Posted on 01/24/2006 8:19:40 PM PST by RWR8189
WASHINGTON - Sen. Rick Santorum's leading Democratic challenger, Pennsylvania Treasurer Bob Casey, announced Tuesday that he endorses Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation to the Supreme Court.
For weeks, Republicans have called Casey "Silent Bob" and pressed him to say whether he supports Alito's confirmation. Casey and Alito have a family connection because Alito, who serves on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Philadelphia, sided with Casey's father, the late Gov. Bob Casey, in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The case challenged a state law requiring women seeking abortions to notify their spouses.
"I do not agree with everything that Judge Samuel Alito has done or said - particularly many of his rulings which too often result in corporate power prevailing over the interests of consumers and workers," Casey said in a statement. "However, I agree with The Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Post editorial boards that the arguments against Judge Alito do not rise to the level that would require a vote denying him a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court."
Santorum's campaign manager responded with a statement accusing Casey of ducking the issue and then following the lead of Santorum, the No. 3 Senate Republican. Both candidates are generally against abortion. Santorum came out strong in support of Alito at a conservative rally Jan. 8.
Alito on Tuesday won narrow approval along strict party lines from the Senate Judiciary Committee, with all Republicans supporting him and the Democrats opposed. He still must be confirmed by the full Senate.
Larry Smar, a Casey spokesman, said the treasurer wanted time to examine Alito's background. The focus on Alito was an attempt by the Santorum campaign to distract from other issues, Smar said.
Casey's endorsement came shortly after Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday during a news conference in Washington that he reluctantly supports Alito's confirmation. Smar said the timing was a coincidence.
The Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision was overturned in 1992 by the Supreme Court, but justices did give states new powers to make it more difficult for women to end their pregnancies. Alito defended the ruling at his Senate confirmation hearing.
Is this another rerun of Salazar and Casey will learn a lot quickly if he gets to the Senate?
So Bob Casey cannot stand for anything till someone leads the way for him, eh?
Well look here, it has spoken.
LOL .. yea I heard this on the radio earlier
This won't go over with the libs
I was just at the DUmp. They'll vote for him. Anyone but Santorum.
This is an easy call for a phony rat who's not in office. Saazar would probably have done the same.
I honestly think Santorum might pull it off. Casey is not a great candidate.
No. Rendell is going to have a tough election.
Why, of course. Casey's opinion on this doesnt count unless he really votes, so this is a 'free' opinion. ... So he'll support Alito and oppose every other conservative who comes after ... moderate before the election, hard left after. What a way to screw the voters!
Is Rendell doing a "SWANN DIVE" in the polls?
I can only hope so! :-)
LOL
At least Casey says what he believes. Santorum could say one thing then the next minute totally contradict what he said before. He has no spine.
What an absurd comment... Santorum is an awesome Senator with a heck of a lot more spine than most other Senators. It's *because* he says what he believes that the liberals hate him so much.
You comment is the opposite of reality, and your praise of liberal-in-moderate's-clothing Casey makes me wonder. the truth? ...
At least Santorum says what he believes. Casey could say one thing then the next minute totally contradict what he said before. He has no spine.
what's your problem? Is asking people to rhetorically support the war asking too LITTLE or TOO MUCH?
I dont see how it is inappropriate at all. This is no different from similar statements Bush and other administration officials have made. In fact, if more Americans stood up and vocalized support for the war, it would be a wonderful thing for this country and a morale boost for our military!
You must not have seen the video then.
I don't recall Rendell's endorsement of Alito being "reluctant" as AP reports. Rendell's wife is also a judge on the 3rd Circuit, who's served with Alito for years now .. and, presumably, was one of the seven 3rd Circ. judges who came to testify in support of Alito. And, yes, Lynn Swann, the Steeler Great, is running against Rendell, so he will have a tough race (Swann ahead in most recent polls).
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