“I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans”
Although he had disavowed a party switch as recently as March 17, Sen. Arlen Specter, 79, a registered Republican with impeccable liberal credentials, has finally legitimately jumped ship.
His quote at the time was: “I’m staying a Republican because I think I have a more important role to play there,” he said. “I think the United States very desperately needs a two-party system. … And I’m afraid that we’re becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party.”
But today, Specter, a fifth termer, announced, “I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.”
President Obama, obviously delighted with the gift of a nearly 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority in the U.S. Senate, greeted the news with a rousing welcome. “The Democratic Party is thrilled to have you, ” an ecstatic Obama declared.
Breitbart News reports Specter faced an extraordinarily difficult re-election challenge in his home state in 2010, having first to confront a challenge from his right in the Republican primary before pivoting to a general election campaign against a Democrat in a state that has trended increasingly Democratic in recent elections.
He has publicly acknowledged in recent months that in order to win a sixth term, he would need the support of thousands of Pennsylvania Republicans who sided with Obama in last fall’s presidential election.
“I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate,” he said in the statement. Asked by a reporter what he had to say to his constituents, Specter replied with a smile, “I don’t have to say anything to them. They said it to me.”
Seeing Red AZ has reported on the betrayals of liberal Republicans Arlen Specter (PA), Susan Collins (ME) and Olympia Snowe (ME) who joined with Democrats voting in support of passage of the bloated and pork-laden “stimulus” spending package.
Specter was the subject of this report in February.
The real shame of it is that Sleazy Specter squeaked into his reelection by a hair’s margin with the able assistance of Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and President Bush. They helped him trounce former Rep. Pat Toomey, a true fiscal and social conservative. Although Santorum voted right, I was so disgusted by his betrayal that I cheered when he lost his election. I hated seeing a Democrat take the seat, but the tactics used by Santorum were so revolting that I felt and still feel that he earned his loss. When I see him as a talking head on some of the political news shows, I immediately switch him off. What a worthless traitor!!!!
The so-called “moderates” in the GOP are as liberal as most Democrats. I have no regrets seeing this departure.
Will McCain be the next to find a home better suited to his “maverickism and bi-partisanship?” Wasn’t he considering selecting Democrat (turned Independent) Joe Lieberman as his VP running mate?
I dontated to Toomey last time even. Hey every $10 helps right? ;)
Anyway, I’m not sad to see Arlen “Magic Bullet Theory” Specter, Esq. go.
Now, it’s time for McCain to fess up his Democrat roots and for him to change.
Specter’s strategy apparently is calculated to increase his chances of returning to the Senate for a sixth term. Conservative Republican Pat Toomey, who was treated shamefully by his own party’s major leaguers, will be back to challenge RINO Specter.
We will also send Toomey a check– which we did during the last election. And you’re right, it doesn’t have to be large. Every bit helps defeat these soulless gadflies. Glad you mentioned that LD11 PC. I’ve met Pat Toomey several times and can attest to the fact that he is bright, a dedicated Platform Republican, and a truly decent gentleman.
I get it. The man not only has no core principles, he’s also a liar.
Indulge me my shallowness here, but let’s be honest…how does a man who looks like this keep getting elected?
Hopefully, regardless of his party affiliation, the people in his state will see through him and not re-elect him under any banner.