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Welcome, Senator Specter

by T.J. Rooney

When Senator Arlen Specter switched parties and became a Democrat this week, it sent shock waves through the Republican ranks throughout Pennsylvania and Washington. Specter had clearly had enough of the failed policies and ideas of the far right, which seems to be taking over the GOP. Let’s face it, Republicans have been less than stellar in coming up with new ideas. In fact, Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and former vice-president Dick Cheney are still dictating the course of the Republican Party despite sagging poll numbers across the nation.

While the number 21 is lucky in cards, it’s truly unlucky for the Republican Party—only 21 percent of Americans consider themselves loyal Republicans.

Aside from his longevity as a member of the U.S. Senate, I also admire Specter’s candor. During his news conference on Tuesday, he made it very clear to Pennsylvanians that he will maintain his fiercely independent personality and is not going to be an automatic vote for any party. While that may sting some loyal Democrats, I at least admire his willingness to say it from the very beginning.

Specter’s voting record suggests that he puts the needs of his constituents ahead of party and personal agendas. His courageous vote for President Obama’s stimulus package was dramatic in the sense that he was one of three Republicans who realized that the course of the country was far more important than the needs of his now former Party. While Republicans boasted of their so-called solidarity on saying “no” in unison, they faced much bigger problem: keeping moderate Republicans engaged in their narrow interests.

In 2010, Specter will be well-poised to be the Democratic nominee and face whomever the Republicans nominate to take him on. With the promised support of President Obama and Gov. Ed Rendell, Specter will undoubtedly be the heavy favorite to keep his seat.

We fully embrace Senator Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, and look forward to continuing our 73 percent winning streak, not only in 2009, but next year as well.

The writer is Chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.

share001btn Welcome, Senator Specter

April 30, 2009 at 1:12 pm

--T.J. Rooney

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  1. David Diano

    May 1st, 2009

    Specter now has the backing of Obama, Rendell. Though State Party Chairman Rooney has not made an official endorsement, this strikes me as a defacto one.

    All Specter really needs to do is vote to stop filibusters. The Dems have enough votes for pretty much anything else we need.

  2. Lee

    May 2nd, 2009

    Hold your horses gentlemen. Let’s not start the victory, or the endorsement parade, just yet. David is absolutely correct. All we need from Specter is a reliable vote to end filibusters. (We wouldn’t even need that if Harry Reid had any semblence of cojones to make the Republicans embarass themselves by forcing them to conduct real filibusters instead of merely threatening them.)

    But, with the senate primary a year away, let’s give Arlen an opportunity to reveal himself. If he does vote like a Democrat, fine. However, if he continues to vote similarly to his record of 2009 to date, there’s no way he deserves the support of any self respecting Democrat. I say the burden is on Arlen to prove himself by his voting record.

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