Specter is Suspect: Don't Trust Him

by Maxwell Smart⁽³⁾

I, for one, am not all that excited about Arlen Specter’s switch from being a Republican to being a Democrat. For one thing, it was clear from the beginning that it had everything to do with political scheming and nothing to do with political convictions. Arlen Specter. When Specter announced his switch he “said” he was finding the Republican Party moving too far to the right and that he was more in line with the principals of the Democratic Party, but he followed that up immediately by saying that he had lost backing from the Republican Party for his vote for the stimulus package and that after polling his district it was clear that he could not win a primary if he had a Republican opponent (and he did.)

Doesn’t this sound like a guy who licked his finger, held it up, and discovered which way the wind was blowing? Specter didn’t switch because he believed in the principals and political goals of the Democratic Party, he just wanted to hold on to his Senate seat and discovered through polling that that wasn’t going to happen if he stayed a Republican.

I am a little ashamed that my favorite President of my life time, President Obama, was so welcoming to Arlen Specter and voiced a commitment to campaign for Specter. There were already loyal, long time Democrats gearing up to make a run at that Senate seat, and they were getting the legs knocked out from under them by this egocentric action by Arlen Specter and pandering Democrats.

I know the delight of the Democrats was that magic number of 60. If Specter is a Democrat and if Al Franken is seated the Democrats in the Senate would have a 60 vote majority which would make it impossible for Republicans to use a filibuster to block Democratic legislation from coming to a vote. Of course, the 60 vote majority only works if all 60 Democrats vote the same way. This was clearly not a guarantee when it comes to Arlen Specter.

While I was leery of Specter from the beginning, others have grown to be leery of this flip-floppin’ phony. In one breath Specter goes around all snooty and arrogant saying, “I get to keep my sonority. Nay, nay, nay, nuh, nay-nuh. In the next breath Specter says in press conferences and on Meet The Press, that his vote on Democratic issues was not a sure thing, that he voted the way he wanted to vote, and had no allegiance to the issues of

Obama or the Democratic Party. Then this yeah-hoo comes out and says that the courts in Minnesota should “do justice” and name Republican Norm Coleman the winner over Democrat Al Franken.”

What switched inside the heart and mind of Arlen Specter? Nothing. The ONLY switch that occurred with Arlen Specter was that he now had a D after his name instead of an R.

The reaction of the Democratic Leadership was to strip Senator Specter of his seniority. Suddenly this guy has no more clout in the Senate than a freshman senator. Good. Frankly, I’m surprised there was that much spine in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Some of us remember that when Anita Hill brought her allegations of sexual harassment against Clearance Thomas, as he was being grilled in the Senate prior to being made a life-time jurist on the Supreme Court, it was Arlen Specter that was vicious, insulting, and rude to the person making allegations that she had been a victim of improper treatment, sexual harassment coming from her boss. Specter didn’t ask probing or pointed questions of Ms. Hill, he ridiculed her, flustered her, and interrogated her like she was something he wouldn’t want to step in, and I, for one, have not forgiven this jerk for his compassionless, mean-spirited attacks on a probably victim of sexual harassment.

I believe that it is smarter to vote for the party rather than for the man. It is close to impossible for most of us to know what every individual believe, what their political philosophy is, and how they will likely vote on issues that were not even in our minds at the time of an election. Because you can’t analyze and know all the individuals in Congress or in our state and local elections, the only thing left is to assume that if a candidate runs on a Democratic ticket, or a Republican ticket that that candidate probably supports the political point of view generally held by that political party. When a swivel-headed opportunist hungry for power and prestige switches parties just to hold on to the power, position, and recognition that goes with the office, it means the political point of view of the party he is aligned with may have nothing to do with how that person will vote. Let Democrats be Democrats. Let Republicans be Republicans. And let power hunger opportunists be voted out of office.

Article submitted Thursday, May 07, 2009 & read 1397 times.

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» left by Bruno (2 years 278 days ago.)

I hear what you're saying Max. On Meet the Press this past Sunday Specter started right off by stating he switched parties because he knew he couldn't get past the Republican primaries to continue his 29 years as a Pennsylvania Senator. As a long time fan of Arlen Specter and someone who believes Specter has shown himself to be a man who typically takes the high road, this made me cringe.

In context, however, that was his set up to talk about what is happening to the Republican party. He then went on to talk about how the right wing "Club for Growth" is targeting moderate Republicans, forcing them out of political races at the primaries. He described it as dogmatic purification. In other words, if you aren't a hard-core, cookie-cutter, Limbaugh-like Republican, the Republican party has no place for you. He made a good case, but Specter has never fit that mold.

What he was saying was that he hasn't changed, the Republican party has changed, leaving him out in the cold. I guess I relate to Specter.

» left by Anonymous (2 years 267 days ago.)

I do think the Republican Party has been coopted by a more radical element. There was a time when Republicans and Democrats had similar goals but differing ways of approaching the problems. I think most of the GOP history has been pro-business and small government, but in general the people came first mostly. Now, well, even business has changed. There was a time when big business was more pro people than they are now. Now it seems that big buisness cares nothing for American citizens other than getting their money. I also believe that Big Buisness and Republican behind the scenes leaders have used religion, abortion, gay marrage, etc. to distract supporters to get their vote and keep them from realizing that they have been voting against their own interests.

tex

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