Casey may be given primetime speaking slot at convention.

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, so very precious. Deny his father, the true Pro Life advocate, of the speaking slot over a decade ago but let his brilliant orator of a son speak in 2008!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/us/politics/07catholics.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin

[Brittain33]

Oh, so very precious. Deny his father, the true Pro Life advocate, of the speaking slot over a decade ago but let his brilliant orator of a son speak in 2008!

It surely helps that Casey, unlike his father, has both endorsed and strongly supports the Democratic nominee for President.

[Keystone Phil]

It surely helps that Casey, unlike his father, has both endorsed and strongly supports the Democratic nominee for President.

1992 isn't really the issue here. I'm just bringing this up because Casey isn't exactly the best pick as a speaker especially to a nationwide audience.

[Lunar]

Who decides speakers at the convention?   It's the Obama campaign, right?

Bob Casey's Dad refused to endorse Clinton-Gore:
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-12600380_ITM
http://dailyhowler.com/dh040208.shtml

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Keystone Phil]

Bob Casey's Dad refused to endorse Clinton-Gore:
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-12600380_ITM
http://dailyhowler.com/dh040208.shtml

And, as I clearly stated in my previous post, this topic wasn't about that. If we want to play that game, though, it's a lot of "He said, she said..." because I believe Casey has always claimed that it was about his views on abortion.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     *facepalms*

     I guess Obama really doesn't want people to stay awake during the convention.

[Brittain33]

     *facepalms*

     I guess Obama really doesn't want people to stay awake during the convention.

A small price to pay to end 16 years of tut-tutting from commentators about the great scandal of Bob Casey, Sr. and the Democrats' betrayal.

[Keystone Phil]

     *facepalms*

     I guess Obama really doesn't want people to stay awake during the convention.

A small price to pay to end 16 years of tut-tutting from commentators about the great scandal of Bob Casey, Sr. and the Democrats' betrayal.

It could also fan the flames. They'll be sure to mention that Casey isn't exactly like his father on the issue and that Casey has gotten awfully close to Pro Choice leaders (those that basically forced this sad push over into the Senate race).

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Oh great this is going to be Bill Clinton at the 1988 Convention on steroids. I can't stand to listen to this guy. If I am watching the Senate on C-span and I here "The Senator from Pennsylvania is recognised" I either run for the remote or leave the room. Good pick Obama put this man up in front of a national audience. Give him an hour no two hours. Let me be clear its not what he says but how he says it. Image if there was a real filibuster this guy would be in monotones after 4 hours.

 

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

1992 isn't really the issue here. I'm just bringing this up because Casey isn't exactly the best pick as a speaker especially to a nationwide audience.

Yet in your first post, you mention nothing about this being why you brought this up, in fact, just the opposite........that's why everyone wants to mention he didnt endorse Clinton.

I think everyone's comments so far are valid.

But you're right, Casey Jr. is a putz.

[JSojourner]

Oh, so very precious. Deny his father, the true Pro Life advocate, of the speaking slot over a decade ago but let his brilliant orator of a son speak in 2008!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/us/politics/07catholics.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin

I have to agree with Phil on this.  Not that I think Junior is so bad, he's not.  But he pales in comparison to his Dad.  Sure, his father was adamantly anti-choice.  But on so many other issues, he was unfailingly liberal.  In 1992, and still today, I argue that these are voices we Democrats must listen to openly and respectfully within our party.  Consider Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and former Congressman Tony Hall, both of Ohio.  They both represent liberal, Democratic ideals and happen to oppose a woman's right to choose.  That should not disqualify them from being heard.

We need a new conversation in this country on abortion and abortion rights.  The anti-abortion rights folks need to come to grips with the reality that the genie is out of the bottle and criminalizing a medical procedure is highly impractical and, in many circumstances, unjust.

But the pro-abortion rights folks, like me, had better wake up and recognize that there is much more at stake in an abortion that merely a woman's right to choose.  Whether an actual human life or a potential human life is at stake is for theologians to determine and individuals to prayerfully seek out.  But whatever the nuances of the issue are -- the vast majority of Americans in both parties can agree that abortion is nearly always a tragedy and very often unecessary.

I'm with the folks in the 95-10 initiative on this (you can Google it).  Some, like Casey and Ben Nelson, would criminalize most abortions.  Others would not.  All hope and are working for a day when abortions are safe, extremely rare and usually impractical.

I know, I digress.  But 95% of the energy (pro and con) where the Caseys are concerned seems to hinge on this one issue.  Democrats don't like them and, in the past, have censored them because they are anti-abortion rights.  Republicans tend to dismiss or marginalize them because they skew fairly liberal on a lot of other issues.  What they really do is point out our crying need for new, fresh paradigms in discussing reproductive rights.  It does not need to be what it is today.  

[Lunar]

Obama may have promised Casey this in exchange for his endorsement.

I wonder if Edwards will get a chance to speak?  Probably not with news of his affair officially breaking today.  Richardson, maybe?

[Everett]

Wow. What the hell is wrong with the Obama campaign? Bob Casey, Jr. is a dumbass DINO and a total waste of space.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Mark Warner deserves a major speaking spot.

[Keystone Phil]

Yet in your first post, you mention nothing about this being why you brought this up, in fact, just the opposite........that's why everyone wants to mention he didnt endorse Clinton.

Yes, I mentioned it in passing. Big deal. Take my word for it when I say that that wasn't my point in bringing this up.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Yet in your first post, you mention nothing about this being why you brought this up, in fact, just the opposite........that's why everyone wants to mention he didnt endorse Clinton.

Yes, I mentioned it in passing. Big deal. Take my word for it when I say that that wasn't my point in bringing this up.

Fair enough....but I wasn't the only one who mis-understood, that's all I'm saying.

[Brittain33]

Yes, I mentioned it in passing. Big deal. Take my word for it when I say that that wasn't my point in bringing this up.

Please understand, while you may be sincere, you'd be the first person in history to make reference to Casey's not being chosen a speaker at the 1992 Democratic Convention who didn't mean to say anything about his abortion views or whether Clinton snubbed him or not.

[Keystone Phil]

Yes, I mentioned it in passing. Big deal. Take my word for it when I say that that wasn't my point in bringing this up.

Please understand, while you may be sincere, you'd be the first person in history to make reference to Casey's not being chosen a speaker at the 1992 Democratic Convention who didn't mean to say anything about his abortion views or whether Clinton snubbed him or not.

I mentioned it in passing. This thread is about Casey, Jr. speaking at the convention and how it is a stupid idea. Thank you.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Shouldn't they be finding a hipster token minority to be there nominee in 4 years after Obama loses?

[The Mikado]

Shouldn't they be finding a hipster token minority to be there nominee in 4 years after Obama loses?

Jindal's speaking at your convention, not ours.

[Conan]

This would be such a snoozefest.

[bullmoose88]

This would be such a snoozefest.

Now Senator Casey on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? would be something to see.

This in no way shape or form makes up for the snub of his father 16 years ago.  Casey Jr doesn't hold a candle to Senior.

[Monty]

Having Webb speak after being introduced by "Macaca" would be a nice touch.

[Keystone Phil]

Casey Jr doesn't hold a candle to Senior.

If only people would see the light...

[Keystone Phil]

Looks like Casey is speaking about the "economy" on Tuesday night - http://www.demconvention.com/the-2008-convention-tuesday-august-26th-renewing-america-s-promise/