Casey embraces his ‘independent streak’

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The following are excerpts of reporter Charles Hurt’s recent interview with Senate candidate Bob Casey Jr., Pennsylvania Democrat and state treasurer:

Question: How would you have voted on the Senate immigration bill, which critics say would grant amnesty to some 10 million illegal aliens?

Answer: Even though that bill had a number of problems with it, if the choice was either voting for that or doing nothing, then I would have supported the bill.

[Sen. Rick Santorum] started his media campaign on that issue, which I thought was kind of bizarre that an incumbent with 12 years and is in leadership would have his first ad about an issue about which I think he has got a bad record. He has voted against border security, I think, seven times. He voted the wrong way in terms of holding employers accountable several times.

Q: The recent Senate bill to bolster state laws that require minors to notify their parents before getting an abortion was opposed by most Democrats. How would you have voted on that bill?

A: I would have voted for it.

Q: As a pro-life Democrat, how comfortable will you be joining a caucus that is almost entirely pro-choice? Will you stand up to leadership on those issues?

A: On the issue of abortion, my position has been different than the national party for a long time. Even though there is significant and intense disagreement on both sides of that issue, there actually is something everyone agrees on: reduce the number of abortions.

People expect you in that body, especially from a state like Pennsylvania, which is large and diverse, to have an independent streak. It’s very important for this state to have that. When people review my record and the way I’ve approached issues, I’ve been independent on a lot of things.

People in the Senate leadership understand that in order to be successful, you have to have a big tent. You have to reach out to people that are of differing opinions because that’s how you get a majority. I want our party in 2008 to be able to count to 51. That’s how you win.

I spent months making this decision [to run for Senate], and the party leadership at every turn was in no way pressuring me saying, “We disagree with you on abortion.”

Q: Who do you support in the Connecticut Senate race between Sen. Joe Lieberman, the independent, and Democratic nominee Ned Lamont?

A: I’ve always supported Democratic nominees. I think it’s important to endorse, support Democratic nominees.

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