Statement by Senator Arlen Specter
I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.
The rest is below the fold.
Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.
When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.
Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.
I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.
I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.
I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides. I thank specially Senators McConnell and Cornyn for their forbearance.
I am not making this decision because there are no important and interesting opportunities outside the Senate. I take on this complicated run for re-election because I am deeply concerned about the future of our country and I believe I have a significant contribution to make on many of the key issues of the day, especially medical research. NIH funding has saved or lengthened thousands of lives, including mine, and much more needs to be done. And my seniority is very important to continue to bring important projects vital to Pennsylvania’s economy.
I am taking this action now because there are fewer than thirteen months to the 2010 Pennsylvania Primary and there is much to be done in preparation for that election. Upon request, I will return campaign contributions contributed during this cycle.
While each member of the Senate caucuses with his Party, what each of us hopes to accomplish is distinct from his party affiliation. The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation. And no Senator, no matter how loyal he is to his Party, should or would put party loyalty above his duty to the state and nation.
My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.
Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy’s statement that sometimes Party asks too much. When it does, I will continue my independent voting and follow my conscience on what I think is best for Pennsylvania and America.
Wow, this is very interesting and something I did not expect. I wonder if any others will follow suit, i.e. Snowe or Collins. They may not fit the party any more either after voting with the Dems.
How do you feel Booman, will you vote for him?
No, I will not vote for him. I will work against him. But I welcome to the Democratic Party and I expect he will probably not face a serious challenger like Schwartz, Sestak, or Murphy.
Normally people talk about the value of more than one political party, and as long as both of them are both more or less sane, then life is good all around. It leaves room for differences of opinion – conservatives tended to go to the Republican party, and liberals tended to go to the Democratic party.
But right now the Republican Party has gone completely mad, which means that until either another party arises or the Republicans regain their sanity, the Democratic party is going to have to represent all everyone within the country.
The poll out yesterday that showed tons of Republicans leaving the Republican party and switching to Independent is just another sign of all of this.
I have no doubt that the kooks on talk radio will be going on and on about how getting rid of Specter is a good thing as he wouldn’t toe the hard-right party line.
given that ,a href=”http://www.pennlive.com/statehouse/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1240371613291390.xml&c
oll=1″>the PA Democratic party’s #1 hope is “no primary in 2010,/a>, i would suspect that you are right. no challenger, and pennsylvanians will get a rehashed, warmed over republican dressed up like a jackass half-heartedly representing them.
he’ll probably be worse than joe Lieberman ever could be.
i hate hate hate thse soft touch keyboards and want my spring buckle!
that shoudl read the PA Democratic party’s #1 hope is “no primary in 2010
Who do you think will be next to jump ship?
Not that I am a big fan of this guy, but his change is welcome news. Now, what positions will he switch on? Will he support card-check? Will he oppose judicial filibusters? Will he be a real Dem, or a DINO?
He’s already said that he will not vote for cloture on EFCA. So, he stays a Republican, but refuses to wear a sheet. That’s all.
you forget that Arlen is the prototype of the politician as weasel.
His word means nothing and never has. He could easily vote for cloture and against the bill. In fact, that’s exactly what I would expect him to do based on his past history and his self-interests.
That would be fine with me, Booman. His statement, however, was (from memory),”I am not an automatic 60th vote for cloture, for example, my position on card check has not changed.” This is saying he will not vote for cloture on EFCA.
Is the key word “automatic”? Is he saying he can be had for the right price?
yeah, and it means about as much as his opposition to blowing off congressional subpoenas.
I bow to your superior knowledge of Pennsylvania weasels. I am more familiar with the Illinois weasel population. In fact, we are being buried alive in political weasels. Where are the Paul Simon’s? A co-worker told me just two days ago, “I mostly vote Republican. I’m a conservative kind of a guy. But that Democrat (sic) Senator we used to have, the guy who wore bow ties, he really had integrity. I didn’t agree with his policies but he was consistent and honest. Why don’t we have Senators like that anymore.” It was a perfect opportunity to say, “Because you keep voting for the wrong Party.” Except, he would come back with Blago, Burris, Madigan, Stroger, Daley ad nauseum. In fact, the only guy in the Senate that I respect is Sanders. I’d move to Vermont, except I hate snow.
I don’t think it is quite that simple. Certainly switching makes it much easier to take any ‘deals’ offered him by Obama or his fellow democrats.
And he might have to ‘moderate’ some of his opinions when he runs in the primary.
Of course it will be described by the village as a good thing for the Republicans. But I don’t see how it can be anything but a stinging rebuke to them no matter how he votes.
nalbar
I think Booman is right. A lot of Republican weasel see their only chance of being (re)elected is to become a Democrat. Look a Missouri AG Koster he was Repug for many years and then switched to the Democratic party to get elected.
Give Specter the litmus test vote to seat Al Franken?
Holy Moly.
I told you so, Boo.
So does this mean that Specter will do the right thing on EFCA?
No, he said “Fuck you” to the unions in his announcement. I bet he’s in the insurace companies hip pockets too. Obama is probably glad because this a big slap to the progressive caucus that met with him today.
This says a lot about how both major parties have changed since the Reagan era. Today, a moderate Republican is more at home in the Democratic party than in his own party. The Republican party has become the party of Brown Shirts and Christian fundamentalists, while the Democratic party has become the new Republican party.
Obama has reassured everyone by now that he will pick up where Clinton left off.
Arlen is officially refusing to vote for the EFCA still.
So instead of being a Arlen Specter-type GOP douchebag, he’s just another Evan Bayh-type Democratic douchebag, of which we have too many in the Senate already.
Just means I get to use the Democrat Stupidity tag instead of the GOP Stupidity tag when posting about him.
It’s only Arlen reading the handwriting on the wall. But what of his health?
Good ol’ Mr. Single Bullet theory is just doing what he’s done all his life – he’s doing whatever he needs to to protect his own ass.
Well, this is one ass our donkeys don’t need in our party.
So does this mean he automatically caucuses with the Dems? Is it totally his choice, or do the Dems have to agree, and if so, do they have leverage to make some deals/set some requirements? Could a smart and focused Dem leadership wring some real advantage out of this, or is it nothing more than changing a logo?
If he follows through with his strange determination to punch the unions in the nose, this could be a great opportunity for labor to beat him in the Dem primary with a real progressive and maybe send a little shock through the rest of the DINOs.
Or to put it all more directly: NOW will the congressional Dems start acting like a majority??
l’ve no use for specter, frankly, but l think this may serve to widen the schism in the RATpublican party. judging her comment in oui’s link in another thread, it would not be unreasonable to assume that snowe may well be contemplating a similar move…or at least thinking about it on some level.
l wonder what reid will do with his committee assignments, specifically his positions on appropriations and judiciary, or is he locked in for this congress?
the RAT version of lieberman.
This represents a golden opportunity for Democrats to vote against Specter in the primaries where he will be easier to defeat than in the general election. As soon as he has an opponent, would someone be good enough to let me know so I can send him or her a donation?