Who's Screwing America's Female Democrats?

[NVMojo]

March 18, 2006

Women, Who make up the Majority of the Democratic Party, are being Stabbed in the back, by a Few Senate Leaders, a Governor and a whole bunch of spineless Women's Organizations.

Democratic women are about to be stabbed in the back. It started out as a plan by Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid and Ed Rendell. They saw that Bob Casey, jr., son of a former PA governor, polled well against Santorum. So they made up their minds that THEY would decide who would be the Democratic candidate to run in the 2006 PA senate race.

There's one problem with that. Casey, like his father, is anti-abortion, anti-embryonic stemcell. That's a big problem. This race will be the most closely watched election in the nation. The right wing democrats who have been sabotaging the integrity, values and leadership of the Democratic party are dying to claim that a Casey win proves that the way for Democrats to win is to oppose abortion-- to oppose the woman's right that was fought for for decades.

If Casey wins, this could be the most damaging, most devastating thing to impact upon women's rights in decades. It could be, and will be horrible.

more...

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_060318_who_s_screwing_ameri.htm

[skipos]

1. If SANTORUM wins, THAT would be the most damaging, most devastating thing

to happen to PA.

[OKNancy]

2. I think a Casey win means getting rid of Santorum

assuming Casey wins the primary

[Warpy]

6. Who cares?

One woman hater is just like any other woman hater.

[OKNancy]

8. I prefer Democrats, so I care

If we can win the Senate, then maybe Casey can be neutralized.
I have no vote in the race anyway. Let Pennsylvanians decide what they think is best.

[acmejack]

20. Chuck Pennacchio

I linked to a Nation article which speaks to this issue & offers the opinions of a number of prominent women on the matter. Also see Chuck's site!

snip>
The Casey controversy illustrates the perils of early intervention by Washington Democrats in the process of selecting Senate candidates at the state level; in their drive to find a strong contender, DC power brokers often bet on candidates who are more conservative than the grassroots activists who form the party's base. It's especially frustrating to Pennsylvania activists, who watched national Democrats elbow out of the contest Barbara Hafer, a popular prochoice woman who'd won a number of statewide races, to make way for Casey. "A lot of women feel ignored, like the boys decided that this is a throwaway issue," Kathy Miller, outgoing president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women, told the Philadelphia Daily News.

There is similar frustration in Tennessee, where another Senate candidate anointed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Congressman Harold Ford, came out against an anti-Alito filibuster on the day civil rights groups endorsed the last-ditch effort to block the nomination. Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP's Washington bureau, described the move by Ford, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, as "deeply concerning to us." Ford's primary foe, State Senator Rosalind Kurita, hasn't made a big issue of Ford's stand. It's a different story in Pennsylvania, where Chuck Pennacchio, a college professor and former Congressional aide, has positioned himself as the progressive alternative to Casey on issues ranging from abortion rights to the Iraq War. Along with another candidate who's challenging Casey, attorney Alan Sandals, Pennacchio seized on Casey's defection to the Alito camp. "Democrats will have a choice between a watered-down version of Rick Santorum and a strong Democrat who will consistently stand with them on the issues they care about," argues Pennacchio. Recalling that his party lost when it ran a social conservative against Santorum in 2000, Pennacchio says: "An antichoice Democrat cannot beat an antichoice Republican in a high-profile race."

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060227/nichols

http://www.chuck2006.com/caseyfacts.asp

[NVMojo]

25. great links, thanks!

[struggle4progress]

27. "early intervention by Washington Democrats" cost us a Senate seat in NC:

there's no question that Elaine Marshall could have beat Libby Dole. But the DLC crowd pumped money into Erskine Bowles instead.

Erskine's 2002 campaign ad? "Erskine bowls," with vintage 1950's bowling footage.

The DC Dems are screwing our party ...

[Coastie for Truth]

30. It's all about organizing the Senate

Organizing the Senate--

1. Which Party is the majority party?
2. Which Party controls appoints the Committee chairs?
3. Which Party controls the Committee Agendas and the full Senate Agenda?
4. Which Party chairs the Judiciary Committee hearings for Court of Appeals Judges - and the next vacancy on the Supreme Court.
5. Which Party controls the sub-committees and committees on, for example, Health care.

Remember - Harris Wofford was "our kind" of Democrat -- and the Scaife Money mopped up the floor with him.

Remember - Ivan Itkin was "our kind" of Democrat -- and he finished THIRD behind Tom Ridge.

Remember - Peter Flaherty was elected - and re-elected - Mayor of Pittsburgh on a pledge to stop rapid transit, halt the growth of the Universities (I lived in the 4th Ward, Thank You), and talk tough to ALCOA, PPG, and Westinghouse.

Remember - Bob Duggan - Scaife's idiot brother in law - was elected and re-elected Pittsburgh DA - on an Ashcroft type platform.

Casey might be the only way to carry more then Pittsburgh's "Oakland-Shadyside- Squirrel Hill- Point Breeze" and Montgomery County.

[IndyOp]

9. Running Casey is a symptom of the sickness that is destroying the Dems

I want a party of PRINCIPLES -- what do Democrats stand for -- no one knows, but everyone sees them as spineless and lacking in values. How about being pro-family, pro-woman, and pro-life in the sense of being anti-war and strong on defense? Pro-constitution? Anyone? Anyone? Reid? Schumer? Clinton?

They run Casey because they can't neutralize the Republican attack on pro-choice candidates. And they attack Feingold because they can't neutralize the Republican attack on them as being weak on defense:

HEY DEMS - STOP TRYING TO FIND A FREAKING 'WINNING FORMULA' AND START STANDING FOR SOMETHING!!

AND WHILE YOU ARE AT IT: TAKE A COURSE IN 'DEBATE' or 'FRAMING' -- YOU COULDN'T FREAKING ARGUE YOUR WAY OUT OF A WET PAPER SACK!

[BrklynLiberal]

11. GREAT POST!

[IndyOp]

15. Thanks -

If you haven't seen this yet - you simply *must* :hi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2518909">VIDEO: Daily Show transforms Paul Hackett into a Dickless Democrat

[BrklynLiberal]

17. Yes. I saw it when it was on..and in fact commented on Hackett in my

post later in this thread. :thumbsup:
#17

[Eric J in MN]

3. I won't be donating to Bob Casey. He said he would

have voted to confirm Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

I'd rather donate to a progressive candidate.

I just donated to Ned Lamont. He's running in the primary against conservative Democrat Joe Lieberman.

[IndyOp]

4. F***ers! I hate to report it, but...

Even Al Gore sent me a letter asking for money for Bob Casey's campaign earlier this week. It is in the trash can right next to me.

Hey, Dems - READ MY LIPS: Fire the SOB Dem consultants who cause us to lose race after race!

Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer are working their way up my Serious Shit List!

:grr:

[Warpy]

5. A ham sandwich could beat Santorum!

Why the HELL they chose Casey is very interesting, a prelude, a test case to find out if antiabortionists can be run nationwide.

Yes, they're trying to strip us of our rights. They've found the whole abortion thing highly uncomfortable. They don't like being screamed at by antiabortion freaks holding bibles and bloody fetuses any more than we do. Instead of standing up for what's right, they just want to make the freaks go away by giving them what they want.

I will never vote for an antichoice candidate, ever. The right to self determination in one's own body is so basic that it can never be negotiated.

That's where the line is, fellas. Cross it and you'll lose half your party.

[HockeyMom]

16. I totally agree with you

We only have to look at what is happening now that Alito has been confirmed. All these states rushing to completely ban abortion. Then there is ALSO the rush to pass anti CONTRACEPTION bills too. You see, it's not JUST about abortion, but they are pushing a total religious social package.

I have said this before. We now also have a very militant Vatican who is threatening Catholic politicians with denial of Communion and maybe even Excommunication if they don't legislate the Church's "morals".

What would a Casey do if Rome threatened him with Excommunication, even if he was initially willing to not impose his personal views of abortion/birth control on others?

Yes, we all KNOW what Santorum's views are, but we simply do not want to get Casey in office only to find he is Santorum in sheep's clothing.

Be careful, be very careful. I suggest everyone go on some of these Christian Family sites and actually read what they are advocating. Would you FORCE everyone in this country to conform to these people's ideas of what good, moral CHRISTIAN families should be? They want a Christian Theocracy plain and simple. Abortion and birth control are just two pieces of the complete package.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

[mongo]

7. It seems like the only choice we have much of the time

is the lessor of two evils.

It fucking sucks. There was a similar situation in OH, (not about choice, but who gets to run) with the senate primary, and Hackett and Brown. Hackett was more or less forced out of the race.

Why the fuck can't we actually have real primaries?

[NVMojo]

10. boy, that's an understatement for me, even in my local elections

where I live, the lesser of two evils....

[the other one]

12. Please add me to the list.

:evilgrin:

[Tom Joad]

13. I would not call it "screwing". I think all of us are being raped.

by those whose only goal is to increase Democratic share of senate seats. so somehow feel better when Dems vote for wars of aggression? When Dems vote to take away women's rights? when Dems vote to dismantle the bill of rights? It just don't make any sense... No wonder people think both parties stink.

The goals have to be first and foremost to fight for something worthwhile, to protect our rights, to end Bush's war on the world, and to make things more just at home, to fight for economic rights.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. Didn't they pull this same kind of spineless crap in Ohio by forcing

Hackett out of that race?

Makes me wonder just whose side some of these "Democrats" are on!!!

[NVMojo]

18. it seems they are desperately giving every angle a try when most of the

nation is ripe for real leadership.

[skipos]

19. Uhh.... many people find Brown to be just as, if not MORE progressive than

Hackett. How Hackett was treated is another story though.

[Doctor_J]

21. I'm screwing one of them

not at the moment, but from time to time.

;-)

[acmejack]

22. Chuck Pennacchio is the alternative to Casey!

Dr. Chuck Pennacchio is a proud Pennsylvanian, born in Delaware County in 1959. He lives in rural Bucks County with his wife of 14 years, Nancy, and their two children. A Ph.D. in American, European and Diplomatic History, Chuck is Director of the History Program at University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

With your help, Chuck will be the progressive Democrat who defeats Sen. Rick Santorum in 2006.

Every six years, the Democratic Party seeks the perfect Senate candidate – a combination of name recognition, ideology and fundraising skill. In 44 years this formula has produced 14 consecutive full-term election defeats in Pennsylvania. Chuck’s winning background and determination to fight for all Pennsylvanians make him the only credible Democrat to break that losing streak.

Everyone agrees that defeating Rick Santorum is a top priority for 2006, but to win we must provide a sharp contrast to his right wing agenda. Chuck’s clear and unwavering positions, grassroots organization skills, and winning track record give us the best chance to win. We will get the Democratic Party and the country we’re willing to work for.

Help us revive our state, our party and our country.
http://www.actblue.com/list/pennacchio
http://www.chuck2006.com/

[qazplm]

23. How?

How will putting us one step closer to a democratic majority in the senate have a devastating impact on women's rights for decades?

I'm sorry I dont understand it. We have two alternatives:

1. Understand that there ARE pro-life democrats in the party and actively seek to push them out

2. Understand the above and actively seek to include so long as they understand that overall democratic plank will always be pro-chioce

I prefer 2 personally since we cant win if we do 1 but seems to me there will be a primary, if the alternative candidate wins then it means he can beat Santorum. If he doesnt win, then he doesnt deserve the shot anyways.

So you have the primary, and let the Dem voters of Penn decide. What you stop doing is viciously attacking Dem candidates and you stop using hyperbole and over the top statements. A Casey win will simply place us one step closer to a Dem majority and one step closer to legislation and policies that are pro life and judges who are prolife.

[yurbud]

24. shit! When I saw your subject line, I thought you were looking for

volunteers.

[NVMojo]

26. naughty!!!

[struggle4progress]

28. Tsk! Tsk! A gentleman never tells!

[yurbud]

29. but he does ask

[Tyranny of Evil Men]

31. I Have to Question This Statement While Agreeing With It

Hey, Dems - READ MY LIPS: Fire the SOB Dem consultants who cause us to lose race after race!

I've always wondered why in the hell Bob Shrum is held in such high regard inside the beltway. He's at the center of every losing Democratic run at the White House in the last 30 something years and everyone that's a "front runner" hires him and he/they/we lose again.

WTF is up with this?

I'm no political mastermind but I know a career loser when I see one.

Say what you want about Dick Morris now but at least he ran a winner.

[yurbud]

32. he's a good writer but shitty strategist. I read a profile on him once &

something he wrote, but I think he is a couple of decades behind in understanding how the media works, how to get people's attention, and how to respond to attacks.

[NVMojo]

33. I totally agree with that! They need to be fired and do not use the idiots

Kerry had on his campaign!

[Katherine Brengle]

34. It matters more to elect Dems than pro-choice candidates--

Flame if you like, BUT--

A pro-life Democrat is more likely to vote along party lines on choice-related issues, while a pro-choice Republican is likely to do the same.

Just look at Rhode Island. Pro-choice groups decided to endorse the pro-choice Lincoln Chafee (R) instead of pro-life Democrat Jim Langevin, and then Chafee continued to vote with his party. Langevin would have voted with his party too--but it would have been the party that gives a crap about women's rights (at least a little crap anyway).