Casey enters U.S. Senate Race; Hafer Withdraws.

[MikeG]

http://post-gazette.com/pg/05063/466443.stm

WASHINGTON -- Pennsylvania State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr. announced today that he would challenge U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum for his seat in 2006, likely setting up one of the most closely watched races in the country next year.

And clearing the way for Casey, former Treasurer Barbara Hafer today announced she would pull out of the race just days after she announced her candidacy.

Casey, a Democrat who opposes abortion rights, has long been eyed by the Democratic leadership as a formidable challenger for Santorum, who is the No. 3 Republican leader in the Senate. Prominent Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York pressured Casey to run and met with him in Washington last month.


YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rkc3]

1. Please no more santorum posts.

My brain can only take so much about this asshole. If he wins again, I may have to move to Ohio.

[MikeG]

2. Casey entering the race is breaking news.

[rkc3]

5. I'm actually excited about Casey, given his numbers, but I still

hate that fucking, greasy, smarmy, little weasel santorum.

[WI_DEM]

3. well at least they will avoid a contentious primary

I hope Hafer can find a race to run in.

[Demit]

6. The party owes her big-time. I'm really glad she did this. The unity this

shows is exactly what we need. Everybody getting togehter to do what's most important--BEAT SANTORUM!!

[Penndems]

15. I'd be willing to bet she'll replace Senator Specter

if he decides to relinquish his seat.

OR: Another possibility may be that she'll replace Catherine Baker Knoll as Governor Rendell's running mate.

You DEFINITELY haven't heard the last of Barbara. The Guv has plans for her.





(On edit: correction)

[msanthrope]

17. Hafer will not replace Spector--that turncoat won't

get the money or support. That seat is Joe Hoeffel's.

[Penndems]

19. Well, if she doesn't replace Specter, look for her as a possible

running mate for Governor Rendell.

She will be rewarded some way, somehow. I'd bet the farm on it.

[mdguss]

22. Agree with the Lt. Gov. thing:

Knoll really needs to go. the attending Republican fundraisers, staff firings, Diven's party switch, wacky statements etc, make her have no business being anywhere near the Governorship.

I voted for Hafer, over Knoll, in 2000 when she was still a Republican. I'm glad I did that. She'd be a very good Lt. Gov. I really, really, hope that someone besides Knoll will be on the ticket with Rendell next year. Hafer is probably the best person to put on the ticket, so I hope she runs.

[Richard Steele]

4. GO Casey!

He ain't the most progressive candidate in the world, but he's a DAMN sight better than Santorum, the Fascism-apologist.

[rabid_nerd]

24. Why isn't Casey progressive?

Name one issue BESIDES Pro-Life on which Casey isn't a dyed-in-the-wool OLD DEMOCRAT?

In fact, OLD DEMOCRATS were frequently Pro-Life (see: Gore, Kennedy, et al)

BTW, I say OLD Democrat as an enormous compliment!

[Richard Steele]

28. I said he's not the MOST progressive

Some of his positions make me very happy, just not the Abortion thing.

And I think being an "Old Democrat" might make him pretty electable in PA right now.

[joanski01]

7. I am really glad to hear this

news!!! Exciting.

[meganmonkey]

8. "Casey, a Democrat who opposes abortion rights..."

I don't know much about him, and I don't like that the corporate media lists only this one thing about him....
Can anyone sum this guy up? Is he DLC? Repub-lite?

I know how bad we need to get Santorum out...

[Divernan]

9. He & his very capable, experienced staff are straight arrow.

I worked closely on a project with his senior staff in Harrisburg when he was Auditor General. We were investigating a huge increase in deaths among the mentally retarded when they were pushed out of the state centers into "group homes". These "homes" were supposed to be monitored/licensed by the Department of Public Welfare. DPW's regulations were a joke. There were no penalties for the operators who violated the regs. And the regs themselves were pretty toothless.

For example if you had say an aunt who was mentally retarded and in a group home, her family would not have to be notified by
DPW unless she died. DPW called this "respecting the privacy" of the aunt. So if she ran away, broke a bone, was assaulted or raped, came down with tuberculosis, had her belongings or spending money stolen, even became pregnant, the family was not told. I was working with a statewide parents' group to document abuses by the money making mega corps operating the "group homes" and to embarass DPW into cleaning up their act.

Casey's and his staff were TERRIFIC and did a "performance audit" as opposed to a strictly financial audit of these licensed operators. His office uncovered significant information which helped the parents' group greatly and could be used to bolster
demand for legislation to address the problems. Please understand that Casey was going against the lobbying/money contributing interests of the corporate nursing home industry and helping out families who had not and were in no position to give him a dime. He and his senior staff, who have been with him for probably 15 or more years - some of them date back to his Dad's
gubernatorial years, have decency and integrity. Those are two qualities I very rarely saw in the state capitol. I disagree with him on the choice/abortion issue - but I will gladly volunteer to work on his
campaign.

[meganmonkey]

10. Cool - thank you so much for taking the time

to post that!

:toast:

[mdguss]

11. Casey's a really good guy and Democrat:

Casey is firmly pro-union. A center-piece of his 2002 campaign for Governor was raising the state minimum wage. He supports environmental protection. In his statement today, he said he'd fight to protect social security--and criticized Bush's plan. Casey was a very good Auditor General. Like the post above said, when government wasn't doing its job, he shined bright lights on the problems, and usually got results. He was a member of the electoral college in 2004. He voted for John Kerry. As a Senator, his Auditor General experience would help with Congressional oversight.

Casey's record is basically that of an industrial midwest Democrat. Pro-working families, seniors, and environment while being a social moderate to conservative. Being pro-life is a belief that I, and millions of other Democrats, share. Don't let one issue obsecure just how good of a Senator Bob Casey, Jr. would be. I'm glad he is running, and I hope you all will support him.

As for Barbara Hafer, she really did the right thing for the party and the country. I commend her for doing what she did.

[meganmonkey]

16. Yeah, I was criticizing the media about the abortion focus,

not him for his stance. I am very pro-choice politically, but I would never judge a candidate by one issue. I also think that most pro-life Dems don't necessarily want to overturn Roe v. Wade, but rather reduce the number of abortions by education and availability of birth control (unlike the repukes - abstinence? yeah, right).

Just drives me nuts that the media chooses to define all candidates by one issue like that - quite often abortion, or whatever they feel the need to spin on a given day...

I'm not a PA person anymore (I did live there for 2 years in the late 90's), but my sister and bro-in-law live there and we talk a lot of politics. So I like to keep up on it.

Thanks!

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. He is actually pretty liberal on economic issues

But he is conservative when it comes to abortion. Kind of the opposite of Governor Rendell, who is a fiscal conservative and liberal on social issues.

[joanski01]

12. Governor Rendell Endorses Casey

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party
510 North 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: [phone] * Fax: [phone]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FORFURTHER INFORMATION
March 4, 2005 Contact: Don Morabito
717-238-9381

Governor Rendell Endorses Bob Casey for U.S. Senate
Governor will campaign on Casey's behalf in the coming months


Governor Edward G. Rendell issued the following statement regarding Pennsylvania State Treasurer Robert Casey's recently announced candidacy for United States Senate.

"Bob Casey will do an outstanding job as Pennsylvania's next United States Senator. Throughout his public career, he has always put the interests of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania's hard working families first. It is clear that he will continue to do so in the U.S. Senate.

“Bob was a terrific Auditor General and has the integrity, the skill, the energy and the experience to be a truly great Senator. He is the kind of public servant Pennsylvania needs. I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically endorse his candidacy, and I look forward to campaigning with him in the months ahead."



#####

[Penndems]

13. Here's the "Bob Casey for Senate" website:

http://www.bobcaseyforpa.com/

Looks good!

[BigBearJohn]

14. This is good news. We should support him.

[RamboLiberal]

27. I'm supporting him - just sent my first $ contribution

And I'll damn well do whatever work I can locally for the campaign.

[Walt Starr]

18. I've got no dog in this race

Sorry, anti-choice is a deal breaker for me. Good thing I don't live in PA or I'd be voting third party in the Senate race.

[RamboLiberal]

26. Sorry Walt - can't agree on this one

Glad you're not in PA - that stance reminds me of the one-issue voters on the other side be they pro-life or pro-gun.

[sadiesworld]

20. A real shot at getting rid of Santorum?

Sign me up! :toast:

[Merlin]

25. I've been in PA for 40 years. This is the REAL THING.

I've never much cared for Bob Casey, Jr. -- only because he seems to have the charisma of grass. But he is clean as a whistle. And his name draws like -- LIKE JESUS! in this state.

There's a good chance we can beat that sonofabitch Sanctorectum.

[rabid_nerd]

23. Woohoo!!!

Alright!

Already posted it on my blog,

doin a dance

[Straight Shooter]

29. He's got my support.

I have friends who are adamantly pro-birth, friends who are adamantly pro-life, and friends who are adamantly for a woman's right to decide.

I'll contribute to any halfway decent Dem who will get Santorum out. He's a ghoul and a homophobe.

And, face it, the name "Casey" resonates with people. "Casey at the bat" and all that.

[Moderator]

30. kick to combine

[jefferson_dem]

31. Anti-Abortion Dem. to Seek Pa. Nomination

Anti-Abortion Dem. to Seek Pa. Nomination

13 minutes ago

By PETER JACKSON, Associated Press Writer

HARRISBURG, Pa. - State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., the son of a former governor, entered the race for the Democratic nomination to oppose Sen. Rick Santorum (news, bio, voting record), the Senate's No. 3 leader and a rising Republican star.


National Democratic leaders had recruited Casey, whose father, the late governor Robert P. Casey, had clashed with the national party over his anti-abortion views. The younger Casey also opposes abortion.


Polls indicate Casey is the party's best hope for unseating the conservative Santorum, who is expected to seek a third six-year term next year.


"As senator, I will fight every day to put middle-class families first," Casey said Friday.

<SNIP>



http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&u=/ap/20050306/ap_on_re_us/pennsylvania_democrats&printer=1

[skylarmae]

32. if he could oust Santorum - that would be oh so sweet!

I'm not even from PA, but the very thought gives me a ______!!!!! (Not sure exactly how much one is allowed to say here).

[RPM]

43. fuck that - i'm not voting for him...

sorry - a pro-life dem isnt getting my vote.

I don't want to oust santorum by voting for someone almost as bad as him.

Shame my vote will be wasted on a 3rd party....

Guess if Dems want to be repubs, they won't get my vote.

Fuck casey. 6 More years of badmouthing santorum...

That is all - rant over...

[GainesT1958]

33. You know, somehow...

I DON'T think that Bob Casey, Jr.'s top priority if elected to the Senate will be to overturn Roe v. Wade, do you all?:eyes:

We need to do anything possible, IMO, to help this guy beat out "Sans-Scrotum" next year!:D

:kick:

B-)

[jefferson_dem]

35. Whatever it takes to get rid of sick-o sans-scrotum...

Just how much abortion legislation comes before the Senate anyway? The battle there will be in the states and courts from here on out.

Here's a link to a news story with some interesting poll digits - - -
Casey held a 46 percent to 41 percent lead over Santorum, with 11 percent undecided, the poll found.

But Santorum, a national favorite of social conservatives and No. 3 in the Republican leadership in the Senate, enjoyed a clear lead over three other Democrats who have said they are considering running: former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer; former U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel, the party's unsuccessful Senate candidate last year; and State Rep. T.J. Rooney (D., Lehigh, Northampton).

Voters also approved of Santorum's job performance, 52 percent to 31 percent, in the poll.

"Casey takes the independent vote, and that makes the difference," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the university's Polling Institute. "This is early, and there are a lot of questions up in the air, but it's fascinating."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/2005/02/17/news/local/10918898.htm

[Liberty Belle]

39. The Senate confirms judges. We don't need a DEM

selling us out--we need DEMs who will filibuster if necessary to stop anti-choice justices from being seated on the Supreme Court. Have you forgotten that we're just 1 vote away from overturning Roe v. Wade?

[Dogmudgeon]

42. Federal and S.C. judgeships are not single-issue votes

They never have been. A significant number of anti-choice politicians have voted pro-choice judges in, and vice-versa.

I also dispute that we're a single vote away from overturning Roe v. Wade. The way the anti-choice movement has been "playing ball" is to hit the side issues (like parental notification) and avoid a frontal attack on Roe v. Wade. Approximately 2/3rds of the American public support Roe v. Wade and look down on efforts to overturn it; the Religious Right does not want to see the issue go to the Congress, which would ignite a political firestorm. The status quo is what they want; they get their pounds of flesh in less-visible venues.

Senator Casey would pose some risks to the pro-choice movement, but I'm convinced that this issue has been flogged by the conflict-loving, left-bashing Press. The opportunity to out Santorum would hurt the anti-choice agenda badly enough to blunt whatever anti-choice effect Casey might have.

--p!

[Township75]

34. He is so going to kick Santorums ass!!!!!

I like this guy.

[Coastie for Truth]

36. A staunch Irish Catholic-Yes. Monomaniacal about abortion - No

And he's got name recognition from Susquehanna Country to Pittsburgh, and from Erie to the Delaware Valley, and across the I-80 "Bear and Deer Country" (where they close school for Deer Season) and across I-76.

We Iron City drinkin', Arsenal Kolbassi eatin', Pirate and Steeler cheerin' Heinz Ketchup slurpin', Kennywood Coaster ridin', Steel Valley Dems like him.

I am a pro-choice, Ivan Itkin lib from the 14th Ward (originally)

[jefferson_dem]

37. I like it! How does he play in pleasantville ~~ Cranberry Township, PA?

...or so i hear that's Pitt's version of pleasantville...

Now we see why Sans-scrotum lobbied for Specter this past cycle. He's gonna need all the freakin' help he can muster.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

41. Cranberry

Ah, my least favorite place in the entire Greater Pittsburgh metropolis.
And it isn't pleasantville. At least pleasantville was... pleasant. Cranberry is more like unpleasantville (sitting in traffic for half an hour just to get out of your driveway. ugh)

[Township75]

47. I believe he supports gun rights too, like his father...

this is what we need in PA!

[Voltaire99]

38. Another anti-abortion "Democrat"?

At a time when the nation is rushing toward religious government, I should think the Democrats ought to be able to cough up some rational candidates with respect for secular law.

Sadly, your flexibly-spined politics aren't exactly selling well these days. Capitulation to Bush in his first term paved the way for your defeat last year, and now you're scarcely even invited to committee meetings in Washington any more. But since you are the only putative opposition in our political system, it would be nice, wouldn't it, to see you get somewhere, which you might do the minute you learn to stop bending over.

Why not try believing in something, see how you fare, then? Try civil rights, for instance: try respecting the idea that you must either believe in rights for all or rights for none. Abortion is such a right. Those wishing to control it for religious reasons really should cross to the other side of the aisle; it's hard enough dealing with their mullahs without having to account for yours, too.

[Dogmudgeon]

40. The risks of electing an anti-choice Democrat

I don't think the risks are all that great.

First and most importantly, abortion laws are mainly a state issue. That's not to say that there have been no Federal attempts to limit choice, but putting Casey in the Senate rather than Harrisburg means that he will have less of an anti-choice effect, not more. It will mean we will have to keep anti-choice legislation out of the Senate, but without Santorum to draw a crowd, the job will be easier. Casey will split the Conservative "base" and weaken their hold.

Second, the so-called "Republican Lite" issue, Casey is very pro-Union and for the "traditional" Democratic approach to social programs. Nearly all of that support is pro-choice. The very act of empowering the Democratic Party will increase, rather than decrease, the power of the pro-choice movement. Casey is not "Republican Lite" at all, but "Democratic Staunch".

Third, the GOP has successfully used abortion as a wedge issue among Democrats. This will deprive the Republicans of one of the more effective weapons for destroying the Democratic Party. In fact, the mere presence of a "pro-life" Democrat will turn the tables and allow Democratic pundits to mockingly ask why Republicans won't allow a debate instead of vice-versa.

The only real downside of a Casey run is that we'll have to make sure that any reproduction-control legislation has an extra vote against it.

Rick Santorum has been a devastatingly effective Senator for the right wing putschists. He has raised huge amounts of money, organized the traditionally Democratic Catholic voting bloc for the GOP and against the Democrats, and has given the anti-choice movement a forceful and wealthy voice in Washinton. Knocking him out of play will yield far more benefits than a "right-to-life" Democrat can neutralize. And Democrats nationally will benefit from having Rick Santorum's head on a pike in an election that will probably get more attention than any other in 2006.

Democrats who rant that they won't vote for him because of their Conscience should think this one out in detail. Destroying the iron grip of Darth Santorum will hurt the anti-choice movement far more than Casey will help it.

The right to choose will not be jeopardized by this election -- unless the pro-choice movement throws in the towel. And I don't think that is likely. Electing Casey as Pennsylvania's junior Senator is a calculated risk, but the benefits are far too great to ignore this opportunity. And the risks are much smaller than the Press, which is loudly broadcasting Casey's position on abortion, would have us believe.

Pragmatic Democrats from across the spectrum have a clear agenda to pursue; conscientious pro-choice Democrats may see a compromise, but there is a very strong case to be made that if Santorum goes down, anti-choice lobbying will suffer a crippling blow that can't be assuaged by Senator Casey's personal position on the issue.

--p!

[woosh]

44. this is a pragmatic choice

the goal is to win back the senate.

[Mandate My Ass]

45. This is Reid's doing, Reid's choice. Casey wasn't going to run

Fuck Reid. He's using his position to undermine women's rights.

Interesting how an anti-choicer has decided another anti-choicer is the only alternative to Santorum and has muscled the pro-choicers out of the race.

[MGKrebs]

46. As if anybody is "pro-abortion".

I hate headlines like that. The battle is half lost if the media accepts loaded terminology.

[GetTheRightVote]

48. Go Dems Go Casey !!!

:kick: