Virtually everyone agrees that Arlen Specter left the Republican Party in a completely selfish, hypocritical and unprincipled effort to save his own political hide in the face of opposition from a principled conservative who has a proven ability to win votes in Pennsylvania. The only question seems to be, why did this happen?
Some want to blame Toomey, the Club for Growth, Jim DeMint and others who have advocated a return to fundamental conservative principles by Republicans. Erick counters that well (or see below). But for those of us who really know how things work in the Senate, the answer is much more simple: Arlen Specter turned his guns on his own “friends” a few times too often…
Arlen Specter has long been a thorn in the side of Senate Republicans – and many of his antics are well known, be it voting against the confirmations of eventual colleague Jeff Sessions (for District Judge) and Robert Bork (Supreme Court), or his odd invocation of Scottish law in his vote of “not proved” during the Clinton impeachment trial. Still more people will point to his recent vote on the so-called stimulus bill and his massive spending proclivities as an Appropriator. All points are well taken.
But the damage done by Specter goes far deeper than this and has stayed largely off the radar screen of most close observers, much less most Americans. In his tenure as Chairman, and now ranking Republican member, of the Senate Judiciary Committee – Arlen Specter has employed marginal and often liberal staff, drained resources that could have been used by more productive conservative members of the Committee, refused to fight the liberal agenda of Patrick Leahy – often endorsing it, promoted legislation counter to Republican principles, and failed to defend President Bush’s nominees when the camera was not on him.
To wit:
During the 110th Congress on Judiciary Committee, Senator Specter employed approximately 17 counsels compared to Chairman Leahy’s 12 counsels (yes, that’s right), leaving the remaining Republican Senators (such as Kyl, Sessions, Cornyn, Coburn) with 15 counsels compared to the Democrats’ 31 (recognizing they had a couple more members).
These resources matter – when Specter staff does nothing but acquiesce to Democrats’ demands and leave fellow Republicans with no ability to fight nominations and bad legislation, often leaving them in a hole…
During the 110th Congress, Specter supported legislation that went against Republican principles and was of particular interest to him:
- Habeas Corpus for GITMO prisoners: Not only did Specter undermine Republican efforts, he used his staff to draft a 36-page amicus brief under his name for the Supreme Court in the Boumediene case – arguing that the Congressionally passed DTA and MCA were unconstitutional;
- FISA Reform: Specter promoted his own priorities, contra the interests of his fellow Republicans and our national security, working to cut deal with Democrats without notice to his colleagues on issues such as cutting back on the telecom immunity provisions;
- NFL Spying (non) issue: Specter wasted valuable Senate resources on the spying “scandal” of the New England Patriots in blatant pandering to a media that itself recognized the whole thing was a waste of time;
- Media Shield (S.2035): Specter sponsored legislation that was strongly opposed – on national security grounds – by the Republican-appointed FBI Director, Director of National Intelligence, Attorney General, and Secretaries of Homeland Security, Energy and Treasury;
- There were countless other measures… just check the record.
Further, in the 110th Congress, Specter allowed very important, qualified judicial nominees to languish at the hands of Democrats who confirmed only 4 of President Bush’s Circuit Court nominees in 2008. Specter failed to advance the extremely well regarded Peter Keisler, nominee for the DC Circuit, as well as numerous important 4th Circuit Court nominees (e.g. Conrad and Matthews) – allowing that circuit to go from one of the most reliably conservative to one teetering on the edge waiting for Obama to re-shape it. In so doing, Specter was focused more on promoting his own friends and allies than in fighting for critical judges desperately needed to protect against activism – and failed to get even a hearing for Keisler, Conrad or Matthews;
In previous Congresses, if it’s possible, his track record was FAR WORSE:
In the 109th Congress, Specter wasted literally thousands of man hours in committee and two weeks of Senate floor time pursuing his pet project to create a massive Asbestos Trust Fund that would have put taxpayers on the hook for up to $300 Billion and would have destroyed much of the great progress made by states in the fight against asbestos litigation abuse. The legislation took massive resources by REPUBLICANS to prevent from becoming law… yes, with a 55 seat majority, Republicans were forced to fight their own bill – because of one man – Arlen Specter;
Immigration: Senator Specter worked with Ted Kennedy, as the sole Republican original co-sponsor, to promote and push forward the disastrous immigration bill that put Republicans in a bad spot in 2007 – and then was one of 12 Republicans to vote to invoke cloture on a revised bill. That issue could have been handled properly and turned into a good issue for Republicans. Instead, it became divisive and damaging - and beyond the Bush administration’s errors, Arlen Specter was as much responsible for the mess as anyone.
Kelo: Remember the property rights issue – kicked off by the Supreme Court’s decision to allow a person’s house to be taken by the government for economic development purposes – that enraged so many Americans? Republicans had an opportunity to turn that issue into a cause and run on it in 2006. They didn’t – in significant part because Arlen Specter bottled it up at the request of Pennsylvania mayors and folks like Michael Bloomberg. Specter effectively killed one of the best political issues Republicans had in a very bad year…
Race-Based Government: Senator Specter supported the unconstitutional “Native Hawaiians” bill that would have created a race-based government based on “a drop of Native Hawaiian blood.” His support helped advance the legislation that then consumed two important weeks of floor time of a Republican-controlled Senate;
Voting Rights Act: Senator Specter allowed Democrats to monopolize witnesses and, essentially, call the shots with respect to the hearings held in consideration of the re-authorization of the Voting Rights Act. He allowed the legislation to be rushed through, despite having an additional year before expiration of certain limited sections. The well-intended act is now used for political gerrymandering and its re-authorization was ill-advised at best, unconstitutional at worst – and continues to perpetuate political division by race.
This list hardly scratches the surface. A book could be written on the damage this one man did to Republicans in their brief time in a position to govern - and maybe it will be. But know this - Arlen Specter left the Party because he is selfish and because he never stood for principle. He stood for the political animal that he is, and in the process, damaged the United States of America.
Exactly right
Neil Stevens Wednesday, April 29th at 12:34PM EDT (link)We need true moderate Republicans. Not far-left RiNOs who attack our party, and run with the Democratic nominee, on a whim.
Want to run for conservatives? Give.
There Is No Crisis
What the heck
BlueLandRed Wednesday, April 29th at 2:06PM EDT (link)is a true moderate Republican? Exactly where can they disagree with true conservative Republican ideology and not be pummeled for it?
When they do so honorably (nt)
Neil Stevens Wednesday, April 29th at 2:24PM EDT (link)Want to run for conservatives? Give.
There Is No Crisis
Specter miscalculated and consequences ensued. End of story
red_oakster Thursday, April 30th at 10:55AM EDT (link)Specter was cruising toward renomination. Toomey was planning a run for governor and had no intention of taking a second whack at Specter. He would have been renominated and re-elected.
Then Specter voted for the stimulus. It was a huge mistake. It enraged the conservative base and pulled Toomey back into the race.
To be sure, it was a straw that broke the camel’s back, but Specter did this to himself. A vote against porkulus and none of this would have happened. Never underestimate stupidity in the affairs of men.
555 Well stated nt
olsmithie Wednesday, April 29th at 12:48PM EDT (link)Bye, bye, Arlen.
SteveM Wednesday, April 29th at 12:49PM EDT (link)Either Toomey beats him in the general or Sestek will get him in the primary. One way or the other, a bad Senator cleans out his desk next year.
Bush and Santorum, aren't you glad you endorsed this cad in 2004?
E Pluribus Unum Wednesday, April 29th at 1:00PM EDT (link)I will never forgive that.
Carthago delenda est
Do your conservative t-shirt Christmas shopping at EPU Gear. Save the conservative muse, save the world.
GWB's legacy?? Arlen Specter. nt
mbecker908 Wednesday, April 29th at 2:04PM EDT (link)bah nobody forced out Specter
AKSteveB Wednesday, April 29th at 1:45PM EDT (link)not DeMint, not the Club For Growth, the NRSC was supporting him. He didn’t even pretend so, he stated that he was not going to let the Pennsylvania Republican voters “judge his 29 year career.” Graham et al are smoking bad stuff to even think this.
Hell is other people - Sartre
Excellent brief against Specter here
civil_truth Wednesday, April 29th at 1:59PM EDT (link)I hadn’t realized all the behind-the-scenes damage Specter had done. What he did was essentially treason against the Republican Party - which worked concert with his paramount value of self-interest.
I used to respect Arlen back when I lived in Pennsylvania, through the late 70’s, but this diary has put the final nail in the coffin of that respect.
And Rightly So!
Primary?
porterjervis Wednesday, April 29th at 3:24PM EDT (link)Knowing how I know the Liberal Left, it would not surprise me if the Democrats in PA but up someone against him in a primary and finished him off. Nobody likes a traitor, you just never know if they might decide to betray again.
Porter Jervis
Springfield, VA USA
Everyone, crossover in 2010!
alpharob1 Wednesday, April 29th at 4:06PM EDT (link)In the 2004 primary, a Philadelphia Inquirer editorial write stated he was crossing over in the primary and voting for Arlen to ensure he defeated Toomey. He encouraged others to do the same as the dem nominee was running unopposed (I think). Thanks to PA’s open primary, crossover dems surely helped Arlen eek out a win over Pat Toomey. Turn-about is fair play. I’m going to crossover and help the dem in the primary versus Arlen. In a similar vein, I sent Arlen an email in februrary telling him I would be voting against him and REGARDLESS who the dem was , voting for the dem stating:
“Senator Specter,
I cannot agree with your support of the stimulus bill , nor do I agree with your
maverick stance. You are one of 3 “republicans” to vote in favor. Sir, I voted
for you last time, but in your next run for U.S. senate I will oppose you in the
primary and regardless who the democrats field in the fall, I will be voting for
1 democrat (your opponent) and the rest republican. A first for me. But you’re
a wanna-be democrat and it’s time we get a real democrat in there so we can
at least have a chance of countering that person in the next election with a
REAL republican.
Moderate republican? Kabosh! Wanna-be Democrat!”
…
Now he is no longer a wanna-be democrat.
Rob
it is NOT intolerence, it is about that "cooperation" being a 2-way street
JLenardDetroit Wednesday, April 29th at 4:19PM EDT (link)RINOs always see BI-PARTISANSHIP (the disease they can’t shake with all the Tamiflu in the world) as always being compromise to Democrat/Liberal points of view….
Why is it OK for disreSpecter to expect our loyalty and support, and he NEVER has to show it in return? That is all that we ask - some OCCASIONAL LOYALTY would be nice, but the RINOs (which is different from a Red-Dog) expect to stick us (those that helped get them elected and fund their campaigns) every-time there is a tough/close Vote - They SELL OUT!
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (Reco) (Quotes) (removeRINOs.com) (Merry RSmas)
+ 0bama Lies & your Bank acct will Die! (4/15 Truthers)
+ Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
+ I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” - a Rush caller (other Quotes)
Good riddance.
CJB68 Wednesday, April 29th at 6:06PM EDT (link)The only problem I have with Specter now is that he’s still going to try and retain his Senate seat, irregardless of what party label he attaches to himself. So he was a wuss when he saw that Toomey was liable to beat him by over 20 points this far out from the primary. My dad is hoping that Specter is similarly trashed by a Democrat challenger in theirs. It’d serve the cowardly old sod right.
Delusional and Arrogant. The 2008 Democratic Presidential Ticket.
Far left Dems dislike Specter worse than we do
jonreagan Wednesday, April 29th at 11:59PM EDT (link)At the end of the day—-which will be 2010 for Specter—he will be a man without a party. Liberals hold grudges forever, and Specter antagonized them when he dared to question Anita Hill during the confirmation hearings on Clarence Thomas.
Pat Toomey was on Kudlow yesterday afternoon, and was just great. He must have used the word “duplicity” at least a dozen times, which forshadows the type of campaign he can run against Specter, should Arlen be nominated. Kudlow asked all the right questions, repeatedly referring to Specter as “cranky” and out-of-touch. As angry as I am now about Arlen Specter and his lack of any core principles or ethics, I realize that the campaign against him in 2010 is going to be a helluva lot of fun.
Of Course Far Left Hates him.....
rcov092 Thursday, April 30th at 12:04AM EDT (link)they recognize sycophancy when they see it.
“Not One Red Dime for the NRSC or NRCC till they stop trying to elect liberals”
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