Regarding your March 7 editorial on Kate Michelman's possible run for the U.S. Senate
("Off the Cliff: A Run by Michelman Could Re-elect Santorum"): It's not Bob Casey's support for Justice Samuel Alito that bothers this pro-choice voter. It's how Mr. Casey
came to run for the Senate that makes me angry. It's how the Democratic leadership, including Gov. Ed Rendell, talked pro-choice
Barbara Hafer into withdrawing in favor of anti-choice Casey.
It's how Democrat Casey's position on stem-cell research mirrors right-wing Sen. Rick Santorum's. It's how
people who are supposedly pro-choice or pro-stem-cell research are willing to sell out their principles for political convenience.
You say "abortion rights make up just one issue that affects the lives of women." It is too huge an issue
to any woman making that decision for the Post-Gazette to cynically minimize it. Reproductive rights (including contraception)
are under attack in this country and that affects both sexes. It is too serious a situation to elect another candidate who
doesn't respect the rights of individuals to make their own choices.
Mr. Casey was the top vote-getter in the last election for the position of state treasurer. He didn't do nearly
as well when he ran for governor. Maybe that means voters trust him with their money but not to make their moral decisions.
If Mr. Casey is Sen. Santorum's only opposition, I'll reluctantly vote for Mr. Casey. If Kate Michelman runs,
I'll sign her petition. Sometimes principle is the most important thing, especially when we're just trading one social reactionary
for another.
Joe Castelli, Squirrel Hill
Letter to the editor, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Mar 10, 2006
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