Barney Rabble

by Mary F. Patel

More than 100 guests showed up last Friday night at a private Center City residence to celebrate U.S. Rep. Barney Frank's birthday. The liberal congressman from Boston, who turned 65 on March 31, was honored at the fundraiser for Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club.

Frank has been an outspoken voice for such Democratic values as Terri Schiavo's right to die with dignity and the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the institution of marriage. Condemnations of Republicans were in ample supply along with martinis and wine.

"Terri Schiavo outed Tom DeLay!" the openly gay Frank announced during his lengthy remarks to the crowd prior to the cake-cutting. House Majority Leader DeLay, who was a leader of the Republican effort to reinsert a feeding tube into Schiavo, had failed to mention that he did not object to the removal of his own father's kidney dialysis and other therapies after a 1988 accident.

Plenty of venom was reserved for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. In a 2003 interview with the Associated Press, Santorum described homosexual acts as a threat to society and the family. Ousting Santorum, who is running for re-election next year, is the top item on the agenda for many of the lesbian and gay attendees. Buttons with a picture of Santorum with a red slash through it, designed by Liberty City, were distributed.

As a point man for President Bush's Social Security plan, and with his own outspoken advocacy for Schiavo's parents, Santorum is believed to be one of the most vulnerable senators in 2006.

Democrats running against Santorum include conservative Democrat Bob Casey Jr., currently the state treasurer, and Chuck Pennacchio, a pro-choice liberal. Despite his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, Casey will likely get a lot of the gay and lesbian vote in both the primary and the general election.

"I see it as more of an anti-Santorum vote than anything," said Michael Marsico, Liberty City co-chairman, when asked about Casey's socially conservative views. "We can work with Casey."

Party On

Frank wasn't the only birthday boy last week. His Capitol colleague, U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, had a bash Friday at Anthony's Oak Grill in Darby Township celebrating his six decades.

Brady happens to also be the chairman of Democratic City Committee, and his group issued candidate endorsements earlier that day. It comes as no surprise that incumbent District Attorney Lynne Abraham was endorsed, as was state Rep. Alan Butkovitz for City Controller. Endorsed candidates for Common Pleas Court are Sharon Williams Losier, Marvin Williams, Joyce Webb Eubanks, Glenn Bronson, Susan Schulman, Walter Olszewski and Leon Tucker.

The Fraternal Order of Police, District Council 47 and the Philadelphia Council of Clergy have also endorsed Tucker, who is married to Federal Judge Petrese Tucker.

Those endorsed for Municipal Court are Nazario Jimenez, Brad Moss and David Shuter. Shuter is the son-in-law of Municipal Court Judge Alan Silberstein.

Mike Horsey, a former State House member who lost his seat to Tommy Blackwell last year, was endorsed for the one open seat on Traffic Court.

Some judicial candidates that were not endorsed, including Ellen Green-Ceisler and Ira Shrager, say they are staying in the game. Shrager said he will be supported by Local 98.

Joseph O'Neil and Ann Butchart, who are running for both courts, are also remaining on the ballot. Frank Palumbo and Marilyn Heffley, who are running only for Common Pleas Court, say a lack of an endorsement won't drive them to drop out, either.

Municipal Court Judge Palumbo, who pulled the top primary ballot position, said he has no intention of stepping aside for the party.

"I already did that once," he said firmly.

Santorum Not Dropping Out Either

While Democrats seem confident that Casey could oust the ultraconservative Santorum, local Republicans are equally convinced that Santorum will win. Republican Matthew Wolfe, who is supporting GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Scranton, says there will be special-interest groups on both sides of a senatorial race he called a "clash of the titans."

"Santorum is well-funded and well-liked, beat a Democratic incumbent the first time and is not taking this election for granted. He has a lot of support across the state," says Wolfe, pointing out that while Santorum will get some support in Philly, his base is in the west. "The fact that the polls have Santorum and Casey running neck to neck only makes it more interesting. You have two well-known candidates butting heads."

This and That

Appointments to commissions and boards appear to be moving ahead again. Michael Weiss was just appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell and confirmed by the state Senate to a five-year term on the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission. The 11-member commission oversees regulations for real estate brokers and agents for property and cemetery plots.