The New York Post reports that Sen. Clinton's political action committee, HillPAC, has given $10,000 to Democratic Pennsylvania Senate hopeful Bob Casey. This is the maximum donation allowed under law ($5,000 for primary and general), and the largest donation Hillary gave to any politician in 2005, but that’s not what makes the contribution so unique or newsworthy.
What makes this donation so interesting is that Casey is pro-life and is opposed by many of Hillary’s biggest supporters, like NARAL and NOW. Not only is Casey anti-abortion, but he also is on record as stating that if he were in the U.S. Senate, he would vote to confirm Judges John Roberts and Samuel Alito Jr. for the Supreme Court. Hillary, of course, voted against both. And it was Bill Clinton’s campaign that refused to let Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey Sr. speak at the 1992 Democratic Convention because of his pro-life beliefs.
Although Hillary’s generosity may seem strange, from her vantage point there are a couple benefits. First, Casey is running against incumbent Sen. Rick Santorum, who pointedly criticized Hillary and her 1996 book “It Takes a Village.” But more important, if Casey is elected and helps the Democrats regain the majority, then it’s likely that pro-life legislation would never see the light of day with the Dems in power.
