Arlen Spector got a free pass from the media on party loyalty. Only a couple of reporters raised the issue after the Pennsylvania Republican senator "cheerfully" bailed on the GOP because polls showed he'd never win the primary.
Howard Kurtz Wash Post
In 1994, when Democratic Sen. Richard Shelby switched parties days after the Republicans won control of Congress, a New York Times editorial said: "Talk about slipping out of the hills to bayonet the wounded! . . . His desertion to the victorious Republicans this week was hardly a huge surprise." But when Jim Jeffords flipped control of the Senate to the Democrats by leaving the GOP in 2001, the Times said approvingly that the Vermont lawmaker had given George W. Bush "an embarrassing lesson" for having pulled a "conservative bait-and-switch" on the country.
"willingness to do whatever will best protect and advance the career of Arlen Specter."That could be said about every Senator and Congressman in Washington.
ReplyDeleteTerm Limits for all!
"Spectre" is not winning himself any friends with his recent comments on the death of Jack Kemp. That guy isn't pond scum, but all he would have to do is look up to know what it looks like...
ReplyDeleteIn his defense, I believe Specter has agreed to return every campaign contribution whose contributor wants it back. And consistency of views and votes is far more significant than party label. He'll go from the suspect, too-liberal republican, to the suspect, too-conservative democrat.
ReplyDeleteA few more Specters and Lieberman's and maybe we can finally get a sensible center party and marginalize these increasingly extremist main parties.
Unlike Specter, Lieberman's viewpoints seldom shift with the prevailing winds. He has always been liberal. The Democratic Party shifted far left with respect to foreign policy but Joe Lieberman didn't shift with it, and that's the only reason some see him more in alignment with Republicans.
ReplyDeleteCalling Specter pond scum is way to positive. How about whale manure? The man never met a principle he could not over look to further HIS agenda. We can only hope the people of Pennsylvania have enough sense to remove an idiot like that.
ReplyDeleteBill Clinton saliva?
ReplyDeleteArlen can be rather prickly. And some would say that's one syllable too many.
ReplyDelete