Green is the Color of Money

I have a number of liberal friends (myself included) who are less than thrilled with Bob Casey as the Democratic candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania. However, despite this, Casey is still a moderate democrat vs. "The Santorum," so for me the choice is clear (even if Casey is not for choice).

In the latest round of "dirty tricks" (lite version), the Republicans have gone all out to support a Green candidate in order for the candidate to get on the November ballot, as reported by the Inquirer, Santorum donors give to Green Party. With a little help from Santorum's friends, the Green party candidate may have bought himself enough voter signatures for the Senate race.

As reported by Will Bunch of Attytood, in Santorum, the Green Party, and some very strange bedfellows:

For a guy who's positioned himself as the candidate of the left in the Pennsylvania Senate race, Carl Romanelli has some very strange bedfellows on the far-right side of the mattress.

The Green Party candidate -- who'll likely siphon some votes from liberals angry at Democrat Casey's conservative views on abortion, gun control, and other issues -- has a real shot at making the fall ballot thanks to an effort funded with $66,000 in donations to the Green Party of Luzerne County (where Romanelli lives) that paid for his petition drive.

As you may have read over the last couple of days, it's now being reported that many of these donors are allies of GOP Sen. Rick Santorum, who will benefit if disaffected Democrats defect to the Green Party. A most brazen ploy indeed, yet that doesn't even begin to capture the stunning level of cynicism here. An Attytood investigation shows these donors include:

Among those making large donations to the only candidate who "reproductive freedom, and the right to same-sex marriage" are....
* The leading financial backer of an anti-abortion ballot measure in California called Proposition 73.
* Another California who wants to run for Congress while pushing an amendment to ban gay marriage.
* A military contractor and big GOP donor whose firm has won at least $11.5 million in earmarked federal dollars with Santorum's help.
* A former Bill Frist aide who now lobbies for Kellogg Brown & Root, the Halliburton subsidiary making billions in Iraq, and oil giant Chevron.
* Another lobbyist, who represents Big Pharma, who was in with Santorum at the start of the notorious "K Street Project."
* Another longtime friend and donor to Santorum who lobbied and saw the senator introduced a proposed targeted tax break for the donor's industry, beauty schools.

Richard Cranium of Allspinzone notes that Santorum doesn't even bother denying that he was behind this move, in Santorum Pulls A Nader Out of His Hat, quoting Santorum:

"This is politics," the second-term senator told reporters Monday while campaigning in suburban Pittsburgh. "It's no surprise when you're an incumbent, it helps to have more people on the ballot."

For more on this issue, see TPMmuckraker here, here and here.

Many of my liberal friends have said that they may sit out the Senate race, since they can't bring themselves to vote for Casey. On an emotional level, I understand and agree with that. But on an objective basis, there is no comparison. Casey is much better than Rick at his best (and Rick at his worst gives me chills even in the summer).

And even worse, that's exactly what the Republicans are counting on -- the fact that a bunch of liberals will let Rick Santorum win in November rather than compromise their principles and vote for a lesser candidate. By giving them a candidate that they can "feel good" about voting for (a la Nader), they will help Rick as much as if had actually voted for him.

I can't believe that otherwise intelligent people would let themselves be played this way, but I have no doubt that some will. I can only hope that enough will say basta already.