Who would have thought my foray into actually puting words to papers would be this? Needless to say, my radio job today just got much easier.
April 28, 2009
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.
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 especially 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.
I am a Chicago Cubs fan. I have always been. I take a lot of grief for supporting a losing team. It would be much easier to jump ship for whatever team is winning...but what would that say about my character? In effect Arlen Specter says this change will not effect how he votes...and goes on to say that the American people don't care what party solves the nations problems. Then why jump ship? Because its the easy road? What does this say about your character Mr.Specter? Give my regards to Ms. Pelosi.
ReplyDeleteThe last time Specter ran as a Republican he nearly lost the primary to Pat Toomey, who he would be facing again this time. The difference is that this time the other Senator in PA is a Democrat and so is the President, who both endorsed him last time as standing Republicans (Bush and Santorum). He would win a general election in PA, but he would probably lose in a Republican primary race, where voters tend to be more extreme in their beliefs than in general elections and in PA you are not allowed to change parties after the primary to run (he, in essence, couldn't pull a Liebermann), so if he was going to change it had to be now. He has enough votes on both sides of the aisle that there are members of both parties that truly despise him (Bork, pro choice, the stimulus package vs. Anita Hill, Employees Free Choice) which is probably why I like him, but he figures his chances of winning another term are better as a Democrat this time, as most likely the Dems will not run someone against a standing Senator in the primary and a large number of Democrats vote for Specter regardless of party in general elections, which is why he has been able to hold the seat as long as he has. It's a politically expedient move on his part to be sure, but it is one that will keep him in office.
ReplyDeleteexactly. His "jumping ship" had nothing to do with ideology or how he could better serve...it was just about what was best for HIM. Whats best for all is that he loses the election.
ReplyDeleteEveryone in a sense does whats best for themselves, thats human nature. The question is will his re-election be best for the people?
ReplyDeleteI would say his ideology doesn't fit very well in either camp, which is actually why he does so well in general elections in this state, but struggles in primary races. You may wish for him to lose the election but he won't. The simple fact is that in the last election the Republican party lost 200,000 people last election that had seen enough and opted out and changed their registration to Democrat in Pennsylvania.
ReplyDeletestrange....i havent met any of those republicans that have opted out...and i know many.
ReplyDeletebut hey that could have been the ACORN effect.
Well Specter went from polling roughly 20 points behind Pat Toomey in a Republican primary to now polling 20 points ahead of him in a general election. Now admittedly Specter wasn't the most hard core of Republicans, but he did vote along the party line 75% of the time and it was a very safe seat for the party, so I don't know why they would have wanted to put the seat in jeopardy, but they did, so the choice was do you want to have the seat but not get every vote you want, or do you want every vote but not have the seat? Pennsylvania isn't prone to voting in hard core party liners, even our current Democratic Senator Bob Casey disagrees with the party on life issues, and looking at past history you have the likes of John Heinz (senator), Tom Ridge (governor, DHS) and Dick Thornburg (governor, US Attorney General) who all did well here but I wouldn't classify any of them as hard core right wingers. Next fall Pat Toomey will agree with the party on pretty much every issue, and he will do so from his couch when he loses.
ReplyDelete