9 November 2005 - 11:30am
Schumer on reproductive rights: "Those days are over"
Reading this post by BooMan today is quite disturbing to anyone who values women's reproductive rights.
"I said, those days are over Ed. Yes I'm pro-choice, but we need the best candidate. We can't insist that every democrat check off 18 different issues before they get (unintelligible) we could do that, we can't anymore. And so, we persuaded, Harry (Reid) using his very...Harry has amazing insights into people...and we together persuaded Bob Casey to run.
I think people just automatically assume that Democrats will defend reproductive rights -- or they don't think it's important enough to care much about.
Just like I think most Californians didn't quite realize that Proposition 73, which was defeated by 5.2%, would have defined an embryo or fetus as an "unborn child" -- which would have had pernicious implications on all issues relating to reproductive rights.
Just like I believe that most people are quite happy in their ignorance of TRAP laws that are sweeping the country.
BooMan's post is about how Chuck Pennacchio seems to have been effectively frozen out of press coverage due to pressure from the Pennsylvania Democratic machine that favors another Bob Casey (there have been a few, apparently), who's so opposed to reproductive rights that he would not even endorse pro-choice Bill Clinton's candidacy in 1992.
Santorum can be beaten by Chuck Pennacchio. There is no need to try to trick Pennsylvanians into voting for another Bob Casey. We don't need more pro-life Senators. We need Senators that will stick up for our beliefs and our constitutional rights. So tell Peter Jackson how you feel about his half-ass biased reporting. pjackson@ap.org 717.238.9413
In the comments, CabinGirl offers her her friend's take on a recent Casey appearance [cite corrected per comments below]:
When asked would he support Pro-Choice Judges to the Supreme Court and block any that would strike down Roe v. Wade, he gave the typical politician side shuffle.
"I don't have a litmus test for supporting or voting down Judges etc....Blah, Blah , Blah" That drew mumbles of discontent from the crowd.
He is against opening lines for Stem Cell Research as it would go against his religious beliefs. That drew moans from the crowd.
He is for Gay Civil Unions with all benefits attached. He wasn't real clear on Gay Marriage. Seemed as though he supports everything except calling it marriage.
He believes in the distribution of condoms and EC. In fact he was really clear that he supports most if not all issues surrounding Family Planning. I have his Campaign Managers number and E-mail address, so we can try to get him to fill out our survey. I can try the back door approach if you need to.
He was long winded, not to the point, didn't seem to have focus or a clear agenda and was not very dynamic. Granted this is very early in the process, but he had better sharpen up his act if he is ever to beat Santorum.
I know that all of you are very disappointed in his stance on Stem Cell Research and Pro-Choice. I agree that is very disturbing, but he is our only real hope to beat Santorum. He has a proven track record of success, lots of money to back him, and the support of the State and National party leadership.
There are more comments like this, asserting that winning is more important than principles. With Roe on life support, how these governors stand on reproductive rights is more important than ever.
As for Casey, Marisacat points out:
Casey would need to get a lot more articulate on the fetus and "personhood". And the hard realities of criminality issues coming from the "fundie" domains.
In his run for Treasurer he filled out a response (two page pdf, loads fast) where he supports:
''legal protection for human life from conception".He aslo:
"opposes a woman's right to abortion"That means JUDGES. In case anyone missed Roberts and Alito (and Concerned Women for America pulling out of the Miers game) and Thomas and Scalia and and and. Many of the 208, that the congress approved for Bush, are pro life. Which is just code words for a lot of problems, not just wrt abortion. Commerce clause for one thing...
Those are the fighting words he signed off on in the run for Treasurer....
Know your candidates.
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Comments
Casey, Jr., opposes extending employer benefits to same-sex partners and opposes allowing homosexual couples to adopt children. These views are available in the 2004 Pennsylvania Catholic Council questionnaire.
By contrast, Chuck Pennacchio supports extending employer benefits to same-sex partners and supports allowing homosexual couples to adopt children.
Yes, it's hard to gain traction when you haven't been annointed as the prospective nominee by King Eddie of Rendellia. That said, I was watching Bob Casey on cable the other night, but flipped to the channel where you can watch paint dry--it was more interesting.
That said, Chuck Pennacchio has progressive views he isn't afraid to articulate. And running to the center hasn't ever produced a Democratic Senator elected to a full term in Pennsylvania IN MY LIFETIME--and I'm 48 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!
Democratic consultants and politocrats seem to be beneficiaries of the "new math" of the '80s.
That's not her comment. She is a very strong Pennacchio supporter. The comments you quote are her quoting remarks "emailed to me by someone I know who attended a fundraising event with the thought of possibly backing Casey." Her point in quoting the email was to show that Casey's supposedly better political skills aren't that great.
I changed the reference in the post. I hope it's accurate now.
Last week's New Yorker also has an article on how Chuck Schumer is pushing hard for Democrats embracing and supporting candidates who believe women have essentially no reproductive rights, candidates such as Casey.
I know it wasn't that big of a deal but given how much she dislikes Casey, it felt like very bad karma to not say something.
...and it's something Schumer does not seem to appreciate, either.