Bob Casey, Jr.
From Conservapedia
Robert Patrick Casey, Jr., (born April 13, 1960) is an American politician and was elected in 2006 as a Democratic United States Senator from the state of Pennsylvania.
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Biography
Casey, one of eight children, was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, of Irish American descent on his father's side. He is the son of Ellen Harding Casey and Bob Casey, the 42nd governor of Pennsylvania. Casey graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1982, and received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in 1988. Between college and law school, Casey served as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and spent a year teaching 5th grade and coaching basketball at the Gesu School in inner city Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Casey practiced law in Scranton from 1991 until he ran for and was elected Pennsylvania State Auditor General in 1996. In 2002 he attempted to follow in his father's footsteps by running for Governor, but lost by 12 percentage points in the Democratic primary.
2006 Senate Campaign
Casey was drafted to run for the Senate by DSCC Chairman Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. He easily won the Democratic primary with 85% of the vote. Then Casey defeated incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum with 59% of the vote in the general election.
Political views
Bob Casey is generally known to be a conservative Democrat. Unlike his father, he isn't strongly pro-life. Casey's election gives Pennsylvania the distinction of being represented in the Senate by a self-proclaimed conservative Democrat and Arlen Specter, a liberal Republican; each holds the position opposite to what is common for their respective national parties. Casey agrees with liberals on immigration. He supports the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348), a bill voted down in the 110th United States Congress. This bill would have provided a path to legal citizenship for illegal aliens currently residing in the United States".
During the 2008 Democrat Presidential primaries in Pennsylvania, Bob Casey Jr. gave his super delegate and backing to Barack Obama. Conservatives of both parties began to wonder about his true conservative principles due to his support of abortion candidates. By selecting Obama, he is pocketing his pro-life views in favor of the 100% NARAL rated Obama. He supports a candidate that feels partial birth abortion is not a travesty but a right to protect. Also rated by NARAL, Casey sides with pro-life legislation only 1/3 of the time. For 2007, his NARAL ratings was 65%. [1]
2008 Democratic Convention
Barack Obama's campaign has held discussions with Bob Casey, Jr. regarding a speech at the convention in late August. "I don't necessarily think there has to be a 'Catholic strategy,' because I'm not sure the Catholic vote is any more monolithic or predictable than any other vote," "The most committed pro-life voter and the most committed pro-choice voter can come together over the issue of how do we help pregnant women," Casey said. [2] For Casey to call a child in the womb "a choice" shows he is out of touch with Conservatives on this issue. To say he is the most committed pro-life voter is bold face lie, in stark contrast to his Presidential endorsement. Considering Bob Casey, Sr. was unable to speak at the 1992 convention due to his pro-life stance, the 2008 Democratic party jubilantly embraces Bob Casey. So long as Casey doesn't interfere with their abortion as-a-right platform.
Criticisms
Rick Santorum and other Republican leaders have criticized Casey as being an "opportunist." Citing that he ran for four different statewide offices in six years. Another issue that Casey has been criticized for is his attendance as Pennsylvania state treasurer (a position he held from 2005-2007). During his first year as a candidate for U.S. Senate, State Treasurer Bob Casey spent half of his work days away from the office, according to an analysis of records provided by his campaign.
Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, questioned Casey being a speaker at the Democratic convention. Donahue said the Pennsylvania senator is pro-life “in name only” – unlike his late father. [3]
External Links
References
- ↑ Pro-Lifers Question Casey Speaking at Democratic Convention CNSNews.com, August 14, 2008
- ↑ Abortion Surfaces as Democratic Convention Issue Philadelphia Inquirer, August 8, 2008
- ↑ Pro-Lifers Question Casey Speaking at Democratic Convention CNSNews.com, August 14, 2008
