Conviction Wins

I'm going to be blunt. I don't know why any Democrat in Pennsylvania would vote for Bob Casey when Chuck Pennacchio is in the race running as an actual Democrat. The latest indication of Casey's political character came when he officially reserved judgment on the Alito nomination. From the Inquirer:

Just as he has done with previous Supreme Court nominees, Democratic Senate candidate Robert P. Casey Jr. said yesterday that he would "reserve judgment" on Samuel A. Alito Jr.

...

Top national Democrats and liberal advocacy groups, many of which are backing Casey, [groan -eR]cited the case as an example of Alito's being too extreme.

In a release yesterday, Republican Sen. Rick Santorum's campaign baited Casey: "Are they implying that Judge Alito's opinion was outside the mainstream? I think many Pennsylvanians would disagree."

Casey, who opposes abortion rights, said in a statement that he would not use a litmus test, preferring instead to examine his "overall judicial record and philosophy."

"Bob is approaching it exactly the same as every other nominee since announcing his candidacy," said Jay Reiff, Casey's campaign manager.

Casey's anti-choice position and the state party's hard on for appearing of like mind are motivating the nonsense about litmus tests and waiting and seeing. That view doesn't only put him out of step with the majority of Pennsylvanians, it also puts him and the state party out of step with a majority of Democratic candidates for the Senate. Sandals is pro-choice. Pennacchio is pro-choice and has come out against the Alito nomination. Casey is a Republican on the issue. In fact, if you run down a list of key issues, you'll see that Casey and Santorum agree on nearly every one. Iraq, Choice, Stem Cell, Death Penalty, Living Wage, Universal Health Care, Equal Rights, PAC money ... Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican ...

While researching this post, a question about Casey's position on civil unions occurred to me so I gave the campaign a call. I asked the person who answered the phone if Casey supported civil unions. That's a yes/no answer and everyone in the office knows what it is. The phone guy referred me to people who were busy with something right now and so were unable to talk. He suggested that I email the campaign. I suppose that there's a lovely rope in the corner I can feel free to piss up while I wait for a reply. This mamby pamby, what-would-you-like-me-to-be, don't ask don't tell, for-the-love-of-Christ-don't-need-an-abortion strategy is a guaranteed loser. I don't know everything but I know that when push comes to shove, people will vote for strength of character. As loony as Man-on-Dog is - and he's a full-on goon - he's got the courage of his loopy convictions. Casey is going to be postitioned as a bad Democrat and a bad Catholic. Did the state party learn nothing at all from '04?

Over the last five days I've been at two political actions at which Chuch Pennacchio spoke and I know of a third. He was on the panel of a forum about BushCo's War in Iraq with members of US Tour of Duty (photo above), including Ray McGovern. Yesterday Chuck spoke to the people demonstrating against the Alito nomination at the Doylestown courthouse and, on the same day, he spoke to my DFA group after the screening of the Walmart Movie.

He's pro-choice and unafraid to say so in public. He supports civil unions and isn't afraid to say so. He's pro-union and unafraid to show up at an event built around the reformation of WalMart's anti-union, anti-worker, anti-American business practices. He's opposed to BushCo's War in Iraq and is unafraid to be part of a forum that discusses the importance of getting out of there.

Chuck Pennacchio is unafraid. That sets him apart from Casey as well.

Comments

[DavidByron]

Principles.

[albert]

I've had the pleasure of meeting with, speaking with, volunteering for and hanging out with Chuck on several occassions now. He's a man of principles. He's not going to be selling out to make someone happy. It astounds me when I hear people saying they'd vote for Jr in the primary while openly disagreeing with so many of his positions and admitting that Chuck is the better choice on certain grounds. Once they learn more about Jr's stances and Pennacchio's stances, more will see that proverbial light.