The treasurer's admission: Resign Mr. Casey (Rick Santorum is smiling!)

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | 3-9-06 | Editorial

[smoothsailing]

The treasurer's admission: Resign, Mr. Casey

Thursday, March 9, 2006

Bobby Casey just cooked his own political goose.

The state treasurer and presumptive Democrat nominee for the U.S. Senate "broke ranks with the political establishment" (as The Associated Press tells it) and offered in a legal filing that the Pennsylvania Legislature violated the state Constitution with its summer 2005 pay-jacking.

The filing came in response to a lawsuit now before the state Supreme Court that challenges the pay raises, repealed last fall after a public outcry...Snip... Mr. Casey, a defendant in the lawsuit, denied that the filing was politically motivated. "When you're brought into a lawsuit, you've got to respond," he said.

But in the process, Casey is admitting that he aided and abetted the evisceration of the state charter. For, you see, Casey is the gent responsible for cutting the checks that rewarded legislators for their unconstitutional act. He could have refused to authorize payment but did not.

So, the commonwealth's highest-ranking fiscal officer, Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., has admitted to participating in a scheme that even he considers to have been illegal, in clear violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution and his oath of office.

The only honorable thing to do is for Casey to resign and end his quest for higher office.

2004 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.

[ncountylee]

Will this have legs?

[Clintonfatigued]

I don't see this as single-handedly sinking Casey's bid, but it does damage it. How much remains to be seen.

[Southack]

Boom!

[smoothsailing]

I don't see why not.Sounds like Casey may have violated the Pa. constitution.I'm no lawyer, but it doesn't look right to me.

The dems have figured Casey could beat Rick as long as "the wheels didn't come off" his campaign.

See this:

Santorum expected to cut Casey's big edge

It was written before the above editorial.

[Beagle8U]

Looks like the Mighty Casey just struck out...lol

[Mount Athos]

I sure feel like a dummy for believing the polls and thinking Santorum was a gonner. This could be a nice turnaround

[Lancey Howard]

Will this have legs?

No. Democrats never resign in shame. They get re-elected by other shameless Democrats.
It's just the way it is.

[smoothsailing]

HA! Hope you're right. :)

[denydenydeny]

In any case this is a huge campaign issue for Santorum.

[smoothsailing]

The people running the Santorum polls are probably the same ones who were running the DeLay polls.LOL!

[goldstategop]

Yes, it will - this is big. This knocks the legs out from under Casey's Senate bid. It was clear sailing until one learned he cut checks for Pennslyvania lawmakers who voted for an illegal pay raise. There's no way he can defend that conduct. Its over. All Santorum has to do is run a commercial linking Casey with the Harrisburg political establishment and its kaput for the Democrat. It looked bad for Santorum a few months back. Now this. I can't wait for other shoe to drop.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[nopardons]

bttt

[Cincinna]

Rick Santorum is also smiling because Kate Michelman, former head of NARAL is seriously thinking of jumping in to the race . Giving Pennsylvania a "choice", so to speak.

[goldstategop]

That would add nice touch.... if Casey's toast, the Dems have to run a pro-abortion liberal. Great news!

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[smoothsailing]

Unless I'm mistaken, Michelman could not garner the necessary filing petition signatures and has now missed the filing deadline.

[Coop]

I view this as only a hit (not a mortal wound) on Mr. Casey. That ol' double standard thing. But it may give pause to some of the Santorum "pallbearers." At least until the next bad poll comes out.

[Tribune7]

A golden oldie that should not be forgotten

[dirtboy]

A golden oldie that should not be forgotten

Santorum will probably sit on this one until two weeks before the election, to not give time for Casey to allow the outrage to diminish.

[Vigilanteman]

The only honorable thing to do is for Casey to resign and end his quest for higher office.

That'll happen when pigs grow wings and fly.