Jonathan B. Robison

Dear Friend,
This year I will do something which I have never done in over a hundred political campaigns. I am supporting a candidate who is openly opposed to a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion.
Why? In one word – Santorum. Not to belabor the obvious, Santorum is a fascist. Casey is bad on reproductive rights, but the incumbent is much worse. Casey is wishy-washy on Iraq – but the incumbent is pro-war. Casey is not solid in support of single-payer health care, but the incumbent is opposed. I am sore at Casey’s backers for pushing Barbara Hafer out of the race, but the incumbent is the leader of the gang that runs Congress.
In World War II, we had to make some unpleasant alliances to defeat fascism. I’m not comparing Santorum to Hitler — Mussolini, maybe — Francisco Franco definitely. The government makes the rich richer and the poor poorer, war continues, our Constitution is trashed, the environment is trashed, and so on and so on.
I appreciate single-issue politics, especially on abortion rights. Before Roe v. Wade, one-third of all the beds at Magee Hospital were occupied by women with problems with illegal abortions – and that did not count the women who could go to Sweden, the women who could go to a good doctor willing to break the law, and the women who went straight to the morgue. But this year at the polls, we must defeat fascism.
How? The old-fashioned way is one method: block by block, apartment building by apartment building. Your area may be safely Democratic – but can you increase Casey’s margin, to help him carry the state ? On your block or in your building, #201 may be solid Democrats, #203 a hopeless Republican and #207 will vote with us. But who’s in #205? Get them registered. Don’t just give them forms – the forms will get left on the TV set. Get them to sign the forms and give them back. That way, you can be sure they get registered, and followup to make sure that they vote.
Ideally, you can do this with friends, or with your ward or municipal Democratic committee. But you don’t have to wait for anybody; you can do it alone. The only essential tool is a list of your registered voters. If you don’t have one and can’t easily get one, contact me – 412-683-0237.
How else can you help? You can bring people to events, rallies, and such. You can give a house party. To be more high-tech, send e-mails to friends. You can share this memo.
Of course, you can sign up to volunteer at the Casey headquarters. The W.Pa. office is 3 Parkway Center, Suite 325, 875 Greentree Road Pgh 15220. The phone is 444-0171 and the website is www.bobcasey.com. But don’t expect too much. Generally, in campaigns, the headquarters is not where much happens; it’s mostly people talking to each other.
Of course, the campaign needs and will solicit money. But your money can travel. What little money I have will go to strong pro-choice Democrats, especially women. I plan to give through Emily’s List, an excellent organization which identifies and helps to fund strong pro-choice women Democrats all over the country. Check out their website, www.emilyslist.org.
I did not run for election to a full term as 4th Ward chair because of my worsening MS, but I am still committeeperson, working with our new chair, Eileen Conroy. Working for Casey is still necessary, but I can do it along with work for reproductive rights, lesbian and gay rights, and peace.
There are weekly one-hour vigils against the war in Iraq, including every Saturday noon at Forbes and Braddock and every Saturday at 1 at Penn at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church. I’m usually at one or the other – join us.
We will win – because we must win.
Please contact Jon with commens, questions, or to volunteer
Jonathan and Mary Robison
154 N. Bellefield Av. #66 Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-683-0237 jon@jonrobison.org
Love and Peace,
Jonathan Robison