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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Democrats should go with Specter
Sen. Arlen Specter (right) led Rep. Joe Sestak in the Democratic primary, according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll of likely primary voters. (File photos)

 

Pennsylvania’s longest-serving U.S. senator has experienced a lot, but Arlen Specter has never before faced voters in a Democratic primary. Until a year ago, the five-term incumbent navigated political life as a moderate Republican known for his independent streak. He’d defend a woman’s right to choose in one breath, and in the next obtain tax-funded grants for abstinence education in schools. But last year Specter became one of only three Republicans in Congress to vote for President Obama’s $787 billion economic recovery plan. The resulting backlash led Specter to conclude he couldn’t win the May 18 Republican primary against conservative Pat Toomey. So Specter switched parties in an attempt at political survival. He has the backing of Democratic Party leaders, but faces a strong challenge from U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of Delaware County.
 
So, Democratic voters must decide whether this 80-year-old newcomer to their party is worthy of their support. After all, over the years Specter has cast his share of votes they didn’t like; he favored conservative judges and opposed same-sex marriage. Yet, when you look at the sum of his career and what it has meant to Pennsylvania, you have to conclude he’s a good choice for Democrats, which is why The Inquirer endorses ARLEN SPECTER for the Democratic nomination.
 
Specter has at times disregarded party labels, which made his switch plausible and workable. For years, conservatives referred to him as a RINO — Republican In Name Only. He earned that moniker for his willingness to work across party lines. More than ever, Washington needs lawmakers who are eager to do that. Specter lost his seniority on Senate committees in the switch, but he hasn’t lost his clout. The senator is still a highly influential lawmaker and appropriator on behalf of Pennsylvanians. He is also one of those rare congressmen who contribute both on the national and international stages. His expertise on the Middle East, federal law enforcement, the judiciary, and health-care research has provided presidents of both parties with valuable counsel.
 
Sestak, a worthy opponent for the nomination, suffers from low name recognition and the absence of support by party leaders from President Obama to Gov. Rendell. (He said someone in the White House offered him a job if he would drop out, but has dismissed further questions about that as “just politics.”) The two-term congressman, 58, is a tireless campaigner and has raised an impressive war chest. Sestak says Specter’s expertise isn’t worth much “if it gives us \[Supreme Court Justice Samuel\] Alito.” He points out that Specter, as a Republican under President George W. Bush, voted for tax cuts that heavily favored the wealthy. Both Specter and Sestak voted for the recent health-care reform law.
 
A retired rear admiral, Sestak has impressive qualifications. He served as President Bill Clinton’s director of defense policy on the National Security Council. After the 9/11 attacks, Sestak became the first director of the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit. Sestak has been criticized for high staff turnover in his congressional office, but suffice it to say neither candidate is likely to win a Favorite Boss award anytime soon. A progressive advocacy group has given Sestak a higher rating than Specter, but Specter has been voting more reliably with Democrats since his switch. His recent record suggests that his poor standing with progressives won’t last long.
 
This race is competitive largely due to Sestak’s determination and to an anti-incumbent fervor that is bound to hurt the state’s longest-serving incumbent. But Specter is a senator for the ages. He is still a vital player and a worthy choice for Democrats.
Posted by Inquirer Editorial Board @ 6:00 AM  Permalink | 24 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:51 AM, 04/24/2010
    Did the editorial board make their choice on who they thought would win or who they felt was most qualified for the job. Seems like the former rather than the latter.
    — x7227
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:10 PM, 04/24/2010
    This endorsement would have meant something if the Inquirer Editorial Board had actually explained why they thought Specter was better than Sestak, instead of just pointing out that Specter has been a senator for a long time while Sestak hasn't. Being "a senator for the ages" has absolutely nothing to do with whether one is the best candidate for senator in any given election.
    — Will Quale
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:30 PM, 04/24/2010
    Regardless of which political party wins, it is time to vote all of the "old country boys" OUT! It is time the elected officials who realize that the public is no longer going to sit around and watch them do nothing, cash a fat paycheck and not listen to what the public wants. I suggest that anyone who reads these posts, no matter where you live or what party you belong to look very closely at these candidates and vote for the person who is willing to follow through with their campaign promises and not fall into the Washington "do nothing" attitude.
    — wswiz420
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:49 PM, 04/24/2010
    No,No.. I will not vote for Mr. Spector because of the Inquirer's editorial board thinks so.. The Inquirer's management has much more serious problems..like staying in business..They are on the brink of going out of business and should not endorse anyone..just watch your own house and hopefully the Inquirer will still be in business by election day...without some of the editorial staff..slim down Inquirer before it's too late and all of you are looking for jobs.
    — STEVE5444
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:50 PM, 04/24/2010
    Question...are you better off today then 6 years ago when the Senator was elected ?( as a republican)
    — STEVE5444
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:57 PM, 04/24/2010
    I can't wait to enjoy voting spector out of office.
    — Jp85
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:07 PM, 04/24/2010
    If Specter wins, it will make for a gory 6 years of drool-soaked microphones and incontinence jokes. Should be fun.
    — Mr. Smith
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:36 PM, 04/24/2010
    The Inquirer sucks; Arlen Spector sucks.
    — dogman5
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:41 PM, 04/24/2010
    Time for Benedict Arlen to walk the plank.....please!
    — RU4REAL
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:23 PM, 04/24/2010
    How can a Democrat vote for Specter who is a Republican? And he is not a moderate. He voted with Bush over and over and over again. And he always waits til the last minute to tell you how he'll stand ... Time for change. I will vote for Sestak.
    — Marchus
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:32 PM, 04/24/2010
    No, Inquirer Editorial Board, Democrats should NOT go with Specter ... he has cast too many anti-democratic votes over 30 years. THIRTY YEARS. If Specter wins the Dem nomination, he will scootch back over to the right so fast Pennsylvanians heads will spin ... except those of us who know darn well that is where he really is .. he is merely voting strategically now to fake out Editorial Boards and anyone else who can help him get elected. One year of voting Dem to buy 6 more years (if his health holds out) of voting Republican. Hopefully I will never be proven right because Dem voters will be smarter than this editorial board.
    — phillyluvr
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:04 PM, 04/24/2010
    I wouldn't hold my breathe if I were you Phillyluvr. The sheep that make up the Democratic voters in Philadelphia will vote for exactly who they are told to vote for by the political machine in philly. My question is, how can people continue to vote for the same people who have run this city into the ground and expect anything to change? If you vote for the same corrupt group of people over and over again, you get what you deserve.
    — hopster
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:09 PM, 04/24/2010
    A paper with it's hand out goes with Specter. I'm "shocked" "shocked". Way to keep the boss happy guys
    — Paul Lennon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:17 PM, 04/24/2010
    I don't think it really matters who wins the Dem primary. Both are trailing Pat Toomey in that hypothetical race. Toomey actually hits 50% against Specter in the most recent Rasmussen poll. So yes, while Dems may be better suited in voting for Specter (which I would dispute), this is fast becoming Toomey's race to lose.
    — buttermilk67
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:59 PM, 04/24/2010
    buttermilk, Joe Sestak has a good shot at beating Toomey, Specter has none. If Specter believed in progressive policies and wanted PA to have a good progressive Senator, he would have stuck out his fight with Toomey as a republican ... if he won he could have switched; if he lost we would have seen Sestak make mincemeat of Toomey, because Toomey would have had to show his true, bats*** crazy positions to win over the tea party primary voters on the republican side. But Specter's switch has allowed Toomey to pretend to be "moderate" and Specter will lose to him anyway. Arlen is out for Arlen only, and I am wondering what he is getting from the GOP for his little ploy here.
    — phillyluvr


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