Reid Will Keep Backing Specter — Even If He Keeps Opposing EFCA
This one raises questions about what Dems are really going to gain from Arlen Specter’s newly-minted status as a Democrat.
Harry Reid’s office confirms to me that he will keep backing Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, even if Specter keeps up his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.
Only a month ago, Reid suggested to reporters that Specter’s opposition to EFCA was a dealbreaker in terms of a party switch. “In coming out against card-check,” Reid said then, Specter “stopped everyone from being able to help him.”
Today Specter stated unequivocally that not only does he still oppose EFCA, he’ll also vote against bringing it to the floor for a debate.
But this is now not a dealbreaker for the Senate Majority Leader. I asked Reid spokesperson Jim Manley if Reid would support Specter in the primary if his EFCA position remained what it is today.
“Senator Reid is going to support Senator Specter in the primary,” Manley replied. This makes it tougher for labor to mount a pro-EFCA primary challenger, obviously.
Specter also confirmed today that he will continue to oppose Dawn Johnsen, who is prized by many liberal Demcrats, for the crucial post of Office of Legal Counsel chief, where she would have a major role in determining what Bush-era legal practices get reversed.
No EFCA. No Johnsen. The outstanding question for Dems remains, What in practice will they get out of this deal?
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What Dems get is a relatively moderate Republican who is no longer coerced to represent the right wing agenda. And since Specter, like Lieberman, has few actual principals, he will more often than not, vote with Dems, since he now needs ALL of them to vote for him in the general election. He got a lot of crossovers as a Republican. He should expect almost zero as a Dem.
The question, though, remains, wouldn’t Dems have gotten a better deal long term if Specter had lost primary to Toomey, who would have been easily beaten by a real Democrat?
Ah, but you’re assuming Rahm et al WANT “real” Democrats!
Specter is about the same as Ben Nelson. That is sad for Democrats. That said I think Specter will vote more liberally than he is saying now because he needs union support in PA.
Bird in the hand, Greg, with lots of important legislation in the works right now even if Specter jumps ship on some votes. But he’d have to jump off rather than on. Different dynamic.