, I think Santorum's as big as a** as everyone else. But Kerry's not exactly the best person to talking about concerns facing ordinary Americans, since his experience with these problems is at best second hand. It's easy for his "concern about the common man" to be dismissed as condescending.

I wish the Democrats would give a more visible role to politicians with humble origins. I certainly think the fact that Clinton came from modest beginnings was a big plus politically.

[Mass]

10. So, I guess he should shut up and disappear,...

Sorry, I have to disagree.

BTW, Kerry never wrote "the common man". I agree this would be condescending, but he did not.

He spoke of ordinary Americans or average Americans. Is it not a lot better to care about ordinary americans than about Bush's friends.

[LittleClarkie]

11. The only one he owns maybe?

And while he's weathy now, his early family life was ordinary enough, in an upper middle class way.

A poor politician? You want a poor politician? You'd never hear from a poor politician. 'Cause they'd never be able to get the word out.

Kerry's worth a million or two. The missus is worth billions. And he can't touch it. Pre-nup, doncha know.

[Mass]

13. And even then. Should we renounce to FDR and Kennedy

because they were rich.

And is Clinton still an ordinary American?

[LittleClarkie]

14. That's what I mean. A poor politician

is one nobody's ever heard of.

They're all rich. So the fuck what?

And some of the Mass people who've been watching Kerry for a long time think that, in addition to his vast knowledge on foreign policy, that the recent campaigning has effected a change in him. He's internalize the struggles of ordinary Americans from dealing with them for 2 years as he went across the country. That's what they see, anyway, and I believe them.

It's a popularity contest. That's all it is. Style over substance. Appearances over truth. Attitude over results. Makes me sick sometimes.

[Mass]

15. I agree with you

but I think he has had contact with ordinary Americans for a long time now.

Dont forget that he has fought for years for VietNam vets (who are not all rich by millions), and also been involved in many actions as ADA in Massachusetts.

Actually, the impressive thing with Kerry is that, while he could probably have had a very well-paid and cozy job in some financial businesses in MA, he spent his life in public service, caring about other people.

[I Have A Dream]

17. Yes, I strongly agree with your last paragaraph. n/t

[fedupinBushcountry]

21. This post is totally uncalled for

I think you need to read up on John Kerry, he wasn't rich, by a long shot. Just happened to come from a wealthy family and that wealth was not in his hopusehold, did you know his Aunt paid for his schooling because his parents couldn't afford it. He did not even have a couple million until 2003, after his mother died, ands she was an heir to the Forbes trust.

I thought this was democratic underground, a place we come to air our views on the Republican establishment. Instead we have distortions on good Democrats.

We were all born equal, it doesn't matter what amount of money you have, it matters that you care about all human beings and want everyone to strive. John Kerry exemplifies that principle. EOM

[LittleClarkie]

28. Who needs Republicans when we can do their job

so much more efficiently.

Gotta love eating our own.

[blm]

22. Because YOU feel it's not the best, he should shut up and go away.

Sorry, but, there are few leaders in this entire nation who have straddled every economic area in their lives. To demand that one of them go away is assinine.

How did YOU earn the right to tell Kerry to shut up?

Have you carried even 1% of the burden of history that Kerry has? Have YOU effected this nation's history as positively as Kerry has over the last 35 years?

[fujiyama]

43. I know I can think of some posters

I wouldn't mind if they shut up and went away.

It's funny, but Kerry is criticized for simply sending an email to his supporters telling them to donate to Santorum's opponent...

[Caleb]

29. What politician isn't rich?

Clinton is a multi-millionaire and so is Bush. I would bet most Congresspeople are pretty wealthy as well.

[LittleClarkie]

30. It's a purity thing, you wouldn't understand

what we really need is a candidate who's living out of a cardboard box. He'd win in a landslide.

[wisteria]

36. Most politicians are richer or as rich as Kerry.

Our founding fathers were mostly all well off.Washington, Adams,Hamilton all were born into wealth. Jefferson's mother was an aristocrat-similar to Kerry's- and Jefferson's father was a farmer. Kerry's father had some money, but wasn't considered well off. Sometimes those who start out with nothing and achieve wealth, have nothing but disdain for those not able to achieve what they have. please don't discredit Kerry simply because you think he doesn't understand the plight of struggling Americans. His truly believes in supporting those less fortunate then himself.
Clinton was an exception to the rule of wealth. He certainly isn't poor any more.

[kerrygoddess]

41. Clueless!

Obviously uniformed about John Kerry. But thank you for sharing.

[Cynot]

8. Santorum has to be defeated at all costs.

However, it won't be easy like some people seem to think. Some at DU have already penciled in this seat as a gain for the Dems, based upon current polls I guess, but it's a long time until November 2006, and you can be sure that the Rethugs will throw everything they have into this race, spend a lot of money, and use any scare tactic at their disposal to try to pull this out, so we cannot afford to be over confident about this race.

We need to donate to Casey and fight this all the way, or else we may end up being very sorry.

[LynneSin]

9. Casey is going to be a strong candidate for the democrats

In 2004, he won more votes state wide than any other statewide candidate either (including presidential candidates) and yes, he had an opponent. His pro-life support might alienate some voters but I think overall he has the strength to easily defeat Santorum provide that we do not allow rigged electronic voting machines in this state.

The Secretary of State for Pennsylvania is a democrat and about 3-4 months ago he decertified several electronic voting machines in Western PA counties because of pronounced inconsistancies. Hopefully he'll keep on top of this and ensure that our state has voting systems that are not only fair but have trackable recount measures.

I think with Ed Rendell running for re-election (Governor) this will be a strong alliance to help both of these candidates win. Rendell has already jumped on the Casey bandwagon and Rendell's strength in the Philadelphia region will go quite nicely with Casey's strength in the Western part of the state

btw - welcome to DU Cynot!! :hi:

[welshTerrier2]

16. "Consider what's at stake in just Democrat Bob Casey's race vs. Santorum"

yeah, consider what's at stake ...

how tragic is it that Kerry couldn't list a woman's right to choose because the Party is backing someone with reactionary views on the issue ???

Kerry provided a nice laundry list of issues ... too bad Casey's views on the government's right to control a woman's healthcare choices couldn't be among them ...

[Mass]

18. True enough. But against Santorum, even Casey looks good.

[welshTerrier2]

19. not to me ...

a Party that endorses a candidate who would force a young teenage girl to carry a pregnancy to term that resulted from being raped by her father has clearly lost its way ...

yeah, winning is great ... but i don't know how anyone supporting this abuse of a woman's civil liberties can look themselves in the mirror ... santorum is hideous but this is not what we should be all about ...

[Mass]

20. Does Casey actually stand for that?

Because if he does, he is not better than Santorum.

But I dont think I know a democrat that has such a drastic view. Typically, even those who call themselves prolifers admit rape and health as cause for abortion. This is bad enough they dont consider women adult enough to decide by themselves.

[welshTerrier2]

24. yes, he does ... it's awful ...

let me know if you need me to back this up with a link ...

when Casey ran for Governor, he said the only time he thought abortion was justified was to save the life of the mother ... he said he did NOT support abortions in cases of rape or incest ...

to be fair, Casey said that if the Pennsylvania legislature brought him a bill that made exceptions for rape and incest, he would NOT veto it but that is not what he thought the law should be ...

it's easy for some to start tossing around the insults about ideological purity ... and it's easy to argue that if we don't win, it doesn't matter what we think on the issues ... and it's easy to make all the tired old arguments about litmus tests ...

well, i want to win too ... but do we never draw a line??? ... forcing a woman to carry any unwanted pregnancy to term is a form of slavery ... and adding in prohibitions even in the case of rape or incest is barbaric ... i am appalled that Rendell, Dean and I guess now Kerry have thrown their support behind a candidate with these hideous views ... if the guy wanted to bring back slavery but was progressive on education, social security and universal healthcare, would that make it OK to support his candidacy ????

after the last election everyone seemed to jump on the bandwagon about how the Party needed to clarify where we stand on "values" ... i guess the only thing we value is winning ...

[MH1]

34. He leans that way, but...

he has said he would support "exception for life of the mother, rape, and incest." However he also said he would support the only exception to an abortion ban being "life of the mother."

BUT - BUT!!! That does not mean "he is not better than Santorum."

* Casey favors government funding being allowed for birth-control (i.e. family planning services to low-income may include contraception) - to wich Santorum is opposed.
* Casey opposes any ban on gay couples adopting children. Again, a big difference from Santorum. (this and prior bullet from a Catholic archdiocese election questionnaire done in 2004, and a similar one done in 2000).
* Casey is pro-union.
* As Auditor General, Casey was an advocate for making child care services more available to working families, and resolving issues with the state nursing home system - showing a concern for societies most vulnerable members.
* Casey supports full funding for veterans' health care - which Santorum has opposed: http://ga4.org/senate2006/pressreleases.html#July_27

Just a few I can come up with quickly. I am less than thrilled by his stance on abortion, but I think he's a far sight better than wacky Ricky, and I'm a realist about the "Alabama" portion of PA. I don't think a strong liberal can win - UNLESS they start out 2006 with a decent level of support in the rural areas of the state. If any of the other primary candidates show they can muster support in the rural areas, I could support them in the primary over Casey. But right now I don't see that happening. (What I wish we had was a real liberal from one of the Western counties, who started out with a strong following in his or her home county. But we don't.)

[blm]

23. Casey isn't an activist. He's personally pro-life but doesn't believe in

invading the privacy of others' decisions.

That's a big difference.

[welshTerrier2]

25. let's be clear here ...

you stated Casey "doesn't believe in invading the privacy of others' decisions."

there is a huge distinction between someone being "pro-life" and someone being "anti-choice" ... if Casey's position, was "pro-life" but he supported a woman's right to MAKE HER OWN CHOICE, i would then agree with you that Casey doesn't believe in invading the privacy of others ...

but that just is not the case (or the Casey) here ... when you cross the line from having your own personal views to publically campaigning on the elimination of freedom of choice, you most certainly are advocating the invasion of the privacy rights of women ...

my problem is with Casey's views on the choice issue; not Kerry's ... my problem with Kerry, and Dean, and Rendell and any others getting behind Casey is that it smells like once again Democrats are too quick to compromise their values to win ... supporting an anti-choice candidate is unconscionable ...

[blm]

31. I heave heard for years Casey was not an activist -

I may have heard wrong, but, at the time it was from female reporters at the Patriot News in Harrisburg.

[wisteria]

33. Well, I live in Pa and as much as I dislike candidates that are

anti- choice, I would support Casey any day over Santorium. Casey is "right" for Pa. Pa. has two major liberal areas (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh)) and many conservative areas. Choosing a Pro-Choice candidate to run against Santourum would give the Republicans a major opportunity to promote these differences and raise a lot of money from the Pro-life camps. This is politics pure and simple. We need to regain seats in the senate and in my opinion, Casey gives us a good opportunity to do this for Pa. Casey's opinions on abortion won't have any real effect on abortion issues any way.However, I don't want to see this pattern repeated too frequently, but for Casey vs Santorium, I think it is an unfortunate necessity.

[MH1]

35. Well said. n/t

[wisteria]

37. I think you are wrong about Casey's opinion or rape and incest.

You may be confusing him with his late father, Gov. Casey, who held very strong, anti-abortion views. I recall reading that the younger Casey doesn't hold the views you mention in regards to rape and incest. He also supports birth control. After I find links I will post them.

[welshTerrier2]

39. this should help ...

source: http://www.post-gazette.com/election/20020324casey0324ap2.asp

"While Casey thinks his party has migrated too far on economic and social issues, notably abortion, he thinks many national Democrats haven't moved far enough from party orthodoxy. Casey, as his late father did, opposes abortion. If the Supreme Court were to overturn Roe vs. Wade, he would be willing to sign a bill that would outlaw the procedure in the state except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother's life. Casey's personal view is that abortion should be banned except in cases where the mother's health is threatened."

source: http://www.priestsforlife.org/news/infonet/infonet02-02-12.htm

"Casey, whose father as governor signed one of the nation’s best pro-life laws, says he would prefer to ban all abortions, except in cases in which the woman’s life is in danger, if Roe v. Wade were overturned. But Casey says he would be willing to sign a less sweeping ban, allowing exceptions for rape and incest, if that version is more likely to make it through the Legislature."

[PresidentObama]

26. So what your saying is....

You want our party to kick out Pro-Life candidates, and don't let them run because of their position on an issue like abortion? *cough* Harry Reid.

I don't know one issue should turn you against a fine Democratic candidate like Bob Casey. I don't agree with his position, just as most of our party doesn't agree with his position. Kerry was against gay marriage in 2004. I disagreed with him. But I still supported him. My mom's Pro-Life, strongly so, and voted for Kerry. I don't think one issue should mean as much as the whole picture. We need Santorum out.

[LittleClarkie]

27. Um, did you mean that for a different poster

because the OP said nothing of the sort.

[I Have A Dream]

32. I plan to do everything that I can do to get rid of Santorum...

However, I'm concerned about Casey. His father, while governor, make life extremely difficult for women who wished to exercise their freedom of choice. Maybe he really is different from his father, but I am apprehensive.

It's sort of like in Afghanistan. When the Russians were fighting them, we supported the ultra-extremist mujahideen so that they could defeat our enemy. See where that got us? Also, we supported Saddam Hussein in Iraq because he was fighting our enemy Iran. Same thing.

I hope that Casey won't be our Afghanistan or Iraq years down the road.

Casey overall appears to be a really good candidate otherwise. I just hope that we can count on him to respect our reproductive privacy rights.

[wisteria]

38. Looking ahead to 2006, I am happy to see Kerry doing this!

Its important to support all dem candidates running in 2006 and I intend to do what Kerry suggests, start fighting now. I will do all I can to help Dem's win in 2006. I don't want to be a member of the minority party for to long, I want to see Dem's back in control.

[LittleClarkie]

40. Indeed

I wish so many weren't so 2008 happy.

[kerrygoddess]

42. Me too!

:kick:

[ginnyinWI]

44. kick

:dem:

[UrbScotty]

45. Go John!

:-)