Dean, Carville Warn Specter: Shape Up or Face Primary Oppo!

[Phx_Dem]

Excellent. I'm not quite sure who Arlen thinks he is. I have no problem with him being an "independent thinker," but I think he's taken it to a new level by saying he won't support health care before a bill has even been presented nd then saying he won't be a loyal Democrat.

Fuck you, Arlen. You vote against health care and you're toast.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/04/dean-carville-warn-specte_n_196033.html

Less than a week into his tenure as a Democrat and Sen. Arlen Specter is already stepping sharply on the toes of party elders. Key Democratic figures warned on Monday that their newly minted colleague, despite having the backing of the White House, could face a tough primary challenge should he continue to oppose key tenets of the party's agenda.

"I'm pleased that he saw the light and decided he would be a better fit for the Democratic Party and I think you have to allow for his political views to evolve," said former DNC chairman Howard Dean in an interview with the Huffington Post. "But he won't win the Democratic primary by taking the position that you should not have or a public option for health insurance... If he takes these kinds of views, of course there is going to be a Democratic primary."

"I'm not sure this is going to have a great ending," added Carville, who has worked extensively in Pennsylvania politics. "He could get primaried, you know... If Sestak runs, will have to fight."

The remarks come a day after Specter, appearing on Meet the Press, insisted that he had not pledged to be a "loyal Democrat" as a pre-requisite for switching party affiliations. He also restated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, which he came out against while still a Republican, and said he would not support a public option for health care insurance as part of a reform package.

Specter's position on the former issue is shaping up to be the linchpin to whether the labor community would support him in a Democratic primary. And on Monday, a major official with the AFL-CIO warned that if the Senator didn't change his view on the legislation (perhaps, in the form of a compromise bill) he wouldn't get the union's support.

<SNIP>

And one more thing. If Specter is so opposed to a public health care option, because he's afraid it would hurt the private insurance companies, who offer such affordable plans and always have our best health interests at heart (:puke:), then he should give up his public health care and buy into a private plan. What a dick.

[Tempest]

1. Specter also said his conversion doesn't mean he will support Obamas SCOTUS choice

Specter needs to go. Period.

[SamCooke]

2. Does Pres. Obama hate Howard Dean? I can't help to love this man. Why isn't he ......

apart of the Obama Administration?

[Tempest]

3. Dean's too mavericky for Obama

There's no other reason I can think of he's not part of the administration.

[SamCooke]

8. more than Hilary?

[Tempest]

14. Hillary mavericky?

Thanks for the laugh.

[HopeOverFear]

10. No he doesn't hate Howard Dean.

[ClarkUSA]

13. Dean put a kabosh on this recently. Besides, he's doing a great job outside the White House.

[Cha]

20. Just because Dean isn't in Obama's admin

doesn't mean they don't like and respect each other. There are other ways to help our country now besides being an insider. I think this where Dean needs to be right now..obviously because he's there.

[babylonsister]

4. Good. They're right. Rec'd. nt

[joeybee12]

5. Specter needs to see the light--SCOTUS, healthcare and Employee Free Choice...

...maybe he does know that his views need to evolve and that if he changes too quickly, he looks wishy-washy...I'll give Specter the benefit of the doubt...for the time being.

[firedupdem]

6. I don't care for this Specter guy at all. He needs to have a strong

challenger in the primary if he doesn't shape up.

[firedupdem]

7. dupe

[HopeOverFear]

9. Dean JUST SAID THIS on The Ed Show a few minutes ago

he said "Specter will be for healthcare reform or else he won't win the primary"

[Phx_Dem]

11. Who loves Dr. Dean? I do!!! n/t

[SemiCharmedQuark]

19. I'm watching Ed for the first time. I like it!

[stevenleser]

12. I said from the beginning of the Specter switch thing that we got screwed by this. So, here are my

minimal expectations. Fine, Specter can vote on the final votes on bills anyway he wants.

But, when it comes to cloture, he has to vote to allow bills to proceed to a full senate vote. There, and that better not be too much to ask.

[TheWraith]

24. Are you kidding? We own the man's ass now.

For the next year or so we've got the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head any time he gets too uppity.

[stevenleser]

26. I hope you are right. So far, he isnt acting the part one would expect from what you describe

First act was to vote nay on Obama's budget. That is a pretty important vote and the signal it sends is not a good one.

But I am open to being proven wrong and really hope I am.

[Phx_Dem]

25. He haven't gotten screwed because he's an addition to the Dems, not a replacement (yet).

But he'll be the one getting screwed if he votes against health care. Labor will probably campaign against him for voting against EFCA so if he votes against health care, Labor and the Dems wqill be against him and he won't be able to win. But we will win because a Demo opponent would beat him in a primary. Either way, we win.

If Specter hadn't switched parties, he'd be even more likely to vote no on both those bills anyway so we haven't lost anything by having him switch. The Republicans, OTH, have lost a great deal and have been humiliated by Specter's switch. That alone makes it worth it.

[TheWraith]

15. And there's the stick.

If Arlen didn't see this coming, he's not as bright as he thinks he is.

[Cha]

16. Arlen sounds senile..I hate

to say this but what other explaination is there? He already stated to P Obama via the phone that "I'm a loyal Democrat".. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8388510&mesg_id=8390108 No one has stated he should "rubber stamp" but what's the use in switching Parties if you don't agree with our Principles?

Other than thinking you can get away with something in the Pa Primaries?

Thank you, Dean and Carville(never thought I'd be thanking those two in one sentence!).

[MoonRiver]

18. He's not senile.

He's a desperate, crafty politician. I think he's figured it all out and will be reelected. What I don't know is if this is a good thing for the Democratic caucus.

[MoonRiver]

17. He's LIEberman II.

The only thing that will control him is the strong arm. Good for Carville and Dean.

[DrToast]

21. I wish. Lieberman hasn't broken ranks with Obama yet.*

*

[MoonRiver]

22. Maybe because he's up against the strong arm?

I think Obama knows what he's doing. He probably has Specter on a very short leash.

[cali]

23. kick the little turd out.

he's a hindrance. fuck arlen.

[Grateful for Hope]

27. I don't think that Specter will be the dem candidate

in the next election. He is almost 80, and, if there is a viable Dem opponent, I highly doubt that Specter will win. I recently lived in PA for about 8 years, and, from what I saw, the people there are pretty savvy (Pittsburgh area).

He needs to retire. If he can't decide to do this for himself, I think the people of PA will decide this for him.