PA Senate on Alito

Chuck Pennacchio is running for Senate in this here state of mine. He is a pro-choice; pro universal healthcare; pro gun safety laws [that's not anti gun]; anti-war; pro withdrawal, with a timetable, from Iraq; pro embryonic stem cell research; the issues list goes on... He stood against the nomination of now Chief Justice John Roberts. He stands against the nomination of Samuel Alito. Bob Casey, sadly, does not. Here's an AP story and another story from the Inky. And Gov. Ed Rendell also came out in favor of the nomination [what the fuck?], but he's shilling for Casey and has no grandiose plans to run for higher office [it seems after this decision]. His wife also happens to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit with nominee Alito. From the Inky:

If he had opposed Alito, Casey could have invigorated the liberal base - a shaky constituency because of his antiabortion position - at a time when fund-raising is a top priority of the campaign.

But Casey backed Alito after watching the hearings on C-Span at night, considering newspaper editorials, and talking with his closest political advisers. He gave "serious consideration" to Alito's character, legal experience, credentials, judicial temperament and philosophy, his statement said.

Riiiight, because in all of those hours of hearings Alito really proved himself to be a stand up guy. I watched/listented to about six hours of those hearings before I couldn't take it anymore. This guy is a fuckwad [that's purposely left as a dangling modifier].

From the AP:

For weeks, Republicans have called Casey "Silent Bob" and pressed him to say whether he supports Alito's confirmation. Casey and Alito have a family connection because Alito, who serves on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Philadelphia, sided with Casey's father, the late Gov. Bob Casey, in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The case challenged a state law requiring women seeking abortions to notify their spouses.

"Silent Bob" ha, that's a pretty good one, I gotta admit. If the shoe fits.

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Casey's camp has said how they're so different from Sen. $antorum and he'll out maneuver him on the issues. Great! If only they differed enough to have some wiggle room to maneuver. They're both pro Iraq, anti gun safety laws, anti living wage, anti universal healthcare for all, anti choice, anti embryonic stem cell research, and now they're both pro Alito. Bob, where do you differ? Just that (D) behind your name? If that's the only difference, that's not good enough for me. That just means you're a DINO.

Three men in a room [Schumer-Reid-Rendell] made a decision several months ago to anoint candidate Casey as the choice for Democrats in Pennsylvania. They chose wrong. Now, they are not only alienating the Liberal side of the Democratic party here in PA, but all Democrats across the United States. The Alito nomination is facing the threat of filibuster in the Senate. As of now, it looks like every single Democrat [minus Ben Nelson (D-ND)] even Joe "Alf's Dad" Lieberman (D-CT) is going to vote against him! A few Republicans are looking to vote against the nomination plus Mr. Independent. If Casey were in the U.S. Senate right now, he'd vote to approve Alito. If Senator Pennacchio were in the Senate right now, he'd be all over the place working to knock down this wacko nominee.

The blogs are blowing up after this news. Here's a sampling for some further reading on the subject:

• once, twice via Booman
• Rowhouse Logic
• Rubber Hose
• Suburban Guerrilla
• Young Philly Politics
• once, twice, thrice via Atrios
• Paradox1x
• Coeruleus
• Pennacchio Blog
• iFlipFlop
• 2 Political Junkies
• A Smoke Filled Room
• dKos
• AMERICAblog
• Attytood

And I'm sure there are more, but this is a good sample from the blogs around the way and this list will be updated as much as I can keep up.

But hey, don't just take my word for it, come out and see what the real Democratic candidates have to say. Chuck Pennacchio and Alan Sandals will be taking part in the Neighborhood Networks and African American Hertage Coalition candidate forum on Saturday the 28th. It's being held at the First Baptist Church at 17/Sansom Sts from Noon to 3p. The event is free and open to the public.

Comments

[Maria]

Also a lot of comment when crossposted in a Daily KOS diary.

[PSoTD]

I have to say, Casey just took me out of "watch and see" mode and lost any chance I would have voted for him in the primary.

[Neighborhood Civic PAC]

PoliticsPA has learned that several influential members of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO have clashed with local, state and national leadership regarding the endorsement of Bob Casey Jr. over Rick Santorum for United States Senate. The divergence has become so great that the Philadelphia Building Trades, led by Pat Gillespie, threatened to split from the Philadelphia AFL-CIO at the endorsement meeting Tuesday night. Leaders representing unions including the Sprinklerfitters, Cement Masons and Longshoremen strongly opposed the endorsement of Casey.

[Greg]

Meh. That's a purely political calculation on his part and not really all that surprising. I'm guessing he figures he has the primary race wrapped up completely already. If he had come out against Alito, that'd be one of the few weapons Santorum would have against him. Anyway, the people who are truly concerned about this at the moment probably already support another candidate (as you're doing).

I hope if he were actually a senator that wouldn't be his choice on an Alito vote, but there's no way to know.

[albert]

Purely a political calcualtion? By coming out and saying so, he is saying that this is what he believes.

Do you honestly think that Casey will win voters over with this decision as you suggest, by taking weapons from $antorum?

He is telling you that as a Senator, he would vote for Alito, don't you get it Greg?

[upyernoz]

yeah greg, i agree with albert. the "purely a political calculation" doesn't really hold water.

casey didn't have to comment at all about the alito nomination. in fact, if he was a savvy politician he wouldn't have.

this blunder is just another demonstration that casey is not that strong of a candidate. his good (though sinking) poll numbers against santorum are more an indication of santorum's unpopularity.

[Greg]

He's a politician. How can you believe anything that any of them say until they actually have to cast a vote? (Yes, I know I'm heartless, a pessimist, root of all evil, etc.)

Yeah, I think that he's basically attemping to nullify the issue against Santorum by saying that he'd vote for Alito. I'm guessing Casey figures if he didn't say that, Santorum would run ads against him stating that he's anti-Alito. (Not that I would have an issue with that.) I'm guessing Casey is attempting to move towards the center (or right...) for the general election as democrats have tried to do in the past. Whether that is a wise strategy this early (or even ever anymore) in a election is up for debate.

Yes, I agree that he should have said nothing in order to not dissappoint people in his own party. There's no reason to throw salt in the wound here as he's doing. The more I think about it, I don't think there's any strong candidate in this race. Albert, you should run. Seriously. You've got a fine website and take good pictures. That's enough for me.

[Matt]

I'm guessing Casey figures if he didn't say that, Santorum would run ads against him stating that he's anti-Alito.

And what good would that have done, this being a blue, pro-choice state?

[albert]

Moving towards the center is one thing [which I loathe], but Casey's views are more right of center and this moved him even further.

The strongest candidate out there is my guy, Chuck Pennacchio.