Casey on the Radio. He's an Independent Whore.

Casey's being interviewed on Radio Times (local NPR talk show).  Here's what I've heard so far:

1. He'd vote to overturn Roe if he had the chance to do so in the Senate.  He doesn't think he'll have the chance though. 
2. He's been honest about that position and people respect it.
3. He's for funding research into embryonic stem cell research that doesn't damage the embryo.  He called that a "third way."
4. He wants to amp up border security and crack down on employers who hire illegal workers.  But he doesn't want to go down a road that would "send people back."   
5. He thinks that not debating Sandals and Pennacchio in Philly is the same thing as not debating them in Erie and Johnstown. 
6. He wants more ATF officers on the ground. 

I missed most of what he had to say about homeland security (I think) because I'm getting ready to go to a funeral later today and I really don't have time for this.   The interview will show up in the Radio Times archives.

The calls:
It looks like the Santorum supporters are out in force.
1. Employer in North Carolina: I employ illegal workers and they work hard!  I can't get Americans to do the jobs and they come in drunk or drugged and you're going to shut me down?  I pay over 25,000/year (in something - I missed it)! 

Casey: Laws are laws.  Gotta enforce'm.  The real problem is the single-party rule in Washington.  Gotta elect some Dems. 

2. Repealing the tax cuts is communist.  Are you about punishing success or raising revenue?

Fiscal responsibility.  Can't have tax cuts for the top 1% in wartime.  Fiscal responsiblity.  Can save $25B - $60B a year by cutting out waste in the budget. 

3. Guns.  We need leadership to cut down the guns on our streets.  Casey doesn't support closing the gun show loophole.  Why is that?

Casey: You gotta live in the real world of what can happen in Washington.  There's no support in Washington for new gun laws.  But we can support programs that address the underlying causes of gun violence.  Don't simplify the issue by making it about gun laws.   We have to defeat Rick Santorum, get a Democratic Senate and move forward on a lot of these issues.

Marty: You haven't been to work while running for office.  Are you doing your job?
Casey: I can do my job without being at my desk.  Santorum has well over 90 days when he's been out of the office raising money.  I've done my job well.  We've been getting money back on our investments at an impressive rate.  We've done something good for hospitals.  We've done something that made Wall Street happy.  Santorum is trying to deflect attention from his very sorry record on fiscal responsibility and the fact that he votes with BushCo over 98% of the time.  It'll be a debate in the end on our records and I'll do well.   The big question though is if we're going to stay on the road of partisanship in this country or get on a new road. 

Marty: You've had to raise a lot of money.  People say that people who give money get special attention.  What can you say to get us to believe that that isn't true?
Casey: Look at my record.  I'm very independent.  No special interest group will be able to control what I do.  (Look at his health plan to find out how true that is. -eR) 

The GOP had a chance to show that they were tough on lobbyists and they blew it.  I did a photo op at Abramoff's old restaurant to talk about my ethics plan.  It's a good plan.

Marty: Unregged non-profits are pumping money into your campaign.   Would you favor legislation that requires disclosure about all that?

Casey: I would.  The group you're talking about, Lantern, is a 527 so they have to disclose their donor list.  Americans for Job Security is the other player in this campaign.  They don't have to disclose their donors.  I've called on them to do that.  Santorum won't.  (Pennacchio has information about Casey's money from AJS here.)

Question: How are you going to go after Santorum when you take money from a lot of the same PACs? 
Casey:  If you want to talk about the big interests - the insurance industry, K-Street, big oil, pharmaceutical  ... - they are all lock stock and barrel for Santorum.  All lobbyists who give to me know that I'm independent.   I get most of my money from labor, teachers, all kinds of labor groups.  That's the bulk of the support I've gotten.  So I'm proud of that.

Question: What about the environment?
Casey: I'm opposed to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  Santorum supports it.  The GOP is committed to oil companies.  That's what you get with one-party rule.  We have to restore polluter pays.  Make a committment to reducing emissions. 

Casey didn't do too badly.   I have to go get my kid at preschool. 

Comments

[A Big Fat Slob]

I was on hold for 40 minutes but never got on. I would have enjoyed asking him something like this:

Mr. Casey, I was impressed with two statements that you have made so far this morning.

One, in talking about gun issues, you said that you weren't the kind of person who would tell one interest group one thing and another something else.

Two, you said that you were comofrtable taking money from the same PACs that give to Santorum because you aren't the kind of person who would shade or alter your views just to get support.

That's great and here's my question.

A little over 18 months ago, when you were running for Treasurer, you told the Catholic Bishops that you opposed granting adoption rights to gays.

But, a few months later, after getting elected and then deciding to run for the Senate, trying to get their support, you told a leading Gay and Lesbian advocacy group that you supported full adoption rights for gays. Then, last month, you said in the televised Senate Candidate debate that you would not support repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which, among other things, denies all legal benefits to gay couples under federal law.

So, you can, I am sure, see why some people question just what your current views are on equal rights for all of our citizens.

"Independent Whore"? I think you are half right.