Every time I've ever seen a politician say something along the lines of, "I probably shouldn't say this, but....," that invariably means he probably shouldn't have said it. This isn't as dumb as Gordon Brown calling a (former) supporter "a bigoted woman," but I believe this comment is going to hurt Arlen Specter, who's been on track to win next month's Democratic primary but hasn't really sealed the deal:
Now as a Democrat, that role has vanished. For that reason alone, Specter has questioned his storied party switch.
''Well, I probably shouldn't say this,'' he said over lunch last month. ''But I have thought from time to time that I might have helped the country more if I'd stayed a Republican.''
Specter mused that perhaps if he'd remained in the caucus he could have persuaded one or two of his GOP colleagues to support health care reform. Not one Senate Republican voted in favor of it, but he swears he would have regardless of party affiliation.
This is a fantastical rewrite of history on many levels. I find it hard to believe that Specter -- who you may recall wasn't even supporting the public option until Rep. Joe Sestak's primary challenge put the fear of God into him -- would have broken ranks with his entire caucus or brought Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins along with him. Snowe and Collins and John McCain and Lindsay Graham haven't deserted party line votes on any major issue (unless you consider the $15 billion jobs bill major) since in the last 14 months, and it defies human nature to believe that Specter (who was convinced to praise Sarah Palin, after all, after votiing for most of the dreck laws of the Bush Cheney era) would have split ranks in the current climate.
Someone politically savvy as Specter should know that health care would have never passed if he hadn't become the 60th votes for the bill that passed in December, before the arrival of Sen. Scott Brown. What's more, it's stunning that he didn't realize this comment will cost him primary votes on May 18, when he doesn't have that many votes to spare.
(h/t Dave Weigel)
Doesn't bother me at all. He's bemoaning the fact that the Republican party has gotten so extreme, and wonders if he might not have been more help staying in. So what? Except that it will be made it into an attack ad for Joe "I Don't Believe In Attack Ads" Sestak, of course.— Susie from Philly- The only reason Specter switched parties is because he knew he was going to lose the Republican primary in 2010. I actually used to respect Sen. Specter, because I thought that he voted his conscience, and I enjoyed his book, "A passion for truth". He's been involved in many of the most important events of the last 50 years. Now, however, I'm convinced that Arlen is bitterly clinging to his Senate seat like a cat on a screen door, and is willing to do anything to keep it. His change to a "D" was a shocking betrayal -- he could vote his conscience as an "R", but by becoming a "D", he could guarantee the Democrats a 60 vote majority (which didn't last long, did it). Sorry, Arlen, you are GONE in 2011. Good riddance.— IggleFan68
- Arlen misses all the attention he received as the maverick Republican. As soon as the primary is over, he'll become a maverick Democrat- Joe Lieberman II.......All Arlen Specter cares about is Arlen Specter.......— willll
Comment removed.- Maybe he knew that voting his conscience was pointless if all the Republicans would do is filibuster. Obviously his move was solidified for reasons of self-preservation, but if you believe you are making a difference, I can't fault you for trying to stay in a position where you can continue to make that difference. Either way I never really considered myself an Arlen fanatic, but I also never questioned his importance to Philidelphia and this part of the state. Toomey will do nothing to continue this focus. PERIOD.— pagoda
I don't know if I should feel sorry for Specter or not. He definitely gets used more than the drunk fat girl at 2am. Is Specter truly an independent thinker or does he just sell himself easier than anyone else? One thing for sure Arlen does the good soldier thing for whichever party he is in but then gets no protection from the party come the primary. Specter may be the only incumbent to constantly get serious challengers in his primaries. Arlen is the modern day Philip Nolan - nobody wants him.— bird11
We don't want him back!— jmc- You don't think that a Republican Specter could have provided some political cover for, say, Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins in the health care debate? That would have made the bill (now law) "bipartisan" even if only in a token manner, and at least theoretically could have drawn a few votes. Of course, that may be irrelevant. If Specter hadn't switched parties, and was forced to face Pat Toomey in a Republican primary, that stance would almost certainly have cost him his seat, and he may not have risked it. Here's a question: what's a moderate like Specter to do in this day and age? He couldn't stay with the Republicans, because he would have likely lost a challenge from the right. And as a Democrat he's facing a challenge from the left. Do primaries just encourage ideological extremism?— tommydbach
- what a total creep.....just go home please and shut up. no wonder Joan is on Prozac.....— rukiddinme
- Comment removed.
Snarlin Arlin can stay with the donkeys-should have stayed before his first switch. All politicians are looking out for their own best interest, but Specter is one of the absolute worst. He is up there with Clinton, Blago and Edwards. Good riddance.— georgel- Would love to see Sestak pull it off.— HandNik
Arlen 2012- Billy Clump, repeat after me. "Very nice to meet you Senator Toomey."— Grill
- Comment removed.
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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