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Where is Senator Casey?
by Michael Sean Winters on Dec. 08, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionSen. Bob Casey is a hero to pro-life Democrats. Standing at the podium of the Democratic National Convention last summer, a podium that had been denied to his father, Casey spoke for the hopes of many progressive Catholics who are deeply committed to the Church’s social justice tradition, and see the Democratic Party’s platform as embodying that tradition, but who felt the Democrats got it wrong when they decided to exclude the unborn from their list of those whose cause deserved a champion. We knew we were not in the majority of the party, but at least we knew we had a seat at the table. Casey would be our spokesman.
So, it is more than passing strange that Casey has been so silent on the Nelson-Hatch amendment. He co-sponsored it, to be sure. But, now is the time for him to say to the Senate leadership that the current language is not acceptable and that he will withhold his support for the final bill unless it is changed. He may be able to suggest legislative language that would be more palatable to the pro-choice majority of the Democratic caucus than the language found in the Nelson-Hatch amendment. But, he should not be quiet. It is no use having a seat at the table if you are not going to speak your piece.
Now that it appears Maine Senator Olympia Snowe is looking less and less likely to vote for the overhaul reform bill, Casey and Nelson are in the catbird seat. Majority Leader Reid can’t get to 60 votes without them. And, I doubt that even such staunch pro-choice advocates as Senators Barbara Boxer and Barbara Mikulski will stand in the way of passing the final bill no matter what language is adopted on abortion. I have no doubt that President Obama is willing to throw pro-choice forces under the bus if it is needed to get 60 votes: He raised no objections when Speaker Pelosi did precisely that to get the bill through the House of Representatives.
So, speak up Senator Casey. Many pro-life Democrats are looking to you for leadership.
You're kidding right? Did
You're kidding right? Did you really expect Casey to stand firm on this?
where's our self-proclaimed
where's our self-proclaimed pro-life democrats when it came time to stop the military occupations condemned now by two Popes whom they allege to respect and to whom they have pledged allegiance?
Voting billions more for war and the suffering death of innocents . . .
where's our self-proclaimed pro-life democrats when it comes time finally to provide health care from birth to tomb for all people in this nation, as our Faith demands?
feeding their wall street medical vultures
sipping Manhattans with GOP bishops
seeking any pretext to prevent a lesser profit curve to medical vultures and war profiteers.
where's our pro-life democrats when it is time to stand up for life and the living?
puzzling platitudes to promote our death, disease and suffering
Lazarus lies at the gate
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco)
Guttmacher foundation
Guttmacher foundation [pro-abortion] says only 13% of insured women right now use their insurance to pay for an abortion. This is for privacy/no record reasons.. they pay the $300-400 fee in cash. RU486 pills are even cheaper.. let the pro-abortion people get/take the blame for sinking this much needed health reform bill for this measely amount of money.. They want abortion funding so that their message will be 'if the government pays for it, it can't be wrong' To Casey and House pro-life Dems... I SAY ..HOLD it all up! Obama is not so stupid that he is willing to sink his entire adminisration agenda for cheap abortion money..When you get the right cards, you go all in.. and watch em fold..
Maybe Casey thinks that the
Maybe Casey thinks that the bill IS acceptable, and that abortion is not the all-or-nothing issue some Catholics want it to be.
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