"So many Americans have been blessed to grow up and live with public broadcasting. We and ours not only were nurtured on Big Bird and Elmo, but value deeply public broadcasting's rich diversity of radio and television programming and, most crucial, its indispensable independence from political and other content/commercial-directed influence."
This statement by Ed Case on June 28, 2005, provided apparent comfort to individuals who appreciate the programming provided by the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. By examining Case's actual voting record, however, a more troubling picture emerges regarding this issue and his approach to domestic issues in general.
On March 17, 2005, Case voted in favor of the Hensarling amendment to the 2006 budget. (House Vote 83 - H Con Res 95) The Hensarling amendment was developed by the right wing Republican Study Committee in the House, and it sought a 2% across the board cut in all non-defense related spending. This would have translated into $58 billion in cuts from discretionary spending including health care and education.
The amendment also expressed the wish of Congress to eliminate Title X family planning, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Legal Services Corporation, and Advanced Technology Program. The House defeated the Hensarling Amendment by a vote of 320-102. 122 Republicans voted against the Hensarling Amendment, and 101 Republicans voted for it. Ed Case was the only Democrat who voted in favor of this extreme right wing budget proposal.
During the primary election campaign between Senator Dan Akaka and Case, much emphasis has been placed on the candidate's differences regarding the War in Iraq. Senator Akaka opposed the original authorization of force in Iraq, while Case favored it. Senator Akaka supported the Kerry-Feingold-Boxer proposal to set a deadline for troop withdrawl, while Case favors the Bush no plan, no end strategy.
Although the War provides a clear distinction between the candidates, Case's vote in favor of the Hensarling Amendment may be even more shocking in some respects. Case's budget views are even extreme for the Republican Party, and his willingness to vote for a proposal that would eliminate family planning programs, funding for public television, and funding for Legal Aid makes him look more like a Red Dog than a Blue Dog.
Some pundits have compared Case to Lieberman, but to my knowledge even Lieberman didn't vote to kill Big Bird and Elmo.