As I have said before, my position on Chuck Pennacchio’s U.S. Senate campaign allows me the opportunity to learn a lot more about Rick Santorum (R-VA/PA) than any American should have to.
Actually, it is probably for the best. It allows me to accumulate the information and pass it along to people like you and I who struggle every day to get a message of progress out to our friends, neighbors, co-workers, relatives, and the rest of the country.
We do so in name of saving our democracy from the theocrats and dishonest brokers in Congress and the White House who will not hesitate to undermine the Constitution because the 218 year old document is not in-line with their vision for tyrannical theocracy.
Leading the charge against democracy and the Constitution in the United States Senate is Rick Santorum. Here is what you need to know about the Senator from VA/PA.
The foundation
When average Americans are asked the question, “what is the most important characteristic you look for in a politician,” honesty is almost always at the top of the list for responses.
What we have in Pennsylvania, is a Senator, Rick Santorum who has an overwhelming track record of dishonesty and hypocricy. You cannot trust him to do as he says because he will always put the views of the extremist wing of the Republican Party before the interests of everyday Pennsylvanians.
There is no reason that the people of Pennsylvania would re-elect him if they had any idea the levels to which he takes dishonesty and hypocrisy in Washington, D.C.
This is going to be the Presidential race of 2006. In no small way, this will be a national effort–by both sides. That said, here are some stories you can share with your friends and family about the Senator from VA/PA–wherever you live.
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Amtrak
Fact:
4,800,000 million Pennsylvanians use Amtrak and 3,000 Pennsylvanians are employed by the rail.
Quote:
“I support the current funding levels in the president’s proposed budget,” Santorum. said.
Fact:
The Bush Budget that Santorum supports “will not propose continued Federal subsidies for Amtrak.”
Dishonesty
MR. RUSSERT: Senator Santorum, your Republican colleague from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, said the president’s elimination of federal subsidies for Amtrak is unacceptable. […]
SEN. SANTORUM: It’s not acceptable to me, either.
MR. RUSSERT: But you’re going to fight the president?
SEN. SANTORUM: I’ll fight him on that money, yes.
The Reckoning: Santorum’s Vote
Santorum was the only Senator from the Northeast to vote against the amendment that would have restored funding to Amtrak.
Hypocrisy:
From an Op-Ed Santorum penned in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
At a time when Amtrak is setting ridership records and as congestion at our airports and on the highways continues to increase, it would be a grave mistake to cut the federal funds that keep Amtrak operating.
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Santorum Scoffs at Pennsylvania Taxapers and Struggling School Districts
If Santorum gave a damn about Pennsylvanian’s hard earned tax dollars or school districts across the commonwealth, he would have thought twice about bilking the Penn Hills School district out of over $100,000.
Fact:
The Penn Hills School District in Pennsylvania paid over $100,000 for his Children’s “cyber schooling.
Fact:
Only Pennsylvania residents, and specifically residents of Penn Hills are eligible to have the tab for their children’s cyber schooling picked up by the district.
Fact:
Rick Santorum and his family live in Leesburg, Virginia.
Fact:
This is NOT the Pennsylvania home of Rick Santorum, yet it is the one he claims. In order for him to have legally claimed the homestead exemption — 10 people would have to share it’s 1.5 stories, 3 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms
Worst of Washington, D.C. Politics:
Did Rick Santorum conduct a push-poll against the Penn Hills School District for revenge? The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wants to know.
Those surveyed said the first question was whether the $8,000 per pupil the district spends was a good return on taxpayer money considering some low scores on state assessment tests and other measures.
The pollster also asked whether the person believed a new school board is needed and then asked the person to rate how each incumbent board member was doing, from excellent to poor.
Then the pollster asked whether they believed the challenges to Santorum’s residency in Penn Hills were politically motivated. Santorum lives in Virginia with his family but owns a house and claims residency in Penn Hills.
Fact:
Rick Santorum takes dishonesty to a whole new level claiming that the current Penn Hills case about him isn’t even about him (My head came real close to exploding when I read this quote)
Santorum’s spokeswoman, Christine Shott, said that although the senator is not a party to the dispute, “he is interested in the proceedings, and obviously disagrees with the school district’s objections.”
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I got your tort reform, Mr. & Mrs. Santorum
Fact:
Rick Santorum is a staunch advocate at capping civil awards at $250,000 per victim.
As a United States Senator, Rick Santorum has repeatedly supported limits on consumers’ rights to seek compensation in the courts. In 1994, Santorum sponsored the Comprehensive Family Health Access and Savings Act that would have capped non-economic damages at $250,000.
In a 1995 floor speech supporting damages caps, Santorum said, “We have a much too costly legal system. It is one that makes us uncompetitive and inefficient, and one that is not fair to society as a whole. While we may have people, individuals, who hit the jackpot and win the lottery in some cases, that is not exactly what our legal system should be designed to do.”
Fact:
Rick Santorum’s wife, Karen, was recently sought a $500,000 judgement from a Virginia court, claiming a Virginia chiropracter had caused her permanent back pain after his negligence.
Fact:
Rick Santorum testified on her behalf, citing her inability to campaign for him as a reason the family apparently deserved two times the judgement the Senator believes should serve as a cap for average Americans.
At trial, the Senator testified that his wife should be compensated for the pain and suffering caused by a botched spine adjustment, claiming that she had to “treat her back gingerly” and could no longer accompany him on the campaign trail.
Fact:
Rick Santorum’s wife was originally rewarded a $350,000 judgement by the Virginia court.
Hyporcrisy:
After the verdict, Santorum refused to answer phone calls asking what impact the case had on his views of “tort reform.”
According to his spokesman Robert Traynham, “Senator Santorum is of the belief that the verdict decided upon by the jury during last week’s court case of his wife is strictly a private matter. The legislative positions that Senator Santorum has taken on tort reform and health care have been consistent with the case involving Mrs. Santorum.”
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The Worst Kind of Politics
Rick Santorum’s recent trip down to Pinnelas Park, Florida had very little to do with the support of the grieving Schnindler family. In fact, it had everything to do with playing politics and consolidating a personal base ahead of a national fight over judges.
Fact:
Rick Santorum has denied that his visit to Florida has anything to do with politics.
Asked what he would say to critics who accuse him of using the Schiavo case for political gain, Santorum groaned audibly and said he didn’t “know how anyone can believe that this is a political winner, if you look at any of the polls.”
Fact:
Rick Santorum is not shy in discussing the fact that the Terri Schiavo case was about the appointment of extremist judges.
Santorum said the Schiavo case would fuel efforts by Republicans to approve conservative judges for federal appeals courts.
“I am not too sure that people realize how serious the conflict is between the two branches of government, and how greatly concerned many members of Congress are now with this kind of judicial tyranny,” he said.
Fact:
Rick Santorum has no idea what the hell he is talking about, and even Sean Hannity called him out on his idiocy.
SANTORUM: My entire political career I have been told that I have political consequences of doing the things that I strongly believe in. I strongly believe that this woman has not had a fair judicial process. I strongly believe that rights are being violated here. I strongly believe that having a police officer in a room to not let the family give her ice chips on her water, not let her get a drink of water…
HANNITY: She can’t swallow.
SANTORUM: to me is dangerous.
Hypocrisy:
Rick Santorum might have cancelled the Social Security town-hall meeting, but apparently fundraisers were too important for him to cancel.
Rick Santorum is the worst kind of opportunistic politician in Washington, D.C. In fact, he is everything that embodies the disaffected — Party ahead of Pennsylvanians.
During his trip to Florida this week, Rick Santorum cancelled a town meeting on Social Security out of respect for the Schiavo family but apparently went ahead with a number of fundraisers.
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The Height of Hypocrisy: Santorum v. Doug Walgren
Fact
In 1990 Rick Santorum defeated Doug Walgren for U.S. House, in no small part, because he attacked Walgren as unable to represent Pennsylvanians when he didn’t even live in the Commonwealth.
Hypocrisy
In his initial House race against Rep. Doug Walgren in 1990, challenger Santorum attacked the incumbent from Mt. Lebanon for buying a house and raising his children in McLean, Va. Now Rick Santorum of Leesburg, Va., is saying that he is and he isn’t a resident of Pennsylvania.
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So, that is just a start. There is so much more deserving of discussion. However, I can promise you that over the coming weeks, months, and hopefully 2 years, I will be constantly providing information to the grassroots/netroots about Rick Santorum for you to share with your friends, family, on your websites, or wherever else.
Thanks for listening.
Tim
Hi. I’m Tim. I haven’t appeared in any television shows with Kent Brockman, but I have worked for a favorite candidate or two of yours in the past on the Internet side of things. Paul Hackett and Chuck Pennacchio, for example. I went to work for Chuck because I hoped that campaign would be the fight for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party. And while that one never quite materialized into all that I had hoped it would, this campaign in Connecticut is.
