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Longtime Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey’s workplace has remained silent on whether or not the highly effective Keystone State lawmaker nonetheless endorses freshman Squad member Rep. Summer season Lee in gentle of backlash over her rhetoric on Israel.
Fox Information Digital reached out to Casey’s Senate workplace, press secretary, chief of employees and marketing campaign repeatedly this week to see if the Democratic lawmaker endorses Lee in 2024, however acquired no responses.
Pennsylvania will once more function a key battleground state this election cycle as former President Donald Trump and President Biden are anticipated to face a rematch in a state that narrowly voted for Trump in 2016, and elected Biden in 2020 at a 1.17% margin.
Casey can also be anticipated to have a troublesome election marketing campaign this yr as he defends his seat for the fourth time. His lack of response on whether or not he endorses the left-wing congresswoman and Squad member might imply a deepening divide between progressive Democrats and their extra reasonable counterparts over stances on the conflict in Israel.
COOKIE MONSTER HIDES SEN. BOB CASEY’S REPLY ON X AFTER DEM SOUGHT CAMPAIGN DONATION: ‘CAN YOU CHIP IN?
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 25: U.S. Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) speaks throughout a information convention on well being care September 25, 2017 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Affected person teams gathered on Capitol Hill to urged to reject the Graham-Cassidy well being care invoice. (Photograph by Alex Wong/Getty Photos) (Getty Photos)
Final week, a information report surfaced detailing that Lee, who was first elected to characterize Pennsylvania’s twelfth congressional district in 2022, eliminated Casey’s title from a piece on her marketing campaign web site that communicates to tremendous PACs and different exterior political teams that they might embrace his endorsement in political advertisements. The part of the web site is called a “pink field,” and is utilized by political candidates to work round guidelines prohibiting political teams from immediately coordinating with a marketing campaign.
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Jewish Insider reported final week that as just lately as March 7, Casey’s title was included inside the “pink field” part on Rep. Lee’s marketing campaign website, however has since been eliminated and changed with Democratic Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries’ title and endorsement.
BALTIMORE – MARCH 2: Rep. Summer season Lee, D-Pa., speaks throughout Home Minority Whip Katherine Clarks information convention with freshman girls of the 118th Congress on the Home Democrats 2023 Points Convention in Baltimore, Md., on Thursday, March 2, 2023. (Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc through Getty Photos) (Getty Photos)
“In her first yr in workplace, Congresswoman Summer season Lee has labored with the Biden Administration to ship $1.2 billion {dollars} in investments (see video) to Allegheny and Westmoreland counties to enhance transportation, create inexperienced jobs, clear our air and water, and develop inexpensive housing. That’s why she’s endorsed by the Democratic Celebration, Democratic Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO State Labor Council, SEIU and Deliberate Parenthood,” a piece of the pink field on the marketing campaign web site reads as of March 19.
Fox Information Digital reached out a number of instances to Lee’s congressional workplace, chief of employees, press secretary and marketing campaign for touch upon why Casey’s title was faraway from that part of the web site, however didn’t obtain any responses. Lee’s workplace additionally didn’t touch upon questions concerning whether or not Casey endorses Lee’s 2024 run and if the title removing was associated to the conflict in Israel.
DEM SEN. BOB CASEY SLAMMED BY GOP FOR SHIFTING IMMIGRATION STANCES: ‘COMPLICIT IN THE CRISIS’
Casey’s title continues to be listed amongst a big swath of native and nationwide political figures on Lee’s official endorsements web page on her web site, alongside Lee’s fellow Squad members corresponding to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Progressive Caucus chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
(L-R) US Consultant Summer season Lee, Democrat of Pennsylvania, embraces US Consultant Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, as US President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union handle within the Home Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2024. (Photograph by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photograph by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP through Getty Photos) (Getty Photos)
Lee’s district is positioned in southwestern Pennsylvania, and consists of Pittsburgh and far of Allegheny County. Pittsburgh is residence to a big Jewish group, and the place the 2018 mass capturing on the synagogue Tree of Life killed 11 individuals and wounded six others throughout Shabbat morning providers.
Lee has come beneath hearth in latest months from pro-Israel teams and the Jewish group for her rhetoric on the conflict in Israel, together with an open letter signed by dozens of rabbis condemning Lee for her “divisive rhetoric” they stated has been “perceived as brazenly antisemitic.”
Jewish group leaders within the Pittsburgh space have taken situation with Lee calling for a ceasefire shortly following the conflict starting in Israel, for voting towards a decision backing Israel and condemning Hamas in October, in addition to agreeing to attend a Muslim advocacy group’s occasion this month earlier than backing out.
The March letter was additionally signed by a handful of rabbis in Lee’s neighboring district, which is represented by Democratic Congressman Chris Deluzio. Fox Information Digital reached out to Deluzio’s marketing campaign and congressional workplace this week asking if he endorses Lee’s 2024 marketing campaign, however didn’t obtain remark again.
“Chris Deluzio has been awfully quiet in relation to Summer season Lee’s excessive antisemitism, and that’s unacceptable. Why gained’t Deluzio say a phrase whereas Jewish teams in his personal district are talking out towards her?” Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella informed Fox Information Digital of Deluzio.
Earlier media stories detailed that highly effective pro-Israel lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, had labored to recruit a candidate to problem Lee this election cycle over her Israel stance, after spending $5 million towards her marketing campaign in 2022, the Intercept reported. Shortly following the outbreak of conflict in Gaza, Lee joined fellow left-wing lawmakers in calling for a ceasefire in October, whereas President Biden and different Democrats pledged assist to Israel because it battled Hamas.
DEMOCRATIC SEN. BOB CASEY CONCEDES THERE’S NO ‘VIDEOTAPE’ THAT’LL DISPROVE BIDEN’S AGE CONCERNS
In January, AIPAC tweeted a message that tagged Lee, fellow Squad members Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush and others, stating “a Ceasefire Now retains these monsters armed and in energy.” AIPAC is the most important pro-Israel PAC within the nation, and is anticipated to spend $100 million this election cycle towards candidates they imagine aren’t sufficiently pro-Israel, Politico reported earlier this month.
That very same month, three high Home Democrats – Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar – endorsed Lee’s re-election.
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 31: Rep. Summer season Lee, D-Pa., participates within the Home Oversight and Accountability Committee organizing assembly within the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. (Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc through Getty Photos) (Getty Photos)
“A civil rights champion, advocate for organized labor and the primary Black girl to characterize Pennsylvania in Congress, Summer season Lee has labored tirelessly to ship for working households,” the three leaders stated in an announcement in January.
The removing of Casey’s title from the “pink field” web page on Lee’s marketing campaign web site might define a rising divide inside the Democratic Celebration amid the conflict in Israel.
SEN. CASEY PUSHED TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR LGBTQ CENTER THAT HOSTED YOUTH DRAG SHOWS, PROMOTED COMMUNIST EVENTS
Casey has lengthy been a Pennsylvania Democratic stalwart, first profitable his election to the U.S. Senate in 2007. The Casey title additionally has deep roots within the state, with Bob Casey Sr., the senator’s father, serving because the Keystone State’s governor from 1987 to 1995, following years of serving in numerous different elected roles.
This yr, Casey is going through an anticipated closely-watched and uphill battle to carry onto his seat – which the longtime senator even conceded in an interview with NBC Information final month. The Prepare dinner Political Report lists Casey’s seat as “leans Democrat,” whereas Casey’s 2024 race has repeatedly been listed as a must-watch this election cycle, as his seat might flip pink.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 05: (L-R) Actress Debra Messing, U.S. Sen Bob Casey (D-PA) recording artist Katy Perry and Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greet supporters throughout a get-out-the-vote live performance on the Mann Heart for the Performing Arts on November 5, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With three days to go till election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Florida and Pennsylvania. (Photograph by Justin Sullivan/Getty Photos) (Getty Photos)
“It’ll be an in depth, robust race,” Casey stated final month. “However look, there’s loads on the road each time. Each time I’ve run for public workplace in Pennsylvania, I’ve needed to earn the vote and the belief of the individuals. And I received to try this, once more.”
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Casey is anticipated to face off towards Republican Dave McCormick following the state’s primaries. McCormick is an Military fight veteran and former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, who served because the Commerce Division’s Beneath Secretary of Commerce for Business and Safety in addition to Beneath Secretary of the Treasury for Worldwide Affairs beneath former President George W. Bush’s administration. His spouse, Dina Powell, additionally served beneath former President Donald Trump’s administration as Deputy Nationwide Safety Advisor for Technique.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick meets with Israeli officers. (Dave McCormick Marketing campaign / Fox Information Digital)
McCormick final month known as for Lee’s “rapid resignation” whereas attempting to rally Casey to hitch him within the demand in a video posted to X. The video message got here in response to outrage over Lee agreeing to seem as a speaker for a fundraiser hosted by the Philadelphia chapter of Muslim advocacy group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Lee in the end canceled her look, following backlash, saying the cancelation was meant “to stop the Muslim group from being the goal of any extra politically motivated Islamophobia and to make sure my Jewish and LGBTQ+ constituents know their considerations are heard.”
McCormick has lengthy been calling out Lee’s rhetoric on Israel, together with proper after the conflict started in October, when Lee claimed Israel bombed a hospital in Gaza – which was a story promoted by retailers such because the New York Occasions in October, earlier than the Occasions backtracked and stated it “relied too closely on claims by Hamas.”
McCormick known as on Casey to rescind his endorsement of Lee in a remark to Fox Information Digital.
“Summer season Lee has been sowing the seeds of antisemitic hate as Hamas brutalizes the Israeli individuals. For Senator Bob Casey to take a seat idly by as she fails to face up for Pittsburgh’s Jewish group, which she’s alleged to be representing, is harmful. Casey must rescind his endorsement of Lee instantly. You possibly can’t combat antisemitism and assist Summer season Lee,” McCormick informed Fox Information Digital this week.
McCormick additionally addressed the report detailing how Lee’s marketing campaign quietly eliminated Casey’s title from the “pink field” part of the marketing campaign web site in a tweet final week, saying Casey ought to “come out and rescind his endorsement” of Lee, however is as a substitute taking the “say-nothing, do-nothing” method.
‘SQUAD’ DEMOCRAT DECLARES ‘ALL LIVES DO MATTER’ WHILE CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE IN ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
A latest Emerson Faculty Polling/The Hill survey discovered McCormick is closing in on Casey, at 41% assist to Casey’s 45%. The identical ballot discovered Trump has 47% of Pennsylvania voters in comparison with Biden’s 43%.
Casey got here beneath hearth from police teams this week, when a pro-defund the police group, Indivisible Philadelphia endorsed the Senator. Folcroft Deputy Police Chief and Delaware County FOP Lodge 27 President Chris Eiserman held a press convention on Wednesday, the place he slammed Casey for aligning himself with the progressive group, whereas pledging his assist for McCormick within the election.
“At a time when there have been 4 shootings in 4 days on our native public transit system, and legislation enforcement throughout the Commonwealth is understaffed, Casey’s determination to align himself with these defund the police activists is alarming and intensely harmful,” Eiserman stated Wednesday.
Casey’s marketing campaign workplace did reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark concerning Indivisible Philadelphia’s endorsement this week, saying the senator has offered wanted instruments to legislation enforcement, whereas going after McCormick.
“Senator Casey has delivered a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands to fund bulletproof vests, SWAT gear, police vehicles, and ballistics shields for officers, and has labored alongside legislation enforcement to handle threats like fentanyl trafficking,” marketing campaign spokesperson Maddy McDaniel stated. “David McCormick went towards legislation enforcement when he opposed a border deal that was supported by border patrol, and he spent his profession investing for the Chinese language authorities, which is now teaming up with Mexican cartels to pump fentanyl into Pennsylvania. We are able to’t belief him to prioritize our security — solely his backside line.”
The marketing campaign workplace didn’t handle whether or not Casey agrees with Indivisible Philadelphia’s assist of defunding the police in favor of funding social staff or medical professionals to deal with sure public questions of safety.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 15: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C), stands with members of the U.S. Senate, (L-R), John Barrasso (R-WY), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Robert Casey (D-PA), Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Bob Menendez (R-NJ) and John McCain (R-AZ), throughout a gathering on the U.S. Capitol on February 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photograph by Mark Wilson/Getty Photos)
The Greater than 40 rabbis and Jewish leaders within the Pittsburgh space who revealed the open letter this month condemned Lee for what they stated was her failing to come back by means of on a promise to “name out antisemitism and mood your personal language.”
PA SENATE CANDIDATE MCCORMICK RECOUNTS IDF VISIT, DEEMS ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR ‘TEST’ FOR AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
“Final fall we wrote to you with considerations about your rhetoric and votes in relation to the occasions of October 7 in Israel, the next conflict and the rise in antisemitism in America,” the rabbis and Jewish leaders wrote within the letter. “You graciously agreed to satisfy with us, and in that assembly you promised us that you’d name out antisemitism and mood your personal language.”
“Sadly, three months later, you haven’t adopted by means of on these commitments,” they wrote. The letter acknowledged Lee has “continued to make use of divisive rhetoric, which, at instances, now we have perceived as brazenly antisemitic.”
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Lee is going through a Democratic challenger within the main, which will likely be held on April 23, earlier than the final election on Nov. 5.
Longtime PA Dem silent on assist for freshman ‘Squad’ member after his title is quietly faraway from website
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