Redstate

"This is a very serious time. And I think you show a lot about what you're made of when you deal with critical issues at a critical time."

By AcademicElephant Posted in 2006 — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Last night, veterans and the family of a soldier currently deployed in Afghanistan spoke out passionately on behalf of Senator Rick Santorum in Philadelphia (audio available for download through Redstate Radio--please stand by through the opening page ruffling and throat clearing). As a high-end fundraiser took place near by in which Senator John Kerry (D-EU) shilled in absentia for Democratic challenger Bob Casey, Jr., they made a personal case for why Senator Santorum is the Pennsylvania senate candidate who would best represent our troops in Washington. I was surprised by the intensity with which they spoke; clearly, Mr. Kerry's recent remarks have touched a nerve both with those who have been on the receiving end of his anti-military slurs in the past, and with those who believe that supporting our troops by word and deed should be a first priority for those who purport to lead this country.

Sometimes it seems hard to get a handle on someone like Bob Casey, who has made a career out of saying as little as possible. But you can still get to know such a person by the company he keeps. Mr. Casey stood up yesterday to be counted with John Kerry, to whom he referred in the morning as a "patriot" and a "great leader," and then in the evening he greatfully accepted the money raised for him by the junior senator from Massachusetts. For a rather dramatic contrast, listen to the audio and find out who is standing up to be counted with Senator Santorum. Marine Corps officer James Warner, who as a POW in Hanoi was read Mr. Kerry's "Winter Soldier" testimony detailing the "crimes" of US soldiers. Nancy Schmidt, whose son Richard is currently serving in Kandahar, who hopes her son will not hear about Senator Kerry's derogatory remarks while he's risking his life to defend our country. While we can't do anything about Mr. Kerry's employment status this election cycle, we can do our best to make sure a man who emulates him doesn't join him in Washington. Bob Casey may not talk very much, but yesterday he made crystal clear the kind of person he is, and the kind of senator he would like be.

The John Kerry kind.

Read on...

For his part, Mr. Santorum pointed out how pitifully Mr. Casey has failed our men and women serving in Iraq over the past few days:

This is a very serious time. And I think you show a lot about what you're made of when you deal with critical issues at a critical time. Bob Casey flunked that test today. He flunked the test of leadership. He flunked the test of standing up for our men and women when he had the opportunity to do that. He played partisan politics and read his talking points, just like he's done throughout this entire campaign. John Kerry gave him the talking points. It was a "botched joke." The words right out of Bob Casey's mouth, it was a "botched joke." Just follow the script, Bob. That's what we do. Just follow the script.

Being a United States senator isn't about following the script. Some people say I get off the script far too often. At least with me you know what you're getting is real. With Bob Casey you get the line. You get the talking points, even when it undermines the morale of our troops potentially, even when it comes at the face of hurting our effort to combat this war. You just follow the line. That's the difference here. That's what this issue is all about that John Kerry has started; it has unearthed in very graphic ways on how it can have an impact on our country--what having someone who's not prepared to do this job, and really has not taken the time to understand what a United States senator should or should not be all about.

In conclusion, Senator Santorum had this to say about how Mr. Kerry's statement may signal Democrat plans to re-shape Iraq policy after the election:

There's no question in my mind that what you saw slip out of the mouth of John Kerry is what you will hear belted out of the mouths of many more Democrats if the Democrats are successful in November. You are going to see Democrats come full bore trying to use the war in a way to push their entire agenda of trying to retreat--trying to cut and run--whatever you want to call it. And to put...the really smart people in charge...The really smart people who feel like we can negotiate with these people because we're really smart and we can figure out a way to not have to go to war and use these crude tools like soldiers and weapons...maybe John Kerry can speak French to them and figure out a way to convince our enemies not to hurt us anymore...

While it seems that there are some terrorists who speak French, I'm not so sure they're the ones we're fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Judging from their words over the past 72 hours, Mr. Kerry and his stooge Mr. Casey are hardly the kind of "leaders" we want shaping Iraq policy in the next congress. But Rick Santorum is. He's willing and able to fight against the terrorists and for our troops, rather than to propose appeasement and pander to the anti-military left.

There's still time to contribute to or volunteer for Senator Santorum, but most importantly get out and vote for him on Tuesday if you can. As Captain Warner said last night, "The people of Pennsylvania, when they go to vote, should vote as if their lives depended on it--because friends, they do."