4/28/2009

Arlen Specter Switching Parties, Toomey's run caused him to run in Democratic Primary

Specter realized that he couldn't win the Republican primary and has apparently switched to being a Democrat. The Democrats promised him that they will do what they can to clear the primary field for him.

The LA Times has this:

Reporting from Washington -- When a Senate Republican left his party in 2001, elevating the Democrats to majority status, one member of the GOP was especially vocal about his displeasure: Arlen Specter.

Specter said then- Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords' decision to become an independent was disruptive to the functioning of Congress. He proposed a rule forbidding party switches that had the effect of vaulting the minority to majority status in the middle of a congressional session.

"If somebody wants to change parties, they can do that," Specter said at the time. "But that kind of instability is not good for governance of the country and the Senate."

Now it is Specter switching parties, proclaiming himself a Democrat. While the move won't throw one party out of power, it could potentially hand the Democrats a 60-vote majority and deprive the GOP of the ability to block legislation through a filibuster.

Eight years ago, Jeffords' decision cost Specter his chairmanship of the Veterans Affairs Committee. Specter said at the time that he wanted the rule change to prevent a party switch that could decisively swing the balance of power in the Senate overnight, disrupting U.S. domestic and foreign policy. . . . .

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5 Comments:

Blogger zombywolf said...

sad in some ways--great in others--scary when you find out he has been in talks with Reid for 5 years(according to Foxnews)about switching

4/28/2009 12:46 PM  
Blogger jr said...

Specter has been a de facto Democrat for some time...it's about time he get out of the sheep's clothing.

4/28/2009 1:08 PM  
Blogger dWj said...

Finally making it official, after all these years.

4/28/2009 1:34 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This must be how the Republican party is going to marginalize. The moderates defect because the primaries are farther to the right. Will the right drive Snowe and Collins out as well? Maybe Steele is doomed to a short term as leader?

4/28/2009 2:42 PM  
Blogger Martin G. Schalz said...

Just another fine example of a politician, putting his own interests ahead of what is proper, right, and good for the citizens of this, Our Country.

This is the crux of the problem that confronts 'We The People'. We lack representation. We lack a voice. We lack a kind ear in D.C.

Someday, this will all end. If it does not end, we will be slaves...

4/28/2009 7:32 PM  

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