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Arlen Specter (D)

Quote:

Statement by Senator Arlen Specter

I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.

Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.

I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides. I thank specially Senators McConnell and Cornyn for their forbearance.

I am not making this decision because there are no important and interesting opportunities outside the Senate. I take on this complicated run for re-election because I am deeply concerned about the future of our country and I believe I have a significant contribution to make on many of the key issues of the day, especially medical research. NIH funding has saved or lengthened thousands of lives, including mine, and much more needs to be done. And my seniority is very important to continue to bring important projects vital to Pennsylvania’s economy.

I am taking this action now because there are fewer than thirteen months to the 2010 Pennsylvania Primary and there is much to be done in preparation for that election. Upon request, I will return campaign contributions contributed during this cycle.

While each member of the Senate caucuses with his Party, what each of us hopes to accomplish is distinct from his party affiliation. The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation. And no Senator, no matter how loyal he is to his Party, should or would put party loyalty above his duty to the state and nation.

My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.

Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy’s statement that sometimes Party asks too much. When it does, I will continue my independent voting and follow my conscience on what I think is best for Pennsylvania and America.

Arlen Specter Switching Parties? [CONFIRMED] - The Plank

The Democrats will soon have 60 seats in the Senate. Is this the last or simply the latest nail in the GOP coffin?

The timeline for Franken being seated just extended....

He's doing it classy. He's not moving across the aisle now, but waiting till 2010 to actually run as a democrat. One of the reasons I despise Lieberman is that he switches allegiances at the drop of a hat, even though his constituents voted for him thinking he was running with a certain party.

I think that a 42-year Republican deciding that his party is wrong is pretty telling, really.

I don't know, this seems like a load of bullshit. He has a pretty strong record of voting against Democratic interests. While I've liked him for his iconoclastic stances, he's as much DNC as I am RNC, which is a quarter of a toot in a uncrowded car.

Gay marriage, NCLB, DHS, TSA, let's see what he has to say. He's been a pretty dismal failure after making noise about being independent. Maybe he just figured out that Republican health care means splicing your spleen into dog food and leaving a trail.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran (Post 2629659)

Agreed. I particularly like this line:

Quote:

I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

Eloquent, regardless of whether or not it's sincere.

IIRC, Specter is the oldest Republican senator.

And Byrd was the oldest Dem senator. Representative of Dem views? No, not at all. I would have more faith in Specter if he had actaully VOTED a stand instead of spoken a stand over the years.

Sorry, Arlen, you sold out your ideals years ago. Even Orrin Hatch has stronger karisma.

Me? Flip flop like a lacrosse girl's footwear?

His vote on EFCA does not excuse him from his treachery. He wants to be on the winning team just like asshats like Daniel Inhouye wanted to be GOP when GOP was cool.

It's bullshit.

Here's an unconfirmed image of President Obama on the phone with Senator Specter welcoming him to the party:
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...og_PS-0056.jpg
I thought it was interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran (Post 2629659)

I think that a 42-year Republican deciding that his party is wrong is pretty telling, really.

It's Specter. It's not the least bit telling. At least, not on its own.

was specter ever really a conservative? I think not.

Specter had to switch to get re-elected because there is a very conservative primary challenger who is beating him in the polls. I wonder if the Dem leadership promised him no primary if he switched? Seems logical that they would, doesn't it? He doesn't want to end up like Lieberman, losing a primary and then having to run as an independent. He'll be (I think) 82 y.o. at the next election.

The rest of his statement is just so much political blather. I can't blame him at all, and honestly I don't expect differently from any politician. He's looking out for number one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksuddeth (Post 2629801)

was specter ever really a conservative? I think not.

No true Scotsman?

He's a moderate conservative, basically.
Arlen Specter on the Issues

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willravel (Post 2629698)

Here's an unconfirmed image of President Obama on the phone with Senator Specter welcoming him to the party:
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...og_PS-0056.jpg
I thought it was interesting.

The phone isn't upside down what's going on?

Why doesn't he just retire at the end of his term?

The 2010 race is concerning already with all of the fiscal conservatives doing well (but hiding their moral conservatism).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willravel (Post 2629815)

No true Scotsman?

He's a moderate conservative, basically.
Arlen Specter on the Issues

Just looking at that abortion section, it's funny how clueless NARAL is with their rating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksuddeth (Post 2629801)

was specter ever really a conservative? I think not.

Pretty much sums it up right there.

off topic trivia: March 29, 1929, Hoover has a phone installed in the oval office. Hayes had a phone/switchboard installed during his presidency, but the nearest phone to the president was down the hall.

As for specter....I've seen 3 ads on tv now linking him to bush and how supported he was by the bush/cheney admin

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksuddeth (Post 2629801)

was specter ever really a conservative? I think not.

I changed my mind. I'm going to address this more directly.

Quote:

Consider Specter’s most significant votes over the last eight years, ones cast in favor of such definitive right-wing measures as: the war on Iraq, the Military Commissions Act, Patriot Act renewal, confirmation of virtually every controversial Bush appointee, retroactive telecom immunity, warrantless eavesdropping expansions, and Bush tax cuts (several times). Time and again during the Bush era, Specter stood with Republicans on the most controversial and consequential issues.

What Specter's switch says about him, the Democrats and our political spectrum - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com
He absolutely, positively, without a reasonable doubt was a Republican. He was and probably still is a conservative, at least by the definition we all seem to use today. The idea that he was a liberal Republican has to come from an individual that's so far right that up is down (no offense, dk). He's maybe moderate, but when I use that term I'm using it relative to the rest of the Republicans in the House and Senate, which means that objectively he's a hard-line conservative Republican. I need to stop playing the relativistic games of right and left. There aren't really any lefties in power, just the moderates in the Democratic party and the hard-right wingers in the Republican party. He's of the latter.

The truly sad part is that the DSCC is going to back Specter over moderate or liberal candidates for the Senate in 2010. Instead of getting someone that actually belongs with those 58 other Democrats, we're getting a moderate Republican with a D next to his name.