Stephen F. Kislock, III – 5/1/05

This page was last updated on May 1, 2005.

Check out Santorum’s record; Stephen F. Kislock, III; Beaver County Times; May 1, 2005.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“What a guy U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum is - if you are not a working American.

“I hope Santorum has started saving accounts for his children’s future. But then, is there a future with Santorum as our U.S. senator?

“He makes $157,000 a year as Senate Republican Chairman. He has a $757,000.00 home in Virginia, a $106,000 house in Penn Hills, a wife and six kids. Does he moonlight?

“His wife sued and won a medical malpractice award of $350,000 and she does not work. A $350,000.00 award for a herniated disk?”

[RWC] A full-time mom whose kids are schooled at home “does not work?” Mr. Kislock must study under Teresa Kerry.

FYI, the injury resulted from treatment for lower back pain following the birth and death of her son in 1996.

“Santorum, is one of the loudest voices in Congress for tort reform, and why not? They got theirs but the senator has made sure you do not get yours.”

[RWC] Tort reform is about lawsuit abuse, not about eliminating righteous lawsuits. If you were injured and have a legitimate case, you should be able to receive appropriate compensation. Lawsuit abuse makes it tougher for legitimate cases to receive proper treatment.

“This is the United States, not some religious theocracy. The foundation of the United States is built on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, not the Bible.”

[RWC] No kidding, Sherlock. Who claimed otherwise?

This is nitpicking, but the Bill of Rights – the first 10 amendments – is part of the Constitution, not a separately standing document.

“Pennsylvania’s Santorum was busy in Florida leading the fight to keep Terri Schiavo in a vegetative state or attending fund-raising for the 2006/2008 elections.”

[RWC] I still don’t understand how you attack someone for trying to ensure a defenseless person’s rights were protected before she’s put to death by court order.

“A Wal-Mart corporate jet flew Pennsylvania’s senator around Florida. How does he repay Wal-Mart for its generosity?”

[RWC] Actually, his campaign fund repays Wal-Mart for use of the plane. Like it or not – and I don’t, it’s standard operating procedure for our elected representatives.

“Santorum is very vocal about life, especially at birth. He has voted against raising the minimum wage 17 times in his 10 years in Congress. Have the child and support it on $5.15 an hour. How?”

[RWC] Who says anyone is supposed to support a family on minimum wage? It is the height of personal irresponsibility to have children if the best you can do is earn the minimum wage. It’s also public irresponsibility because you are dumping your responsibility on responsible taxpayers, some of whom are poor themselves.

FYI, contrary to the position of most conservatives, Santorum has recently backed an increase in the minimum wage.

The minimum wage is a counterproductive socialist construct. Oops, I guess it was redundant to use both “counterproductive” and “socialist.” The minimum wage is simply a form of stealth welfare in that a person is paid more than his job is worth. The completely predictable result is fewer jobs and a spurring of efforts to cut labor via automation.

“I must come back to pro-life/pro-war. Can anyone explain this contradistinction? Is killing someone’s baby, e.g., an Iraqi, different than abortion?”

[RWC] The label “pro-war” is a liberal construct. Other than sociopaths, no one really wants war. Using Mr. Kislock’s apparent “logic,” if you are pro-life, you must also be willing to let an enemy kill you, your family, and your fellow countrymen.

Mr. Kislock also doesn’t seem able to comprehend the difference between the accidental killing of an innocent – as tragically occurs during war – with the deliberate killing of an innocent as in abortion.

“Pennsylvania’s pro-life senator is beating the war drums for Iran. See his ‘Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2005.’”

[RWC] “Beating the war drums?” Isn’t that racially insensitive? Can we expect Mr. Kislock’s pal, Lonzie Cox, Jr., to protest the language? <g>

Below is what Mr. Kislock considers “beating the war drums?”

“Congress declares that it should be the policy of the United States –

“(1) to support efforts by the people of Iran to exercise self-determination over the form of government of their country; and

“(2) to actively support a national referendum in Iran with oversight by international observers and monitors to certify the integrity and fairness of the referendum.”

“Pennsylvania voters, check out his voting record and you will find it’s 99.99 percent for big business and against working Americans.”

[RWC] I’d like to know how Mr. Kislock defines a “working American.”