It was with an appalled sense of horror today that I watched
this diary climb higher and higher up the recommended list and receive praise from people I know and respect.
Even worse was the gnashing of teeth in the comments section where it was apparently decided that Bob Casey, Jr. was the next coming of Zell Miller, if not Bill Frist.
People. First of all, to those of you mocking Casey's early lead in the polls so far out, allow me to gently point out that it's probably not a good thing for you to play Nostradamus on his behavior to a position he may or may not win.
Secondly, Bob Casey, Jr. would be a great thing to help a signficant part of the Democratic base, one that has been pissed on and mocked by members of the party (including the sanctified Pro Choice Women) as much Republicans.
Unions.
It's always intensely amusing to me when I see the wailing and rending of garments by the various segments of the Democratic party's base in regard to feeling left marginalized and threatening to take their ball and leave the party.
To which I say: cry me a fucking river. You have no idea what it is like to be marginalized or abandoned until you are a union voter. (I should hasten to add the exception to this would be African American voters, who have received a spiked dildo in the ass from the party even moreso than union members. Were it not the goal of the modern GOP to basically return us to the times of the antebellum south, I wouldn't blame them one bit for voting Republican. But that's another diary.)
Once upon a time, unions were THE power center of the Democratic party. Today they are barely thought of at all. I can't tell you how many otherwise intelligent progressive types I know who are dismissive of unions, even contemptuous of their members. Too "blue collar," too "redneck," too "uneducated."
If you have this attitude (and if you're honest with yourself, I'm sure many of you do): Fuck you.
These are my people. I come from the heart of old union country in Pennsylvania. I know many, I have worked with many...they are my friends. The vast majority of them are hard-working, decent people, utterly dedicated to their families and who can be counted on to vote Democratic. In fact, many of them are highly motivated poll workers, drivers, etc. for the Democrats on election day.
What do they get for this? Nothing.
What did most Democrats do when Reagan broke the power of the unions in the 80's? Nothing.
What did most Democrats do when Limbaugh and his ilk began the systematic demonization of unions in the 90's? Nothing.
What did most Democrats do when horrific bills like NAFTA and GATT were rammed through in the 90's...by elected Democratic officials!? Nothing.
Throughout ALL of that, all the pleas for help that went unanswered, seeing their jobs disappear and their families left in dire straits, the union voters have stuck by the party.
God only knows why. My town has, in my lifetime, gone from prosperous union country town to miserable backwater hellhole. Many of you are familiar with the fate of Flint, Michigan through the works of Michael Moore. Guess what? Old union town.
And people have the unmitigated gall to attack a candidate who would be a godsend to these people, when it is their specific issue that the party constantly bends over backwards for?
I can't take it.
I voted for Bob Casey in the gubernatorial primary in 2002. It was with the greatest reluctance that I voted for Ed Rendell, a man I detest. If the Republicans manage to run a decent candidate in 2006 (doubtful at best, but for the sake of argument) I'll have to think about my vote long and hard. Rendell was propelled to victory in the primary by the two major urban centers of PA: Philly and Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh, former union town, undergoing transformation to white collar tech town. Urgh.) Otherwise, Democrats in nearly every other county in PA voted for Casey as their preferred candidate.
You were talking about swing voters? Pro choice Republican women? Puh-leeze. How about union workers who are sick of being shit on?
And while I'm thinking about it, Rendell, a Democratic God in the minds of some, solved Philly's fiscal problems through...wait...you guessed it....shitting on the city's union workers! And what did the do upon gaining office? That's right...raped AFSCME in the ass!! Only this time, statewide!
But I digress.
My point is that Bob Casey, Jr. is incredibly respected and revered by the union base. It's appalling to me to see the attacks directed at him, given that in every other way possible he's a Democrat's Democrat when examining the party platform.
It's especially amusing/annoying to me to see Dean supporters blasting Casey, when, the abortion issue aside, Bob Casey is pretty much EXACTLY like Howard Dean. Dean's initial statements blasting Bush's foreign policy may have attracted me to him, but it was his positions that kept me there and cause me to remain solidly in his camp to this day.
Fiscally responsible? Check. Sensible position on guns? Check. Plain speaking, yet passionate guy that your average joe can understand? Check.
Hmmm...who else does that sound like...
Do I even need to tell you?
Instead of rampant speculation, howzabout we actually examine Bob Casey on the issues. Survey taken from here.
1. What is your position on providing legal protection for unborn children from the moment of conception if Roe v. Wade is overturned?
1a. If support, what exceptions, if any, would you require? a) life of the mother b) life of the mother, rape and incest c) life of the mother, rape, incest, and fetal deformity
Casey (D): Support a) Life of the mother. If the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade and the issue was returned to the states, and if the PA General Assembly passed an abortion bill, that bill would contain exceptions for rape, for incest, and for the life of the mother. I would strongly support that bill because it would have the effect of reducing the number of abortions in PA.
2. What is your position on legislation that would attempt to weaken or repeal the PA Abortion Control Act?
Casey (D): Oppose
3. What is your position on public funding of abortion?
Casey (D): Oppose
Now, as a pro-choicer myself, I have to say these answers are not what I want, especially 2 and 3. But, actually, Casey's answers are consistent and one can see his position emerge.
First, he supports contraception to prevent pregnancies from happening in the first place and thus avoiding the need for abortion entirely. This alone puts him LIGHT YEARS ahead of your anti-choice Republicans.
Next, it would seem to me from the tenor of his answer to the first question, that he believes that Roe vs. Wade gives the Federal government the power to keep abortion legal. Notice he talks about the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade...not any branch of Congress. My guess is that the whole anti-choice thing would be a non-issue in Casey's Senate career.
More good news on the contraception front:
5. What is your position on a provision in the state's budget to fund contraceptive services?
Casey (D): Support
5a. What is your position on requiring employers or health insurance plans to cover contraceptives in their prescription drug plans?
Casey (D): Support
So, please, don't tar and feather him as just another GOP anti-abortion wackjob, mmmkay?
And if Casey is such a horrid neanderthal, explain his positions on homosexauls:
. What is your position on government requiring that benefits be provided to same-sex partners?
Casey (D): Employers should be permitted to extend domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples in committed, long-term relationships.
8. What is your position on legislation prohibiting homosexual couples from adopting children?
Casey (D): Oppose
I admit, the answer to the first question there is a lot more wishy-washy than I would like. But his answer to question 8 is unambiguous. Again, he's about the farthest thing you can get from idiots like Frist, Coburn, Inhofe, Cornyn, etc.
Finally, allow me to examine the case of one Harry Reid (D-NV), who also happens to be the party leader in the Congressional body Casey aspires to join.
Reid's views on abortion are basically identical to Casey's. Last I checked, Reid was kicking ass. I haven't seen Reid endorsing any anti-choice legislation lately.
Besides, do you really think Reid couldn't keep Casey in line if he DID try to go haring off on his own and support the GOP on some insane abortion bill? Vote discipline has been one of Reid's great strengths thus far. Casey could easily find some plum pork projects for PA (nice alliteration, eh?) cut out from the budget were he to cross party lines on abortion. At the very least, he could try to lever some extra pork for his commonwealth in exchange for a pro-choice vote, but I don't blame him for that...his first duty is to his constituents.
I'm about ranted out, so I guess I just have to say in conclusion: Think, people. I'm all for an open primary. I WANT to see Pennacchio run. I WANT to see issues debated. But, please, let's try to refrain from baseless attacks on Bob Casey and understand what he could mean to one of the most marginalized of all Democratic constituencies.
UPDATE: Lot of support, and for that I thank you all. Also, a lot of thoughtful disagreement, and for that I thaknk youa s well. Junfortunately, I've been dirnking a good bit, so i fear it would be jim Beam replying firght now and not me, so I'll leave off until tomorrow. Wonder how muchmore of this bottle i cna get through.........