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Saturday, May 28. 2005

Show Rick 'da Money

This week we found out that Rick may be opposed to stem cell research, but he isn't opposed to taking money from companies that perform research on stem cells.

From a Thursday DSCC press release:

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted to expand stem cell research, after which time Santorum issued a statement saying that he did not “support taxpayer funding for scientific research that involves the destruction of human embryos or that is based on the prior destruction of human life,” and that he was “pleased to hear” of the President’s pledge to veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. In 2003, Santorum also co-sponsored legislation that would have severely restricted stem cell research.

However, in spite of Santorum’s words and actions, since 1998 he accepted a total of $55,500 in campaign contributions from political action committees representing six separate companies that conduct stem cell research, including Becton Dickenson, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, & Pfizer.

In yet another interesting collision between Rick's ethics and campaign cash, the AP reported on Friday that Rick received $2000 from the CEO of AccuWeather Inc. just 2 days before he introduced a bill that would be very favorable to that company.

From the AP story:

Two days before Sen. Rick Santorum introduced a bill that critics say would restrict the National Weather Service, his political action committee received a $2,000 donation from the chief executive of AccuWeather Inc., a leading provider of weather data.

The disclosure has renewed criticism of the measure, which Santorum, R-Pa., maintains would allow the weather service to better focus on its core mission of getting threatening weather info out in a "timely and speedy basis."

Opponents say the bill would endanger the public by preventing the dissemination of certain weather data, and force taxpayers to pay for the data twice. The bill would prevent the weather service from competing for certain services offered by the private sector.

AccuWeather, based in State College, Pa., provides weather data to a variety of outlets, including media organizations such as The Associated Press.

"I think the timing of it is what makes it so suspect," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Government, a Democratic-leaning watchdog group. "It's like here's the money and you're going to do what I want."

Think there's any chance that Rick will return those donations based on his strong sense of morality?

Posted by Brian in Santorum's Hypocrisy at 12:38 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Tuesday, May 24. 2005

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial condemns Hitler remark

Today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette features an editorial titled "Hitler bombs/Santorum's filibuster analogy crosses a line."

Here's a little preview:

While most of his colleagues consider it a breach of manners to compare the loyal opposition to Nazis occupying Paris, it's par for the course for the Republicans' third-ranking senator, who tends to see the world in black hats and white hats.

Hours later, Mr. Santorum clarified that his Hitler remark was "meant to dramatize the principle of an argument, not to characterize" Senate Democrats. "My point was that it is preposterous for someone to trample a well-established principle," he said, "and then accuse his opponents of acting unlawfully when they try to re-establish that principle."

We don't expect Rick Santorum suddenly to adopt a tone of responsible moderation. But if there is one thing that U.S. politics can do without, it's this kind of rhetorical firebomb that some members of both parties like to launch at each other. Last night's bipartisan compromise in the Senate over judicial nominations, however, proved that the spirit of moderation is still alive.

Rhetoric such as Sen. Santorum's certainly makes headlines and helps a lawmaker get something off his chest. But poorly chosen words don't help the public understand the issue. Besides, it is not becoming to the senator. It does not elevate the office. And it ill-serves Pennsylvania.

We Agree. If you agree, don't forget to sign the petition and let Rick know.

Posted by Brian in Santorum in the News at 19:36 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Monday, May 23. 2005

Sign the Petition, Tell Rick to Apologize

Rick's recent comments equating Democrats to Adolf Hitler are part of a pattern. In November of 2003, during a speech that he delivered to a convention of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Rick actually said that the New York Times sympathized with Fascists, Nazis, Communists and Baathists.

Join us in telling Rick Santorum that he must stop using this kind of offensive, incendiary and divisive rhetoric to describe people simply because they disagree with his radical right-wing agenda. Sign our petition and tell Rick to make a full public apology.

Posted by Brian at 18:39 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

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