Senator Robert Casey, Jr., (D-Pa.) (contact here) is a central figure in the ever important abortion debate within the larger debate on the U.S. Senate’s pending health care legislation. The Catholic son of the late Democrat, staunchly pro-life, Pennsylvania governor, campaigned as one who was as adamantly pro-life as his dad. That’s pretty hard to be, especially for a Democrat. His dad was censored from speaking at the 1992 Democrat National Convention for his pro-life views.
Now, he is one of the few Democrat senators who can possibly derail the government takeover of the American health care system, which is one-sixth of the economy, and preserve the ban on federal funds for abortions, reject mandates that insurance companies provide abortion coverage, and maintain conscience clause protections for medical professionals. The entire bill may come down to abortion and whether self-proclaimed “pro-life Democrats” live up to their word.
Unfortunately, Senator Casey thus far in his term has cozied up to the pro-abortion-on-demand leftists who monopolize his party’s leadership. In fact, Senator Casey has introduced “compromise” abortion language to Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) health care monstrosity (see Kathryn Jean Lopez at the National Review’s Health Care Blog). The National Right To Life Committee responded quickly, dismissing it as language that does almost nothing to improve the overall bill’s policy on abortion (see letter here). Besides, how does one compromise on abortion? Are there “half-way abortions”?
Still, there is some expectation he can be a moderating voice on abortion within the Democrat Senate caucus. Now, many are asking him to show the courageous leadership his father displayed during his distinguished career. Helping to remind him, Catholic Vote Action has entered the debate and has bought television time in Pennsylvania to encourage citizens there to contact Senator Casey and encourage him to stay true to his proclaimed pro-life position, and vote against the health care legislation.
If you live in Pennsylvania, contact Senator Casey and ask him to stay true to principle, not to mention the Truth. Or, if you know people there, forward them this link and ask them to contact Senator Casey as well.
Pennsylvania Catholics have the responsibility to ask Senator Robert Casey, Jr., to not let them down.
