Comments on: Specter Didn’t Dispute Story That He Vowed To Be “Loyal Democrat” When It First Appeared

By: ddc

ddc — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:32:44 +0000

Greg, when Weisman worked for the Washington Post during campaign ‘08, he frequently misquoted people and often made up his own facts to support his skewed story line. I e-mailed him on numerous occasions with evidence to show that he was wrong or provided him (or the editor) with links to video or transcripts of the discussed issue to show he was wrong. Only once during the campaign did he “update” one of his flawed stories and, amazingly, in the face of video demonstrating that he was wrong, he didn’t admit or even imply that he got it wrong and, instead, re-framed things as “allegedly” or the Obama campaign was “pushing back” on the story that he knew he got wrong.

So, unless Weisman has a tape recording of Specter saying it, I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if he got the quote wrong or just completely made it up. Had I known the quote origniated from Weisman, I wouldn’t have believed it from the get go.

By: xargaw

xargaw — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:15:22 +0000

Arlen belongs to the party of Arlen, just like Lieberman belongs to the party of Lieberman. Neither have any principals except self interest. Arlen is no Democrat and the sooner someone like Sestak steps forward and announces, the sooner real support can commence.

By: 31tudor

31tudor — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:55:18 +0000

Screw Specter. Why do we even want the traitor in our party to begin with? We all know he will vote with the Repubs anyway!

By: Don Kichline

Don Kichline — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:25:13 +0000

So in essence, vote party line with regards to cloture.

We should ask the Republicans for a simple up or down vote. That should give us cloture.

By: mjshep

mjshep — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:10:19 +0000

I meant sgwhiteinfla is right. Sorry.

By: mjshep

mjshep — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:09:14 +0000

Don is right. The cloture vote is the most important. With 59 or 60 Senators the Dems can afford a few defectors (or independents) on final votes and still get things done. Let Nelson, Landrieu, Specter, Bayh and Baucus vote against something, if they must. It will still pass. Up to seven or eight conservative Dems (don’t call them centrists!) and the agenda still moves forward. No cloture and we’re screwed. That’s why Arlen’s comment that he would not vote for cloture on some issues was so disturbing. I say, vote against some things if you must, but vote against cloture and get primaried.

By: sgwhiteinfla

sgwhiteinfla — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:18:17 +0000

Don Kichline
.
I feel you. I think there should be some core issues where if you are going to be a part of either major party you should probably be on board with. But I also think that the hallmark of the Democratic party now, for better or worse, is that we accept people who don’t embrace every single policy stance of the party. We have people who are pro life, we have people who favor supply side economics, we have people who want to privatize social security. Now as frustrating as that is at times, because of how our ideologies change from region to region in this country you have to allow some of those people in to the party if you want to actually be a national party. But on the other hand you can’t have someone who is not only basically an adherent to the philosophies of your political rivals but also will vote with them to obstruct his own party in the fold. Ben Nelson for as much of a DINO he is usually votes for cloture even if he doesn’t vote to pass certain Democratic bills. Thats where I think Specter has to step his game up. If he is against a bill thats one thing but he has to be willing to vote for cloture with the party even when he personally doesn’t agree with the bill. Otherwise what is the use of having parties in the first place?

By: Don Kichline

Don Kichline — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:05:18 +0000

I have two minds on this situation with Specter. On the one hand, my gut reaction to all of this is to disown him and vote him out in the primary.

On the other hand, if we do indeed kick him out, are we any better than the right wing purists that want to purge everyone that does not march lock-step to the party’s decree.

At what point do you say, this man does not represent me at my most basic level versus he must do everything the party tells me?

By: Simon J

Simon J — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:58:46 +0000

Saw Rep Sestak on CNN yesterday: very impressive even though John King tried mightily to cut him off. This man actually thinks through an issue. Unfortunately a member of the BPTOTV did not have the patience to let him develop his responses.

By: TJ

TJ — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:52:59 +0000

I gave this man the benefit of the doubt since his Party was maneuvering to have him lose the primary after he voted for the Stimulus. But, now I am not so sure. I think Joe Sesta, the Dem Congressman in Pa, should go ahead and challenge him. He said he would wait and see how Specter articulates his position as a Dem before he decides. I’ve heard all I need to hear. I think Joe Sesta should go ahead and run and I think President Obama should stay out of it.

By: sgwhiteinfla

sgwhiteinfla — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:44:25 +0000

New polling on Specter
.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1327.xml?ReleaseID=1293

By: Simon J

Simon J — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:38:50 +0000

We need to keep our expectations low: with Specter and Lieberman around I guess Reid is more interested in their actual vote on specific issues that in a philosophical debate. The Senate -” the world’s greatest debating society” – is actually filled with an assortment of self-servers on both sides. The voters are incidental fodder; they are owned by their fund managers (see Durbin).

By: Greg Sargent

Greg Sargent — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:25:24 +0000

SG — lemme check in with my tech people on that. thanks for pointing it out.

By: Trevor J

Trevor J — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:17:04 +0000

Is it possible that in all the hubbub he only just learned about the quote? I would think someone on your staff should be watching/checking these kinds of things, but Specter did have a busy week last week. Either way, sgwhite is right. Gregory dropped the ball on the follow-up: “What did you tell the president?” or “Will Democrats have cause to doubt your loyalty?” I guess we’re already seeing the answer to that one.

By: MC

MC — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:56:33 +0000

Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.

In a town that is over-run with lying, cheating, self-dealing scumbags Arlen Specter still manages to stand out for his unprincipled opportunism.

The Dems deserve every sellout they get from this piece of garbage…