Cross posted
from MyDD.
After getting feedback on a diary I wrote yesterday suggesting why Santorum would be a better choice for progressive Pennsylvania Democrats than Casey, I went to the beach today to kick back and think things over. Nothing had really crystallized until I read Chris Bowers' diary explaining why supporting Bob Casey Is progressive. I also re-examined Steve Soto's article on giving Dem apparatchiks the benefit of the doubt and reconsidered Rosenberg's suggestion to focus on movement politics within the Democratic Party.
I am not convinced.
First of all, I would like to get the single issue voter nonsense out of the way. Like a broken record the so called centrists repeatedly accuse those of us who oppose Casey of basing it on a single issue. Here are six issues that I itemized yesterday.:
Iraq
Abortion
Gay rights
Alito and Bush judicial picks
Wireless Wiretapping
Renewal of The Patriot Act
There is no shortage of sound reasons for progressive Democrats to oppose Bob Casey in the primary and not vote for him in the general election. Curt Matlock listed more indications Bob Casey will be another Joe Lieberman:
War in Iraq
Casey faces his own challenges, among them finding a position that portrays him as neither an antiwar defeatist nor a passive war supporter. On the major Iraq votes - authorizing force and funding the operation - Casey said he would have supported those measures, just as Santorum did. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Terry Schiavo
"I think you should err on the side of life. I think some kind of congressional review was appropriate." (Philadelphia Inquirer)
After getting his for his MoveOn Endorsement
"They (Move On) endorsed him... He didn't endorse them." -- Bob Casey's Campaign Manager
Nuclear Option
The campaign manager for Pennsylvania Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., who is running against Santorum in next year's Senate contest, said Casey welcomed the deal. "Bob Casey is relieved that reasonable people in the Senate were able to find a bipartisan solution," Jay Reiff said.
There are plenty of sound reasons to expect Bob Casey to be just as antithetic to progressive Democrats on a number of different issues as Joe Lieberman has been. It looks to me like they are ideological brothers by different mothers.
If Pennsylvania progressives want to vote for Bob Casey, there ain't nothin' I can do to stop 'em. Just don't kid yourself while you're selling out your principles. Bob Casey is a known item. The reason he doesn't need an expansive issues page is because, like Scalito, his views and positions are very well known to his supporters and would only serve to turn away Pennsylvania Democrats who are disgusted with Santorum, but don't follow politics closely. Bob Casey will be a reliable vote for Bush on a number of issues where faux bi-partisan support will make Bush look like a uniter, not a divider.
As far as I can tell, the core reason offered for progressives to sacrifice their principles and vote for Bob Casey is to achieve a Senate Majority. The price is too high and the reward too little. I value my vote and I cherish the principles and values that inform my vote. I will not cast them aside to put an anti-abortion, mealy mouthed conservative like Harry Reid in the Senate driver's seat.
For my money Harry Reid has been less effective as minority leader than Tom Daschele was as majority leader. Can somebody please name three issues on which Harry Reid has successfully opposed Bush?
I'll close with this little tidbit from paradox:
Year after year after year, defeat after defeat, the party liberal base still puts up, shows up and votes for you. Then Harman and Daschle put on that little show last Sunday. For the record I hope you understand how incredibly painful it is, and how totally un-fucking-deserving you are to be honored with the loyalty of men like Steve Soto. You sons of bitches, it hurts like hell.
The duplicitous bastards leading the Democratic Party down the primrose path of national security "me too-ism" also do not deserve the loyalty of men like Scott Shields and Chris Bowers.
Tomorrow: How to remake the Democratic Party in Howard Dean's image this side of the turn of the next century.