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Romney: Specter should make opposition to card-check ‘abundantly clear’

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said this morning that Senator Arlen Specter’s recent opposition to “card-check” legislation should be long term, and not a position to be reconsidered when the political winds change.

After voting in favor of President Obama’s stimulus package, Specter assuaged some of the growing conservative outrage against him by coming out against the Employee Free Choice Act last month. But he also acknowledged that he would be willing to reconsider his position later—a statement his critics read as meaning he would support the bill, a version of which he initially sponsored, if he survived his looming reelection fight.

Asked during a conference call with reporters if he thought Specter was really on the conservative side of the issue, Romney hedged his bets.

“I can’t begin to assess the thinking of an individual Senator,” he said during the call arranged by Citizens to Protect PA Jobs. “I can tell you that I think it’s very important for those who are seeking elective office to make a hard and firm commitment about their position and how they’ll vote on this legislation, not just today but down the road. There’s no question that unions will continue to push this legislation, year after year after year.

Romney, a GOP presidential candidate last year who many see as laying the groundwork for another White House bid in 2012, said switching sides later would be inexcusable.

“There is no excuse … in saying you’re going to line up at some point down the road with union bosses,” he said. “I’m hopeful that Senator Specter is as hard won over as anyone in the U.S. Senate, and I hope he makes that abundantly clear.”

April 27, 2009 at 10:17 am

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Arlen Specter, Mitt Romney

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