Posted on 08/01/2006 11:53:07 AM PDT by Namyak
Sex columnist Dan Savage’s crude definition of U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum’s last name ranks on top in a Google search of the senator’s last name, but it’s just rank to Bob Casey Jr.
The Democratic state treasurer said Monday he’s returning Mr. Savage’s $2,100 contribution because the sex columnist’s definition detracts from the way campaigns should be conducted.
“It was the right thing to do,” Mr. Casey said after an appearance in Scranton. “Look, a contribution of that size in the context of millions of dollars that both campaigns will raise is obviously not a big percentage of what you’ll raise.
“But every once in a while, I think it’s very important for a public official and a candidate to stand up and say, ‘You know what? What this person said goes over the line.’?”
Mr. Casey said he was not specifically aware of the definition before it was pointed out to him, but by returning the money, he hopes to bring “more civility into our public discourse.”
The return of the money was first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday.
Mr. Savage, who is based in Seattle and whose column appears in The Village Voice in New York City, is openly gay. He has made Mr. Santorum, the third-highest-ranking Senate Republican, one of his favorite targets since the senator likened homosexuality to bestiality and incest a few years back. Mr. Savage has an equally unprintable-in-a-family-newspaper name for the senator related to describing that position.
“He’s my bete noire,” Mr. Savage said, using the French phrase to describe his particular dislike for Mr. Santorum in a telephone conversation Monday from Seattle.
Mr. Santorum has called for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
In his blog a week ago, Mr. Savage said a Casey campaign staffer was at first thankful for the contribution and invited Mr. Savage to a Seattle fundraiser. But Mr. Casey’s financial director called back later to say that the contribution was being returned because the senator’s supporters would “raise holy hell about Casey taking money from me.”
Mr. Savage wrote that he was told to donate money to independent groups working to defeat Mr. Santorum, and he plans to give to Philadelphians Against Santorum.
“I find it comical and hypocritical for Casey to suggest that he’s trying to take the high road, when it was suggested to Dan Savage by the Casey campaign to just donate the contribution to another organization working for Santorum’s defeat,” said Virginia Davis, Mr. Santorum’s spokeswoman.
Mr. Savage, who supports abortion rights, said he took ribbing for giving to Mr. Casey, who opposes abortion, and is hearing a lot of I-told-you-sos. He doesn’t buy the civil discourse argument. He said the problem with Democrats is they worry too much about civility instead of running campaigns that can win. In public debate, Republicans don’t worry about civility, he said.
“Republicans go for the jugular,” Mr. Savage said.
Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com
I would really like that to be true just once, once in my lifetime.
Mr. Casey is a decent democrat who would have thought there was such a person. I am glad he is giving back the money. Of course, this makes it much more difficult for Senator Santorum to use this against the libs. It is a difficult look at this election. Two half decent people running. I have not witnessed such an election during my election life (since 1988). I am glad that at least Pennsylvania will win either way. I am voting for Santorum, but if he goes down I won't be as depressed as I would have been if Kerry would have won the Presidency. At least there is a slim chance that babies will be saved either way. I know that FREEPERS don't believe the BS that Casey says but at least he is saying he won't kill any more babies...most dems won't even say that!
Geesh!! I went to Google and at the very top are his two definitions of "Santorum". His #1 definition of Santorum is at the very top. It is gross, nasty, despicable and downright filthy. It is followed immediately by his #2 definition: "Senator Rick Santorum".
Somehow I'm thinking that the Santorum camp could use this to their advantage. This is beyond the pale.
I think he's referring to President Bush continually bashing Senator Kennedy while Kennedy was inviting Bush to participate in the writing of education bill......(Or was it the other way around???)
That might be true, but Savage is still supporting Casey, I would think.
Besides being a pervert, he's delusional.
As with most homosexuals of his ilk, Savage gets very nasty when someone points out how repugnant and vile the homosexual lifestyle is. Deep down inside, most homosexuals know homosexual behavior is wrong.
Uh-huh....
Giving back the money in highly publicized fashion only to be given to another defeat Santorum group with a wink and nod. Yes, he's a saint.
Chuckie recruited this guy. That ought to set off warning bells.
You may like what he says, but I sincerely doubt in office that you'll like what he does on the pro-life issue. He's not his father. Furthermore, I fail to see how a Dem merely SAYING he's not pro-abortion pleases you. Salazar said he wouldn't support filibusters, then he gets elected in Colorado, he's now one of the most liberal obstructionists there.
Big win.
I mean IF it were Specter running and Casey was running as being pro-life, yeah, I could see being pleased by rhetoric. Even if he didn't act upon it, a Democrat running as pro-life and beating a pro-abortion Republican would be good.
But someone masquerading as something they aren't to win conservative Dem votes that otherwise would go to a real pro-life Republican? No, that isn't good news.
How I would love to see Republicans go for the jugular; oh just let me enjoy thinking about it for a minute.
GOD BLESS RONALD REAGAN. The last President of the U.S. to have any 'nads.
Yes, but the dems try in vein to be civil...
Sadly, Santorum's going to lose this race. Casey is playing smart politics, representing the classic lunchbox Democrat.
Are there any genealogists out there? What does Santorum's name mean?
The Latin phrase "sanctum sanctorum" comes to mind....meaning "holy of holies." "Sanctus" can also mean saint, and the word came into Spanish as "Santo."
"Savage" on the other hand means a variety of things, such as "rude, boorish person."
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