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Arlen Specter

Arlen Specter

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party, multiple sources tell CNN.

Specter Arlen

The Republicans are saying that Arlen Specter left the Republican party because he would have lost the 2010 election and the only way to get himself re-elected was to jump on the Democrat's bandwagon. However, Arlen Specter is saying that the Republicans have just gone too far right for his taste - what is the truth? One key thing he said during a press conference is that he seemed to hint that he will not go out as losing an election. Any thoughts?

Arlen Specter History & Civil Business Politics

This goes right in line with the mortgage crisis, Sen. Specter is bailing out because he's too big to fail.

Specter Arlen

In my opinion Arlen Spector has been moving more to the left every year. I completely disagree with his assessment that the republican party has been moving to the right. If anything it has moved to the left ever since George W Bush took office.

Any way I hope he loses in 2010.

Good riddance.

Specter Arlen

What's the matter Dbcakers, you don't like who can have a vote based on his point of view and not necessarily the limitations of a party? As far as I know he does command a certain amount of respect, but I'm not party to much of his history to see patterns.

Arlen Specter

Ahhh, but that is just it JB. He can have his own opinion and vote against the party. Several others have done it just as several democrats didn't necessarily jump up to support the massive spend-a-thon if it wasn't popular in their state. He could have done it and stayed a Republican. McCain has made a living off of being the Maverick against the party...still Republican. The Governator (Arnold) is about as much of a social liberal as they come...but he is a fiscal conservative...and republican. There are many from both parties that are more centrists in their political stances. They can be a social conservative and fiscal liberal or a social liberal and fiscal conservative.

He definitely moved more towards the left or center during the Bush Administration as his liberal social tendencies were in conflict with the Bush doctrine. However, he was definitely a moderate in the republican party from the get go. He was a judiciary, fiscal and 2nd amendment conservative but a social and environmental liberal. He and most of the republicans that tried to get re-elected during that time as we all know that Bush was not "Mr Popularity" did the same. Being a Bush Guy was not a prize anyone wanted! That is why the former president didn't go campaigning for many at all.

Specter actually was elected under the Republican ticket in '65 as a District Attorney, interestingly enough as a registered Democrat. After the election and victory, he switched parties...wind was blowing "right". He stayed and got seniority in the republican party since then and since '95 has been a Committee Chairman. Committee Chairs are the coveted jobs of the Senate and he has held some of the nicest chairs over that time. Well, as you can imagine, with the change in the White House occupants and party...no more Committee Chair! So, I would watch what nice position he gets as a result in his switching allegiances. Not to mention that the CNN article on him switching because his state is tipping much further to the blue is quite spot on.

Arlen Specter said he:

As a matter of fact, a recent poll had him double digits behind his likely rival in the republican party. Wind suddenly blows "left".

A quote from his last attempt as a presidential candidate ... he was aiming this at Pat Buchanan and Pat Robertson.

Quite obvious that he was at minimum a moderate republican. He definitely is not to be confused with the right wing movement. Interestingly, he is against abortion but is Pro-Choice. He is against gay marriage but is against a ban but is pro civil unions. He is a demolican that is sometimes a republicat...oh wait...got ahead of myself!

Joe Lieberman jumped from the republican party to the democrat party to independent status. Take a look at his moves and you can see why and it kind of reminds me of what is happening with Specter. Under the Bush Administration's Congresses...Arlen was Chairman of the Judiciary and Veteran Affairs. Now, nothing...think he might want that power again? Lieberman had no issue jumping ship for a nice committee slot!

However, that aside. The people of Pennsylvania voted for Republican Arlen Specter and the platform he ran on. Should this change in political dogma venue change that platform that got him elected, I would as a Pennsylvanian (which I was one for about a year) want him out of office as he no longer represents me and that is his job. If this idea becomes the majority of the state, then he should have to run for re-election. This will not happen because it would cost too much, but is what should happen. If he still would vote the same way and stick to the platform that got him elected, then apparently he is no different than he was 1 week ago and we still have to wonder about the motivation for the switch.

Bottom line...he is hitching his wagon onto the party that will let him run on the ticket next election. If it turns out that the democrats push someone ahead of him...watch him pull a Lieberman and run as a independent. He has to do it now because it will look WAY too transparent if he does it just before the campaigning of the next election kicks off. He will sell his soul to keep that Senate job...now the Pennsylvanians have to figure out if that is what they want in a senator...

Arlen Specter

Glenn Beck on Arlen Specter

**WEASEL ALERT: Fearing a loss from challenger Pat Toomey in the GOP primary campaign, Senator Arlen Specter leaves GOP -- despite just last month saying he wouldn't leave the party because 'balance is important.' "I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate" said Specter. Glenn will have more on this spineless wonder tonight on TV, 5pm on The Fox News Channel.

Arlen Specter Politics Business Civil & History

I hope he loses because he is spineless, and I don't like his politics. Its nothing to with his right to vote a certain way. Its primarily because he does not represent the ideals that I support (I did not like him as a Republican either, thats why I am not to disapointed that he is jumping ship).

As a citizen of a Representative Democracy, I want any candidate to lose who is not in line or similar with what I believe in, regardless of their party affiliation. That is the nature of Representative Government. You support those candidates who have similar values, and you hope that those who do not, are limited in their success as a candidate. Its nothing personal, just pragmatic.