Second Reporter Sticks By Claim That Specter Vowed To Be “Loyal Democrat”
We now have a second journalist who is sticking by the claim that Arlen Specter privately promised Obama that he’d be a “loyal Democrat,” which Specter loudly denied yesterday.
As I noted below, The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman, who reported Specter’s promise, told me that he’s sticking by the report’s accuracy and that neither Specter nor his office disputed the story when it first came out last week.
Now ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, who reported the same thing last week when the news broke about Specter’s switch, is telling me the same.
Stephanopoulos says his “reporting was well-sourced,” and adds that Specter’s office didn’t object to it when it ran or since. “Never heard from Specter’s office,” Stephanopoulos emails.
So, again, we’re being asked to believe Specter’s claim that he never said this, even though neither he nor his office raised a peep of protest about it to two different news outlets when they reported it, and said nothing in the five days since. If Specter privately fibbed to Obama about his loyalty to Dems, and is now publicly fibbing about having said it, perhaps it tells Democrats a thing or two about their new Senator.
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This is going to be much ado about nothing. Specter said he was misquoted which is a lawyering trick. He will come out with what he said which probably has the same effect of “Im a loyal Democrat” but isn’t worded exactly that way. Did anybody actually believe that he was going to be a “loyal Democrat” anyway, whatever in the hell that means, when he said later that day that he wasn’t going to be an automatic 60th vote?
to me, this goes to the heart of what Specter promised to Dems privately in exchange for their support.
Greg
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I don’t know about that one. Even in the media accounts about this it would seem that President Obama offered his support BEFORE Specter said he was a loyal Democrat.
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Either way President Obama served with the guy and so had Biden. I don’t think either of them was naive about what they were getting.
What is the difference if he said it or not? There is plenty of time between now and the primaries to see his “new” voting record.
SG, I’d argue that it still goes to the heart of Specter’s credibility in terms of what he promised in the negotiations with Dems, even if this particular quote came after it was a done deal…
Isn’t promising to be a “loyal Dem” pretty much the same as promising to be a “Loyal Bushie”?
Just sayin.
Joe Klein today exposes Specter as requiring all foreign governments that he visits to provide him with a squash court and a partner and contrasts him with the humble Souter. Hard to see this type of person as a friend to labor or any type of loyal Democrat, for that matter.
He’s not a loyal anything, just a royal a**hat.
Is being a Jedi the same as being seduced by the dark side? Not so Mary!
Loyalty (aside from loyalty to the Constitution) is my least favorite of the good character tests. I’d rather have someone representing me who was loyal to the Constitution than to the party. Specter often says the right thing, implying either he or one of his speech writers is aware of morality. Then he turns around and votes the opposite when the fanfare dies down. If he gets full Democratic Party support, that says more about the Dems than it does about Specter.
Hopefully those loyal Democrats in Spector’s district in PA will “see the light” next election! I say, throw the bum out! I am really hopeful that voters start realizing that putting these veteran and career politicians back into office is hurting them more than doing them good. Of course, they have the backing of the powerful corporations and the local govt. But numbers will out-do any of them! Stand tall PA and vote your heart next election!
I am done with this Spector news. It is old and stale. Let’s move on!
Arlen Specter needs to be retired. He’s been a lousy Republican and he’ll be an even worse Democrat. He’s in it for himself and only for himself. He and Joe Lieberman should be put out to pasture.