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Tuesday, September 13, 2005

PA-Sen: Casey's ATM Syndrome Lands Him In Hot Water

Posted by Tim Tagaris

Locally, Bob Casey is getting taken to task by Rick Santorum and print media for including a fundraising solicitation in a campaign email that discusses Hurricane Katrina. The email, sent a mere days after the disaster includes a huge fundraising link on it, and was probably pretty inapproriate. Of course, this is something that could have been avoided had the Casey campaign not treated the netroots like an ATM machine.

[Casey Jr.] said the e-mail was not meant as a solicitation, even though it included the fund-raising link. That link is attached to every campaign e-mail, he said.

Amazing that his excuse is exactly the problem. Running against Rick Santorum, Bob Casey Jr. should easily be the biggest game in town during the 2006 election cycle in the netroots. But there is no outreach, and any online correspondence is a shake-down, all solicitous, some more so than others. No meaningful mechanisms for dialogue and participation. The message is simple, just shut-up about my questionable positions on the issues and open your wallets. Oh, don't forget to sign my petition as well.

Posted at 01:55 PM in Pennsylvania | Technorati

Comments

there is no outreach, and any online correspondence is a shake-down, all solicitous, some more so than others. No meaningful mechanisms for dialogue and participation.

Tim: what kind of outreach do you want to see via email?
What kind of dialogue and participation from this candidate (or
any candidate) would make you happy?
What are the best methods and mechanisms for eliciting
participation by email recipients?

Posted by: Tim wayne at September 13, 2005 02:54 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Casey is an idiot. Whoever is doing his email program should be fired.

Posted by: Bob Brigham at September 13, 2005 03:44 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I would answer, but I figure the Casey people are paying at least minimal attention and I have no desire to help them at all during a primary. There is plenty of good stuff out there on the topic, and specifically in the archives of SSP.

Tim

Posted by: Tim Tagaris at September 13, 2005 04:42 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Santorum is no stranger himself to raising money from tragedic circumstances. Doesn’t anyone remember when Terri Schiavo was the big story? Santorum helped himself to a big ‘ole slice of tragedy pie from weathly Floridians during his hospice visit. He just happened to be down there, so why not? Here’s some press from that time:

On Trip to Visit Schiavo Family, Santorum Canceled Social Security Town Hall Because It Would Be “Inappropriate” But Had No Problem Raising $$$ for His Campaign.

During his highly-publicized trip to Florida to visit Terry Schiavo’s family at her hospice, Santorum cancelled a scheduled town hall meeting on Social Security “out of respect for the Schiavo and Schindler family” because it was not “appropriate to go into the region and do a big policy event at this time.”

But, as the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, Santorum “pulled in about $85,000″ for his re-election campaign while he was on the trip. The Philadelphia Daily News reported that Santorum’s campaign put the figure at $250,000. “There was a luncheon in Orlando and a dinner in Miami on March 29 with Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, a luncheon in Tampa March 30 hosted by Outback Steakhouse, which is headquartered there, and a dinner that night in Palm Beach hosted by execs from Revlon.”
[Tampa Tribune, 3/29/05; Philadelphia Daily News, 4/11/05; Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/22/05]

Makes all the hubub over little “donate” link on an email seem a bit silly, doesn’t it?

Posted by: Mike Panetta at September 13, 2005 05:39 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Gee, another similarity between Rick Santorum and Bob Casey Jr. Par for the course when you consider "sort of like Santorum, but not as extreme" campaign strategy.

Sorry, not buying. I wish we could hold the Democratic nominee in the highest profile race of 2006 to a higher standard.

Tim

Posted by: Tim Tagaris at September 13, 2005 06:07 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

the santorum scandal would have made a great hit, too bad casey lacks contrast -- yet again. what a waste, the mighty casey campaign strikes out again

Posted by: Bob Brigham at September 13, 2005 06:53 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I have not seen this or any of Bob Casey's emails (mainly because I'm not on his list because I don't think he's the best candidate for the job), but I think I would actually be willing to accept Casey's response on this one. A lot of candidates and political organizations have a contribution link in the standard footer that they send out emails with. For example, I'm looking through my inbox, and all of the emails from Democracy for America have a Contribute button at the bottom of the email.

Posted by: Fran for Dean at September 13, 2005 08:22 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

All the Casey Jr bashing I've seen on this site is certainly warranted, but it makes me want to cry. I know we shouldn't compromise our standards when looking for a candidate, but can't this race be the exception? I want nothing more for my birthday than to see Santorum lose his seat. I'll throw campaign donations (I've already donated $50 to Casey) to whomever has the best chance to beat him. I hate Joe Lieberman, but if he had a chance to dethrown Santorum, I'd donate my left testicle to the cause.

I just worry that your criticisms of Casey will hurt him in the general election.

Posted by: Samson at September 14, 2005 05:16 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I think at the end of the day, these criticisms of Casey will help them right the ship in time for the general, should he make it.

Until then, I continue to believe he is possibly one of the worst candidates we could have selected in the highest profile race of 2006. If you thought people in America were confused about what Democrats stood for, just wait until they get a load of 25 million worth of advertising about his positions on the issues.

Posted by: Tim Tagaris at September 14, 2005 05:57 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Hey Tim,

First of all, get out of Bucks, get out now, run for your life.

Second, I find your comments incisive and correct, although I don't think the word "solicitous" gives exactly the feeling you're going for.

All that said, the main thing about Casey that people should keep in mind is that he's going to lose. Not only is there no crime in smacking this guy around, it is a public service. The more he gets villified and mocked by the netroots BEFORE the race, the more credible we will be after the race, when, once again the "impossible" "unthinkable" happens and Santorum beats Casey Jr. and gets re-elected just like Bush Jr..

The compromise-crazy Democrats have LOST the Supreme Court and Bill Clinton is going around pimping Bush Jr.'s post-Katrina policy. Hillary, if nominated, will get one of the great beatings in recent political history. Politically there is nothing worse than compromising your principles AND getting beaten, because it doubly legitimates your opponent. The Democrats should have realized this long ago.

P.S. - Who on this blog actively wants Casey Jr. voting for a Supreme Court nominee?

Posted by: dlawbailey at September 15, 2005 08:07 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Also like to add that if you are a hot young liberal girl who doesn't mind a guy who smokes, will have a bleeding ulcer in six months, and suffers from a bit of a Mid-West accent, you should send a revealing and provocative picture or yourself to Tim Tagaris, particularly if you are within driving distance of the greater Doylestown area.

He's a nice kid. Don't let his prison record fool you.

Posted by: dlawbailey at September 15, 2005 08:21 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

heh.

Thanks for the plug, David. Although, it might upset my girlfriend should anyone happen to take you up on the offer.

I am actually out of Bucks and working in Ohio for Congressman Sherrod Brown on a site called Grow Ohio.

Posted by: Tim Tagaris at September 16, 2005 02:35 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Samson, if you don't even like Casey why the hell would you support him in the primary? There is a clear alternative; a progressive Democrat named Chuck Pennacchio and his grassroots campaign is gaining momentum. www.chuck2006.com

Casey may be leading Santorum in the polls now (over a year before November 2006), but I think Pee Wee Herman would be leading Santorum right now. Pee Wee has name recogniton but who knows what his politics are? There's over 10% who are undecided. And Casey's favorability rating will drop as more and more Democrats find out how conservative Casey is on abortion, stem cell research, the death penalty, the war in Iraq, gun control, etc.

Chuck can get a progressive base to beat Santorum's conservative base, because Chuck is against the Iraq war, pro-choice, pro stem cell research, pro universal healthcare, and pro environmental conservation.

I just met Chuck for the first time at a houseparty; I was totally impressed with his passion for defeating Santorum and bringing progressive politics back into the mainstream, his charismatic, down-to-earth personality, and his genuine interest in what the people actually care about.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pennacchio_for_Pennsylvania/

Posted by: Dave at September 17, 2005 09:13 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment