FINAL PLEA FOR CONTRIBUTION TO DR. CHUCK PENNACCHIO'S
PROGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN
As I wander around the city--quite aimlessly at times no doubt--and talk to people about Chuck Penn's candidacy it occurs to me that I don't know every policy position that Dr. Pennacchio has staked out. Of course, the nice thing about supporting Chuck Penn's candidacy is that if he's elected I'm fairly certain that he'll actually vote in the public interest most of the time--as opposed to Ricky Santorum, who, like most Republicans, will vote against and sell out the public interest most of the time. In other words, I know that I can trust Chuck.
There's also a big difference between Chuck Pennacchio and Bob Casey Jr., or as I call him Senatorial nominee Zell Miller from Pennsylvania.
For example, let's take a look at the Roberts nomination. Democrats should have voted no just on principle. That principle being that President Bush generally makes terrible decisions--especially long term and which we got a chance to see in action with NOLA--and that if someone wants a seat on the highest court on the land they should at least give forthcoming answers and not smokescreens. And, sure enough, Dr. Penn would have voted no against Roberts, just as our Republican-lite Democrat Party nominee Bob Casey Jr. would have voted yes. Keep in mind that labor backs Casey Jr. even though he's guaranteed to confirm anti-labor, corporatist judges. I'm still trying to think of what pro labor bills would make it to the floor that Bob Casey Jr. could vote yes on. The only thing that comes to mind are pork barrel projects and no votes for higher emission standards for coal plants--thus "leading" in the same way that the auto unions have "led" against higher fuel standards for cars and trucks, especially helpful when we hit 5 dollars a gallon no doubt.
It has been pointed out that people who support Chuck Pennacchio are one issue people, with that one issue being choice. But keep in mind that Bob Casey Jr. isn't just bad on the choice issue, he's shown incredibly bad judgment on arctic drilling, the inanely intrusive Terri Schiavo case, moratorium against the death penalty, stem cell research, and the living wage. So, Bob Casey isn't just anti choice and robs us of intelligent women who want to control their own bodies as opposed to fundie theocrats, his whole platform is an attack against the coalition that makes up the Democratic Party coalition, which was a winning coalition for both Kerry and Rendell. It was a loser for Ron Klink, another pro life Democrat. Of course, what if the leadership of Pennsylvania is Pro life? Perhaps they might even want to lose...which, I guess, would explain a Bob Casey Jr. run for the US Senate.
So, it's not just the one issue folks. And no I don't buy the Kos argument that it's the coalition. We've already lost the filibuster because we don't have democrats in the US Senate who would be willing to use it. Shameful. We need democrats who stand for something and will make a solid 40.
I mean, there's so much gnashing of teeth at Kos and Mydd and Atrios about turncoat democrats who vote with the Republicans...doesn't it make sense not to make Zell Miller the next Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania...? I think we can do better. Chuck Pennacchio is clearly better and I think he could actually win if we provide a contrast.
So, if you would like to nominate someone the GOP will not use to undermine the Democratic Party message and/or base then please consider giving Chuck Pennacchio a contribution today as the quarter ends. He's looking for small contributions, 5, 10, 25 dollars, as well as big. So give what you can to help this truly progressive voice. You never know. It might even be the beginning of an opposition party. God knows we could use one.
