Remember Specter Voted to Confirm Scalia, Alito and Thomas

[JPZenger]

If you are angry about the Supreme Court overturning a 103 year old ban on corporate political contributions, remember that Arlen Specter voted to confirm Supreme Court Justices Thomas, Alito and Scalia - the 3 most reactionary justices.

As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee during their hearings, Specter had a particularly important role in illuminating any extreme ideological biases in the nominees, which he did not do.

Specter was particularly involved in getting Thomas confirmed despite questions about his background.

[MH1]

1. Yes, he certainly did.

And the Thomas confirmation especially is one progressives will remember for a long time, I am sure.

[blue neen]

2. I'll never forget it.

Specter's questioning of Anita Hill was despicable.

[kooljerk666]

3. I guess I am gonna have to help Joe Sestak...

I am so angry at Obama, that I was kind of pulling for Brown.
Well one new wing nut is enough....

From today's DailyKos polling on Pol. wrap:

"Senator Arlen Specter actually does slightly worse than against likely GOP nominee Patrick Toomey than does primary challenger Joe Sestak. Rasmussen claims a nine-point lead for Toomey over Specter (49-40), while it claims that Sestak is not only closer to Toomey, but also holds him much farther under 50% (43-35)."

Sestaks office needs help, phone bank ect....
He has many events scheduled in PA from this saturday thru late next week.

Aside from Arlen's nomination of these tools (don't forget Anita Hill), even if he wins he is too old & has had cancer twice.
Sestak is healthier, not an ex GOPer & has a better chance of beating Toomey (a club for growth guy).



http://joesestak.com/events

edited for attribution & spelling

[JPZenger]

4. Thanks for poll

I hadn't seen that poll yet.

The danger is that Specter will not be able to finish his term (he would be around 89) and that Governor Corbett will be able to appoint a rightwinger to fill the seat.

[MH1]

5. You are right about the danger

the other possibility is that if the GOP does well enough in 2010 Arlen may jump back over to the GOP.

The disparity between Specter's pre-switch votes and post-switch votes is such a chasm it reveals that he has no core convictions, so we have no idea what he will do when the election threat posed by Sestak is no longer there.

In fact I predict that if Specter wins the primary his subsequent votes will IMMEDIATELY shift to center-right. Running against Sestak he's been voting much more left than he otherwise would, because he wants to woo primary voters, who tend to be further from center. If he is running against Toomey in the general then he will try to appeal to his former supporters and the middle.

[PADEMJES12]

6. We should help Sestak as much as he helped Coakley and others in Delco :)

you remember... those local candidates I've heard he and Rich have shunned in Delco.

JP-

Sen. Specter has also voted for the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor and other justices you conveniently fail to mention.

Further, in repsonse to Citizen's United, Senator Specter has pitched the idea of a constitutional amendment and Joe Sestak
has.... NOT.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/77473-specter-pitches-constitutional-amendment-in-response-to-citizens-united-case

Please join Specter and Obama today by signing up to ensure fair elections. Dont sit on the sidelines like Rep. Sestak
just did in Coakley's race!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fairelections/?source=lp

[MH1]

7. It's a tired refrain you sing.

Doesn't change the fact that Specter is a republican currently pandering to democrats to try to save his seat.

He is counting on willing panderees. I don't plan to be one.

[PADEMJES12]

8. An omission to act is negligence on Joes behalf...

and in terms of "extremist judges"... specter refused to support right winger Bork. So much for your argument.
Hopefully Joe will support legislation that Sen. Specter will be working on to correct this Citizens United matter.

[MH1]

9. Scalia and Thomas are not extremist enough for you?!?

Hmmm......

[MH1]

10. Also, the Bork vote wasn't exactly courageous

note that Bork's nomination was defeated so once again Specter went with the crowd.

As to congressional amendment, Rep Grayson has also submitted one, if I understand correctly. Since that is in the House it is more likely the one Sestak will be working with. Then again , I suspect there will be many versions of such an amendment, and I do expect Sestak will support something along those lines.

[JPZenger]

11. Specter deserves credit for Bork

I will give Specter credit for helping to defeat Bork for Supreme Court. Specter's vote was a key vote and pissed off many Republicans. Bork would have been worse than any of the current judges. The guy also looked really evil.

[PADEMJES12]

12. yes bork looked totally frickin insane.