CBS: Santorum Struggles for Support at Home

[Rose Siding]

Even in his old congressional district, Republican incumbent struggles for support
(AP) Phyllis Sharkady has voted twice for the local boy who made good, Republican Sen. Rick Santorum. Not this year.

"I'm willing to go for change _ big time," said Sharkady, 59, a Hewlett-Packard retiree from Shaler Township, Pa., who admits she knows little about Santorum's Democratic challenger. "You need somebody without the so-called baggage."
...
A recent Quinnipiac University Poll showed Santorum to be less popular in Pittsburgh and its surrounding suburbs _ he hails from Penn Hills, Pa. _ than any other part of Pennsylvania. He trailed his opponent by around 30 percentage points there. Statewide, the poll had him down by 18 points, with a whopping 67 percent of voters saying they've made up their minds.
...
Nichols said she soured on Santorum because of his ongoing dispute with the Penn Hills school district over whether it would pay for his children's cyber schooling even though his six children live with him in Leesburg, Va., about 40 miles west of Washington.....

"I don't know how everybody else can't get away with things and he can. Everybody else is struggling a lot harder than he is," Nichols said. "I just really think he's taking advantage of his position."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/15/ap/politics/mainD8ISACCG1.shtml

[blue neen]

1. Santorum really is not well-liked in southwestern PA.

I even know Republicans who say they are voting for Casey. Ricky is an embarrassment to us here in PA.

The people in the Pittsburgh area are very angry about him ripping off Penn Hills. He's actually ripping off all of the citizens of the state, because the school districts get much of their funding from state coffers.

[Ilsa]

2. Santorum is really trying to "work" the system, isn't he?

He has the advantage of getting sweetheart loans on his home, no telling what else that we haven't found out about yet, and it still isn't good enough -- he wants to work over the local taxpayers.

[rodeodance]

3. he has such a smart alaky attitude!

[frankly_fedup2]

14. Yeah, kinda like George Allen (who seems to be the GOP's top runner

for Prez in 2008), and Tom DeLay. If you sat them all side by side they would look like brothers DeLay the oldest, Allen the middle, and Santorum the youngest. All of them still virgins because they are so damn ugly.

[TheFarseer]

4. rich pukes like this make me sick

he should be donating to the school instead of trying to bilk it. These people just can't help themselves. The repuke in our senate race is trying to dispute his property tax valuating and he's worth at least $50 million. You mean you have $50 mil and you can't spare a thousand for our public schools when you are trying to convince us you want to serve the people of this state?????

[Ilsa]

5. No money for public education, but they certainly

want educated doctors and nurses and other quick-thinking professionals when they need them.

This is something my childless older sister understands: She knows it is beneficial to her and others in the long run to pay her property taxes for a better-educated work force.

[ejbr]

15. AND

they talk about reducing crime, but advocate policies that incubate it! "No, I won't pay taxes to educate the less fortunate." Good, this way they can feel no remorse when they rob you! Repugs say that everyone should help themselves, but they are the biggest welfare queens out there. Society can put money in their pockets because the rules say it's fair. But we should keep the minimum wage the same for 10 fucking years. They are a bunch of hypocritical, selfish, loathsome, annoying, dependent (on other's blood sweat and tears) assholes!!:grr:

[IronLionZion]

12. That's not even the tip of the iceberg

Check out his K street connections, he is the most corrupt Senator. The money is laundered through his charity and his PAC pays for many of his household expenses. He's so crooked that his PAC doesn't even help other Republicans like it says it will. This guys just needs to go...to jail!

I doubt he could win even in his home state of Virginia!

[yellowcanine]

6. "Less popular...than in any other part of PA" - his home district! Heh.

Only Ricky could completely piss off the folks in his home congressional district - that takes some doing. Local boy fucks up. The only fly in this ointment is if Ricky gets thoroughly smacked down by the folks in PA this November it probably means he won't run for President in '08 and that would be too bad.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. He has support in Virginia?

:rofl:

The Senator from Virginia can leave the building already...

[calimary]

8. Yeah. And they called Hillary Clinton a carpetbagger.

Seems the republi-CONS wrote the frickin' book on carpetbagging. With a special forward by Alan Keyes.

[beltanefauve]

24. Don't forget

Elizabeth Dole and Mitt Romney (just off the top of my head.) Sure, they call US carpetbaggers, but its different when they do it!

[calimary]

25. Ah yes, dear darling liddy dole. The woman who told us at the

republi-CON convention in San Diego when she pulled her "Oprah" shtick that republi-CONS wouldn't tell you what to think!!!!?!?!?!?

:rofl:

[Sugarcoated]

9. They've been running his commercial here alot

in the Philly area and it sickens me. I'd like to see Casey get something on air soon.

[SammyBlue]

10. Little Ricky's going down in flame and it so great to watch, isn't it?

[LincolnMcGrath]

11. YAY

:woohoo:

[rpannier]

13. But...but...but...little ricky

has his family in Virginia, because his family comes first. This is just an insidious attack by a Democratic School Board Member.

Ever notice how it's always some minor Democratic official trying to bring down a christian, family man? It's never their crooked and/or unethical behavior that is the issue...the pukes always play the martyr card.

[PaDem]

16. Why is there a "Swann/Matthews" banner ad at the............

bottom of this thread? I'm lost.

[AnnieBW]

17. Go SW Pennsylvania!

He was originally the Congresscritter for my parents home district. He knocked off a really good Dem, Doug Walgren. So, I'm loving that he's getting his ass whupped in his home district! I mean, my parents aren't in good health, but they're volunteering for the Casey campaign in the North Hills simply because they want to get rid of Tricky Ricky.

[Hawaii Hiker]

18. Santorum

Santorum also angered USAirways employees while back when he basically told the employees in no uncertain terms (I think it was the pilots?) to settle differences w/USAirways management & strike a deal....USAirways has a large hub in Philadelphia, use to have bigger presence in Pittsburgh to I believe, but PHL is their largest hub now if I'm not mistaken...

Furthermore, some of his comments on social issues are right up there with the looniest of them all, Ann Coulter, so I truly think he will lose this November, as many are just sick & tired of the religious right....

[newyawker99]

20. Hi Hawaii Hiker!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Hawaii Hiker]

22. Thank You Newyawker!

I've been a long-time lurker, couple of us at work have been printing out the top 10 idiot list for about three years now - that is a MUST read every Monday!...

[Bleacher Creature]

19. The article makes it sound like it's all about the residency issue?

If that's the case, I won't complain since I just want him to leave. But one would think that all of the other crap would be sticking as well.

[kevinbgoode]

21. It is amazing that this article mentions nothing of his national gaffes

and how much he is a laughingstock to so many people...nor that he spends an amazing amount of time on the 700 Club.

[corporatemedia]

23. 18 months ago when we posted PICS of T-Ricky's home in VA....

PICS HERE


...not many understood the importance of the residency issue.

All credit goes foremost to the Vecchio's of Penn Hills who made this an issue, and also to Democracy for Pittsburgh.

Although it might be time for giving some credit it is definitely not for time for congratulations.

There is much work yet to be done.


Since the beginning...

SANTORUM CBYERGATE

[mkb]

26. Standing Tall Against Nonsense, Grating On Frayed Feelings

I watched Senator Santorum on C-Span not long ago, and he was promoting his book that talked about upholding family values. You can learn more by going to the title. Up there in Pennsylvania they are more receptive of that type of speech. It's just a clue.
Many of us struggle with our mental and emotional health, as well as physical too. The right-wing agenda that Santorum promotes is not helpful for general health, whether you have family support or not. Be careful reading this stuff because it's possible to be led astray from the real truth. They probably keep tabs on who reads this, just like they do everything else. I think it's a positive sign that he's losing so you can feel better in that regard. Out here in the West our Compass is slightly different.