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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Full text of statement from US Sen. Arlen Specter

April 28, 2009

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.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 12:36 PM  Permalink | 17 comments
Comments   
Posted 12:44 PM, 04/28/2009
SailAway
The highly conservative Pat Toomey has a whopping 21 point lead over Specter. I guess Specter saw the writing on the wall. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/pennsylvania/election_2010_pennsylvania_republican_senate_primary
Posted 01:10 PM, 04/28/2009
Dadair1
Boy what a shame.... just makes me more intent to become a independent....Both parties has lost their sense of reality...
Posted 01:35 PM, 04/28/2009
NanC
Outstanding and right on time.
Posted 01:53 PM, 04/28/2009
runpath
21 point lead among out-of touch Republicans. Big whup!
Posted 01:58 PM, 04/28/2009
MB2009
Just remember the voters who voted for you. You are turning your back on them just for some personal gain of some kind. Believe you me, you're not doing this for the best interest of the people. You are doing this because it is in the best interest of Arlen Specter. We need to get rid of all this Washington trash before this country can't be fixed.
Posted 01:58 PM, 04/28/2009
chasmodai
Without the big NO at the top of the ticket in 2010, donkeys will be dropping like flies. The last ditch effort of a career politician to hold on to power. Anyone that thinks that specter gives a da*n about his consituents is a total idiot.
Posted 02:03 PM, 04/28/2009
seven
arlen the cowardly lion.He is still going to have to face Pat Toomey.
Posted 02:06 PM, 04/28/2009
delcastillo
Evidence that the closed primary needs to go.
Posted 02:11 PM, 04/28/2009
beeron
term limits.
Posted 02:20 PM, 04/28/2009
Bobby257
I was thinking of switching parties to vote for Specter in the Republican primary, but then I was going to switch back to vote for the Democratic candidate instead in the general election. Now I suppose I would vote for a candidate to the left of Specter in the Democratic primary, except if it looked like Specter represented the best chance to keep out Toomey. Toomey would basically be another Santorum and that would be terrible. With Specter as a Democrat maybe the nation will finally get national health care. Speaking about morality, as the right is apt to do, it is immoral that folks in our country lose their health insurance with their jobs. That is a circumstance unacceptable in other industrialized nations and something for which we should be ashamed. If Specter can get national health care legislation enacted a vote for him will be well worth it. All of you folks who get scared by prospect of "government run health care" are just not thinking because nothing could be worse than the private insurance company run system we have where insurers make decisions on your treatment based on their profit margins. That's frightening.
Posted 02:22 PM, 04/28/2009
MBFlyerfan
SWINE FLEW!
Posted 02:23 PM, 04/28/2009
PlumberJoe
The dancing bullet just can't face the music. You can run but you cannot hide. Goodbye, Arlen.
Posted 02:27 PM, 04/28/2009
trident
When John Heinz was still alive, the Republican Party in PA had two wise, pragmatic leaders in him and Specter. As a Dem, I voted for both of them because they represented my state, not the soundbite idealogy that has become standard GOP fare. I can't wait to see Rick Santorum's smirking OPED response. Being the Republican poster boy (ahem, former Republican poster boy) I'm sure he's working feverishly on his warped and consistently irrelevant response. Repub's you lost another good man in PA. This time, it's all your fault.
Posted 02:48 PM, 04/28/2009
midnitesonny
Arlen- your mind shouldn't make appointments your body can't keep. Give it up, pass the torch. You are in your 80's buddy. That's 15 years beyond when law firms, corporations and the like, even county judges are past mandatory retirement age. Find another venue to bestow your talents on the public...a museum board, SCORE advisor, organize the flower show, run the chamber of commerce, whatever....just retire from the U.S. Senate. You are a career politician, and the career is over. You think Senator is for life? Even in countries with monarchy's, its only a figurehead position these days. Give younger blood with fresh ideas the opportunity to serve. It's the course of natural progression. You should be down Florida with the sand in your feet drinking pina colada's dude.
Posted 04:17 PM, 04/28/2009
Ed_Tilton
the reason Toomey is ahead is that most decent Conservatives have already left the Limburger Party. If it comes to a general election Toomey will get the 20% that the GOP represents and no more.
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