Despite some confusion from people with either poor memories or poor reading comprehension skills, I was a loud opponent of Bob Casey Jr. in last year’s Pennsylvania Senate primary. I didn’t like his position on choice, on stem-cell research, or his history on gay rights. I worked with Chuck Pennacchio and hoped to raise a protest vote against the coronation of Casey Jr. by Chuck Schumer and Gov. Ed Rendell. After Casey Jr. won the nomination I advised people that we could not retake the Senate without Santorum’s seat. I never questioned the integrity and wisdom of people that refused to hold their nose and vote for Casey Jr., but I did point out the math.
So far Casey Jr. has been one of the most reliable votes for the Democratic majority position. But it was inevitable that a vote would come up to validate my concerns about him on social issues. Now we have that vote.
The Senate is expected to pass legislation this week that would ease the Bush administration’s limits on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research. The measure, passed by the House, is identical to the bill that passed the Senate 63 to 37 last year before being vetoed by President Bush…
Senate Democrats now think they have 65 votes, one shy of what is needed to rebuff a veto.
…Senator Bob Casey, left, a freshman Democrat from Pennsylvania who campaigned as a social conservative, has said he will vote against the bill. Democrats hope for support from Senator John E. Sununu, Republican of New Hampshire, who may face a tough race next year in a state where Democrats have gained strength.
If the President vetoes the bill we will need 67 votes to override his veto. Tim Johnson will hopefully be recovered enough by that point to cast a vote, which will put us at 66. It looks like Bob Casey Jr. may cast the deciding vote that blocks stem-cell research funding.
Now, there is no way that Rick Santorum would have voted in favor of funding. And there is no way that Santorum would have been one of the most reliable Democratic minority votes in the Senate. This isn’t about refighting the interparty war over Bob Casey Jr. But, we need to send a message to Casey that we will primary his ass and load our challenger with boatloads of cash if he casts the deciding vote against funding stem-cell research.
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