Sen. Specter
First of all, his reasons for switching are disingenuous. Second, he originally started his political career as a Democrat. Third and most important, the sole job of a Senator is to represent his voters, not one particular party. If the voters want a Republican, moderate or otherwise, they'll elect a Republican. If they want a Democrat, moderate or otherwise, they'll elect a Democrat. The simple point is that as long as the Senator is representing his/her voters, then he/she is the right person for the job.
Take some of the attacks that Republican's are just being obstructionists. No. They're representing their voters by voting on things in a way that keeps them getting elected. It keeps them elected to vote against Democrat policies because there voters are against Democrat policies.
Take Sen. Lieberman and Sen. McCain as perfect examples. The Washington elite of their respective parties have ripped them up and down but there voters have continued to re-elect them, even after Sen. Lieberman was forced out by his party in a primary run off. If you listen to the punditry on TV and in print media, internet media as well, you'd swear they weren't a real Democrat/Republican but they've obviously voted in a way that represents there voters which is all that either party should be concerned with.
Joe Scarborough made the point this morning that if Republican's want to make a comeback, they have to find Republican's that fit what the voters of the given district want represented. It should be added that they can't continue to be obsessively concerned with whether or not someone who wants to be part of the Republican (or Democrat) party fits every single pillar of the Washington elite’s platform and votes with the party line every single time. Both parties should be solely focused on having candidates that represent the voters, not simply candidates that will vote party line on everything.
To that extent, it says everything about the Republican leadership that they were going to challenge Sen. Specter in a primary and wanted him gone. It shows they're less concerned with having a Republican that accurately represents his voters and instead wants a Republican that will simply toe the party line.
"In all things, one must consider the end." ~John Adams
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1 comments:
So, im finally back commentating on your posts. Ill be having many more following But first...
Arlen Spector's politically expedient decision to bolt the GOP and re-become a Democrat contrary to the talking points coming from the MSM does NOT signal some kind of shrinking of the GOP. What it does demonstrate is that despite his assertions otherwise Sen Spector was never at heart a real Republican. In 1987, Spector shockingly helped the Dems torpedo Reagan's nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, in 1999, he bizarrely voted "not proven" instead of guilty in the impeachment trial of Pres Clinton, in 2001 ironically he blasted VT Sen Jim Jeffords for bolting the GOP, calling it a "betrayal" to the people and party that put him into office. And of course a few months ago, despite opposition from 97% of his fellow Republicans, Spector voted for Obama's 1.2 tril SwindleUs bill. And in March, Sen Spector said that the 41 GOP Senators in the Senate provided "the only check left on a liberal steamroller" I dont buy the notion at all that should he win re-election as a Dem that will prove anything other then Arlen decided to take a perceived easier route to winning reelection. And oh btw this nothing like Joe Lieberman whom national Democrats betrayed and chose Ned Lamont over him in 2006. National Republicans like GOP Chair Mike Steele and Senate GOP Campaign Chairman John Cornyn (R-TX) had said they would have supported Spector despite his dumbheaded votes over Pat Toomey in next year's GOP primary but that wasnt good enough for Arlen.
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