Switcheroo???
April 28th, 2009 12:04 pm · 10 comments
Drudge has it up:
Arlen Specter switching to Democrats?
Update: And now the AP:
Sources say veteran GOP Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania intends to switch parties.
Update II: Via PoliticsPa, here’s Specter’s statement:
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….
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. ..
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.
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Tags: Arlen Specter
There are currently 10 comments on this blog postView Topic | Comment on this blogScout
4/28/09
12:24 PM | Well, Gilby, for years the left complained he was too far right, and the right has been yelping (especially the past couple of years) that he is WAY too far left. Apparently all the criers can't handle someone who is actually somewhere in the middle.
Glad to see that Specter has finally come to terms with the fact that he has outgrown the Republican party in PA ... although, I am not sure I want him as a Dem either  |
hyleasfan
4/28/09
12:47 PM | Eh, the Spector move is nice... for now. I still want Sestak in '10. |
StrobeSML
4/28/09
2:38 PM | I wish he had declared himself an Independent candidate. He could have continued to caucus with the Republicans then and the question of cloture would be far less effected.
Specter has always been a moderate, which I respect. Sadly, the GOP wants a more strongly conservative vote. Unfortunately, they may have picked a losing strategy that way. |
bigstew
4/28/09
9:15 PM | Well, Gilby, for years the left complained he was too far right, and the right has been yelping (especially the past couple of years) that he is WAY too far left. Apparently all the criers can't handle someone who is actually somewhere in the middle.
Glad to see that Specter has finally come to terms with the fact that he has outgrown the Republican party in PA ... although, I am not sure I want him as a Dem either
Outgrown? He has always been about arlen.
I wish he had declared himself an Independent candidate. He could have continued to caucus with the Republicans then and the question of cloture would be far less effected.
Specter has always been a moderate, which I respect. Sadly, the GOP wants a more strongly conservative vote. Unfortunately, they may have picked a losing strategy that way.
He would never win as an independant. Without the money of the gop, and without bush campaigning for him, he would have lost the last time.
Does anybody remember specter's comments about Jeffords switch? Do ya still respect? |
StrobeSML
4/29/09
1:07 PM | He would never win as an independant. Without the money of the gop, and without bush campaigning for him, he would have lost the last time.
You may be right. However, Specter has a big war chest already and I think he would have been able to match Toomey in the general election. Even so, DNC money would surely be appreciated and that is an important factor in the long run.
Does anybody remember specter's comments about Jeffords switch? Do ya still respect?
I respect his moderate views. I don't say that I agree with or even respect every statement. However, Specter has shown himself to be the "maverick" that McCain claimed to be throughout his career. While he voted more often with the Republican party, he never was the type to blindly toe the line. I respect that from Specter, Snowe and Collins just as I respect it from Bayh, Lincoln and Pryor on the opposite side of the aisle. I don't always agree with either side but it is good that they don't simply cower before their party's desires. |
bigstew
5/3/09
4:29 PM | You may be right. However, Specter has a big war chest already and I think he would have been able to match Toomey in the general election. Even so, DNC money would surely be appreciated and that is an important factor in the long run.
I respect his moderate views. I don't say that I agree with or even respect every statement. However, Specter has shown himself to be the "maverick" that McCain claimed to be throughout his career. While he voted more often with the Republican party, he never was the type to blindly toe the line. I respect that from Specter, Snowe and Collins just as I respect it from Bayh, Lincoln and Pryor on the opposite side of the aisle. I don't always agree with either side but it is good that they don't simply cower before their party's desires.
It is not just about party. It is just as bad to do whatever it takes to get reelected. It brings the phrase "term limits" to my mind. |
StrobeSML
5/4/09
11:17 AM | It is not just about party. It is just as bad to do whatever it takes to get reelected. It brings the phrase "term limits" to my mind.
Frankly, most politicians do whatever it takes to stay elected. Specter was simply more straightforward. Personally, I hope he wins the Democratic nomination. They will be running a more liberal opponent. If that is the case, I'd prefer Specter to win because he is far more moderate.
Frankly, the one who wins the Democratic ticket is likely to win the whole shebang. Specter may have been a RINO (and is now a DINO) but he certainly is a better choice than a hardline liberal. (I, of course, also see him as better than a hardline conservative.) Over the next few years, the moderates are going to be the ones truly in control of the Senate. With the number of seats for cloture being so close, those in the middle are going to be the ones who could go either way depending on who sways their opinion. Strengthening the moderates in Congress could go a long way towards preventing a rubber stamp administration or a lame duck from either side of the aisle. That is, in the long run, what I am hoping for at least. |
bigstew
5/4/09
8:04 PM | Frankly, most politicians do whatever it takes to stay elected. Specter was simply more straightforward. Personally, I hope he wins the Democratic nomination. They will be running a more liberal opponent. If that is the case, I'd prefer Specter to win because he is far more moderate.
Frankly, the one who wins the Democratic ticket is likely to win the whole shebang. Specter may have been a RINO (and is now a DINO) but he certainly is a better choice than a hardline liberal. (I, of course, also see him as better than a hardline conservative.) Over the next few years, the moderates are going to be the ones truly in control of the Senate. With the number of seats for cloture being so close, those in the middle are going to be the ones who could go either way depending on who sways their opinion. Strengthening the moderates in Congress could go a long way towards preventing a rubber stamp administration or a lame duck from either side of the aisle. That is, in the long run, what I am hoping for at least. Keep hoping. Not likely though with the current leadership in congress. Pelosi and Reid will put the clamps on. |
StrobeSML
5/4/09
9:09 PM | Keep hoping. Not likely though with the current leadership in congress. Pelosi and Reid will put the clamps on.
At the moment, it is the GOP that is getting extremely exclusionary whereas the Democrats are being more welcome. The whole situation with Specter is showing that. |
bigstew
5/6/09
9:10 PM | Clamps already applied. |
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