Casey might get speaking role at convention

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, a prominent Roman Catholic leader who opposes abortion rights, might be given a speaking slot at the Democratic convention in Denver later this month, a move that would signal changing attitudes in the party.

In a now-infamous political snub 16 years ago, the senator's late father, Gov. Robert P. Casey Sr., was barred from speaking at the party's national convention.

Sen. Barack Obama has not yet offered him a convention role, Casey said yesterday, adding that the possibility of his speaking in Denver has "come up" in discussions with the presumptive Democratic nominee's campaign.

"I think they've got to work that out," Casey said. "If I have a chance to speak, I'd be honored. I want to do whatever it takes to get him over the goal line."

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/elections/20080808_Casey_might_get_speaking_role_at_convention.html

[Aviation Pro]

1. We got us some soldiers and Marines this year....

...looks like Senator Obama and Chairman Dean have instilled a little discipline into our party. Good on them.

On the other hand, Senator Angry Old Prick is the lead pick of a party of clowns, criminals and buffoons.

[AllentownJake]

2. Good

The snub 16 years ago resulted in Senator Santorum for 12 years.

[returnable]

3. Just to be clear, "the snub" was cuz Pops Casey refused to endorse the Clinton/Gore ticket.

I get annoyed every time this comes up. Old Man Casey didn't back the ticket. Why the hell should he have been given a speaking role at the Convention?

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Casey refused to support Wofford's 1994 reelection bid not because of the convention thing, but

because Wofford's changing views on abortion.

[AllentownJake]

6. It was more complex than that

Abortion was a minor part of the issue.

[AllentownJake]

5. That isn't the case at all

Casey endorsed Bill Clinton...that was a lie manufactured by the Clinton campaign.

[dsc]

15. that is totally utterly false

He didn't endorse Clinton until after the convention.

[returnable]

25. Yep. That's how it went down.

Pops didn't deserve a slot at the convention. End of story.

:kick:

[TooBigaTent]

7. Why do the Dems keep giving bigots like Casey a forum? Next, they'll be inviting Lieberman back

to speak.

Disgusting.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. How exactly is Senator Casey bigoted?

:shrug:

[appleannie1]

11. Check out what he has been doing in the Senate the last

two years before you make uninformed posts. His latest efforts have forced inspections of all the buildings built by Kellogg, Root and Brown to prevent anymore electrocutions of our enlisted men and women in Iraq. He wants this war to end and our troops to come home. He is against tax loopholes for huge corporations and the ultra rich. Ninety nine percent of what he votes for is based on how we all feel about important issues. Why pick on his opposition to abortion as the only thing he has done?

[joanski0]

13. Casey is also a co-sponsor of the LIHEAP

legislation. Low income heating assistance program. When it came up for a vote, Sen. Specter voted against it. So did all the other Repukes, and it failed. No additional heating assistance for the poor.

[AllentownJake]

12. You have no clue what you are talking about

Casey is a fine Senator. Would you rather Rick Santorum representing PA.

[SteelPenguin]

14. No but Chuck Pennacchio would have been nice

Santorum was going out, but the PA dems were so paranoid they settled for the name recognition and conservative Casey, rather than put forward an actual liberal like Pennacchio.

So sure. I'd rather have pretty much anyone than Santorum and glad he's gone, but that doesn't mean we didn't have better options.

[AllentownJake]

17. Casey stood up to Rendell and endorsed Obama

I'll be a Casey supporter for along time.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. At a time when Clinton was much more popular in PA than Obama was

[PittPoliSci]

20. I voted for Dr. Chuck, but I don't think he would've beaten Santorum.

I really like the guy, I hope he sticks around and maybe runs against Specter or someone else.

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. So, you purposefully voted for a guy you thought would lose to Santorum rather than Casey?

:shrug:

[PittPoliSci]

24. yup. Pennachio was polling more than 75 points behind Casey.

Didn't really matter, just wanted to make sure that the more progressive candidate had a respectable showing so Casey couldn't ignore us.

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. It would have been far easier for Santorum to paint Pennacchio as a far-left liberal

By nominating Casey, they took away the abortion issue and forced the campaign to focus on more substantive issues.

[RamboLiberal]

23. Pennacchio wouldn't have defeated Santorum

Santorum in most of the state wasn't all that unpopular. We needed a name like Casey and a Dem who was moderate.

Casey has been doing a good job even if he doesn't make big headlines. And what an improvement over Santorum.

I'm also grateful for his backing of Obama and the bus tour while Rendell was backing Clinton long after it was obvious she had little chance of winning the nomination and that it was hurting the party. Sorry Clinton backers, that's the way I saw it at the time of the PA primary.

[PittPoliSci]

19. i don't like his stance on abortion either, but he's SOLID when it comes to workers rights'.

besides, would you rather have Santorum retaining his seat still? Casey was probably the only Democrat in PA who could've beaten him.

[blue neen]

27. Good points.

:toast:

So far, Casey has represented this state very well. Santorum was SUCH an embarrassment.

[Honeycombe8]

28. What exactly makes him a bigot, in your opinion? nt

[joanski0]

9. Remember that Casey endorsed Obama here

in Pennsylvania, and travelled the State with him. He deserves a speaking role.

[Hekate]

10. That is an extremely important point right there. nt

[tokenlib]

16. Casey and Obama looked good together..I think we deserve to hear him speak..

Casey worked hard for the campaign and to have him speak would be a good thing. I'm vehemently pro-choice, but to show we can be civil, find common ground with those we disagree with, and work together is an admirable thing.

[blue neen]

26. ...

While I may not agree with Casey on all of the issues, he has been doing a good job at representing PA in the Senate.

It seemed like he and Obama genuinely enjoyed themselves when they took their bus tour of PA back in April! :)