Sestak - a tough man for tough times.

[Divernan]

I've been away from DU for awhile, and on checking my home state's posts, I see a concerted effort to demean Joe Sestak, by parroting a Specter ad and repeatedly posting Sestak was "fired from a job for creating a poor command climate" and criticizing him for missing votes.

In response to the first criticism:
Toward the end of his Navy career, while serving as a top aide to Admiral Vernon E. Clark, the chief of naval operations, Mr. Sestak was assigned to assess the Navy’s fleet, and he proposed steep cutbacks. When Admiral Clark retired in 2005, his successor, Admiral Mike Mullen, relieved Mr. Sestak of that duty, claiming Sestak was relieved due to“poor command climate.” Sestak retired from the Navy with the rank of rear admiral soon afterward.

But, in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer as detailed in The Caucus Blog, NY Times,
"Admiral Clark defended the work of Mr. Sestak, who was described as his protégé: 'He did what I asked him to do; I wanted straight talk, and this put him in the cross hairs,' Admiral Clark told the newspaper. 'People are going to say what they want to say, but he challenged people who did not want to be challenged. The guy is courageous, a patriot’s patriot.' ”

In response to the Specter ad, Mr. Sestak said, “I was given a tough job in the Navy,” and was assigned to challenge the establishment. As for the decision by Admiral Mullen, who is now chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the congressman said: “He wanted things a certain way. He wanted a different team, and he had the right to that, and I have the greatest respect for him.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/20sestak-responds-to-specters-ad-charges/



AS to the second charge, of missing 127 votes in Congress last year, Sestak has explained that he chose to campaign in all of the state’s counties during that time, rather than stay in Washington. He also said that his father was gravely ill for part of that time, requiring him to be at his bedside. (His father died last year.)

Notwithstanding the missed votes, he has an overall 95 percent voting record. He also countered, “I would never stop the nation’s business,” referring to a decision by the Senate leadership to not hold votes on a day when President Obama was headlining a fund-raiser for Mr. Specter in Philadelphia last year.
(See caucus blogs cite above.)

My comments:
If the US government is going to bite the bullet and timely and realistically address the myriad of problems left across the board by the Bush years, it is necessary that we end our involvement in foreign wars and comcommitantly severely cut the military budget, and that means a reduction in force, just as Sestak proposed. I believe Sestak, with his high level naval background, has the experience to understand how that can be done most effectively - and will not be bought off by the self-serving military industrial lobbyists or the old boy Naval clique.

I believe Sestak's reasons for missing votes were legitimate, and could only wish that Mr. Spector had missed 125 of the many hundreds of key votes he provided to the Republicans and the Bush/Chaney cabal. As to promoting a poor climate in government proceedings, I still recall that Spector was spectacularly nasty and sarcastic to Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings.

When I look for a medical specialist for myself or a family member, I don't give a tinker's D### about bedside manner or the atmosphere in his/her office. I want a board certified specialist who will be honest with me, who has in-depth experience regarding my medical problem and will tell it like it is, even if the news is bad. Sestak's 31 years of naval service, rising to the rank of rear admiral is the equivalent of board certification. And we know he's willing to tell it like it is, even when doing so puts him in the crosshairs.

Finally, my last ten years prior to retirement was working for the Pennsylvania legislature, whereby I got a close-up look at the not-for-public-viewing behavior of hundreds of state representatives, senators and other elected officials of both parties. They're all great at smiling for the cameras and making nice for their constituents - that is typically not the same as their behavior toward their staffs. One notable exception was Senator (then Auditor General) Bob Casey, Jr., who was genuinely kind to all, and tended to have senior staff who were also good guys.

I am delighted to be able to vote for Joe Sestak next month. If Spector wins the primary, I will pragmatically but unenthusiastically vote for him in November.

[blue neen]

1. Your post is a very welcome and informative addition to this forum.

The effort you are referring to has been going on for quite awhile.

I want to make an educated decision about my vote in the primary. Mimicked talking points and slams do not help in that regard.

May is going to be quite an interesting month in PA. The District 12 race (Murtha's seat) is also heating up.

:dem:

[philly_bob]

2. Some low-post-count argument by insinuation & mockery going on here.

Thanks for resisting the attempt to manipulate a small board with somebody's talking points.

[Divernan]

3. By "here" I take it you mean the Pennsylvania state board, not my thread.

I noticed that very low count also, and since no profile was provided, one cannot tell how recently an interest was taken in Pennsylvania Democratic politics by the poster.

When Senator Spector most recently switched political parties, and was promised support for another re-election bid, I expressed my concern about his advanced age. My experience working with such elderly politicians is that their long-established (yet unelected and unaccountable to the electorate)staffs make the majority of policy decisions. In Senator Spector's case, I have read nothing indicating he replaced any of his senate staff when he switched parties, thereby bringing along with him staff with decades of allegiance to the GOP, and decades of kowtowing to and trading information and favors with major Pennsylvania GOP donors,party bigwigs and a multi-level, intricate network of other GOP staffers. In the very rare (2) instances where politicians I knew switched parties, the deals they made included bringing their staff with them.

Basically I see it as bringing a nest of vipers into the heart of what should be closed Democratic caucuses. They have everything to gain - six more years of jobs with excellent salaries and fringe benefits - from Spector's re-election.

[philly_bob]

5. Yes, that's what I meant by "here."

You make good points about staffer incentives after a party change.

My feelings on Sestak v. Specter are complicated.

I don't disqualify Specter on his age, I find his committee seniority a plus, I think (hope?) Obama and the Dems can keep him in line with party, and strategically, I would have been happy if Sestak stayed and defended his House seat.

Overall, from my viewpoint, Sestak > Specter > Toomey-style Republican.

[Pat Riot]

15. campaign manager kept after party change

To me, explains a lot, the swift-boat style ads and Rovian style talking points. They were busy slinging mud on Sestak, when they could have actually said something good about Arlen, when he supported the public option/reconciliation before Casey did.

http://politicsmagazine.com/magazine-issues/july-2009/movers-and-shakers-chris-nicholas/

The 5th paragraph says it all.

[daviddiano]

4. You have been away too long to know about Sestak

Diverman-
Vern Clark's defense of Sestak is not the end of the debate, because Vern Clark was part of the problem in the first place. The reason that Sestak was fired (relieved, reassigned, etc.) so quickly is that it was long overdue and that Clark had been protected Sestak who was previous considered "untouchable".
The behavior attributed to Sestak in the Navy has CERTAINLY been displayed since then in both his Congressional and campaign offices with record staff turnovers. The reasons given to reporters by those staffers of long work hours, unreasonable demands and Sestak's temper ALL match the "poor command climate" and other descriptions we've read about Sestak in the Navy.
Are we to believe that in the Summer or 2005 (long before Sestak's political career started) that Sestak was given an unusually rapid dismissal by the incoming CNO, and that by "coincidence" that a "false" description of a "poor command climate" just happens to match Sestak's command style since? Or is it more plausible that the 2005 Navy Times story accurately captured Sestak's consistent mistreatment of his staffers that continues to this day?

BTW, Sestak has given THREE different reasons as to why he was "let go".
1) In 2006 when he campaigned against the Iraq War, Sestak claimed that he was pushed out because he opposed the War as a "tragic misadventure".
2) He has tried to play it off as standard operating procedure for a new CNO to bring in his own team/staff.
3) He has claimed it was politics or payback for suggesting cutbacks (despite Rumsfeld and others calling for cutbacks)

I'm waiting to see if Sestak will come up with a fourth story.

As for the missed votes, only a few of them were due to his father's illness. That does excuse him from missing ones while campaigning but on the taxpayer dime for his salary. Also, Sestak actually has missed 13% of his votes, so he's really at 95% of the 87% when he voted, which really puts him around 83%.

Your statement that you wished Specter had missed some of his votes is pretty much the verbatim response/talking point from the Sestak campaign. However, you can be absolutely certain that if Sestak were endorsed by Obama and was hosting a fundraiser, he'd run little old ladies off the road to attend.

Sestak's shown a lack of honesty and integrity in dealing with local Dems in his district. Whatever honor he had in the Navy, he didn't bring it to his civilian life.

[Divernan]

7. Nope - active in PA politics for several decades now - just away from DU

for a few months. Oh, by the way, it is the tradition to welcome newcomers to DU, so welcome, newcomer.

My original thread title says it all. Sestak IS a tough man, tough on himself and tough on his staff. And these ARE tough times, calling for an extraordinary level of energy and effort on the part of members of Congress and their staffs. Given Specter's health issues and age -he's EIGHTY YEARS OLD, you know, and wants to hang onto his seat until he's EIGHTY SIX! His senior staff will be making the policy decisions. And since this would be his last term, it's High Noon at the OK Corral for those staffers who have their own futures to promote and cement with special interest lobbyists. I seriously doubt that any Democratic Congressman would take on one of Spector's staffers with their GOP heritage. Staffers just don't cross the aisle, except in the unique circumstances of Spector's switch.

If the way Senators treat their staffs is something you care about, google "Snarlin Arlen"
"Snarlin' Arlen isn't exactly Mr. Wonderful to his staff, either. Specter has frequently been ranked among the top three meanest bosses in the Senate by Washingtonian magazine, including at No. 1 in 2004. And that's not the only publication to bestow such a designation on Specter."

Neither Sestak nor Spector would win any Miss Congeniality award from their staffs. You make a general derogatory remark about Sestak and the local dems in his district. My research indicates he has support from at least some of the Committee people, and an outstanding record for constituent service.

And exactly what credentials do you bring to the table to trash Admiral Vern Clark? When he retired 22 July 2205, his five year tenure as Chief of Naval Operations was the second longest serving CNO hehind Arleigh Burke. In November of 2009, he was selected by Defense Secretary Robert Gates - along with former Veterans and Army secretary Togo West - to lead the military investigation into the Fort Hood massacre.

[MH1]

20. another good answer

"what credentials ...?" heh, none. Clark supported Sestak, Mullen ( a Bush guy! ) didn't like him. Hmmmm....

[mvd]

6. I have decided I'm voting for Sestak

No, he's not the ideal liberal - he voted against Kucinich's single payer amendment - but he's more reliable than Specter. Specter could easily go back to being a Republican and vote with us 30% of the time again. I think the WH is supporting Specter as part of the deal to get him to switch, and I understand. But I'm not listening to the WH on this.

For governor, I like Hoeffel. But I'm voting for Onorato because I feel he has the best chance to beat Corbett, who is an awful weasel. Williams is good except the school-choice backing really bothers me. Wagner is too conservative socially.

[Divernan]

8. I like Hoeffel for governor also, but have worked with Onorato, Williams and Wagner & agree

Onorato probably has the best chance against Corbett and am comfortable with voting for Onorato. He took a very practical and realistic approach to issues. I agree with your evaluation of Corbett. And he's packed the Attorney General's office with some really conservative attorneys he'd drag into his administration as governor.

[blue neen]

9. I wonder why Hoeffel hasn't spent any time in the western part of PA.

There are people here who would have liked to see him. Onorato is not a shoo-in with a lot of Dems in SW PA. Those of us in Fayette, Westmoreland, Armstrong, Indiana counties have not yet seen what he'd do for us.

BTW, I want to agree with something else you mentioned in your original post...Senator Bob Casey truly is a kind man. I may not agree with him on absolutely every issue, but I do believe he acts in the best interests of the citizens of Pennsylvania.

[PADEMJES12]

10. not sure blue neen

its important to point out these distinctions so that people are in fact
educated blue neen. We wouldnt want to have one set of rules for Joe
and his drones and a different set for everyone else.
That would be hypocritical to say the least.

bt/... Sen. Casey is a good man, he's endorsed Sen. Specter

Your inspiration quote- Knowledge is power!

Sir Francis Bacon

[blue neen]

11. There is no reference to either Joe Sestak or Arlen Specter in my post,

so your response is rather puzzling. :shrug:

[PADEMJES12]

12. im eluding to your first post

where you talk about making an educated decision.

[blue neen]

13. My family is taking our decision making process for the PA primaries very seriously.

We'll probably still be deciding on our way to the polls!

"Knowledge is power, but enthusiasm pulls the switch."

[MH1]

18. 'Educated decision' not by endorsements, but by voting record

please see Project Vote Smart and explore each candidate's factual record.

here's a good starting point (top of the page - Specter):
http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=53340#544

and thanks for taking it seriously!

[wisteria]

23. Come on, you compare years of Specter votes with very few of Sestak's.

I suppose that is what happens when you miss so many votes. I vote for experience and getting the job done. Sestak doesn't even come close on either front.

[MH1]

28. Sestak has gotten the job done for his district in two terms in Congress

missed votes are only recently since he decided to run for Senate - he had to get known across the state. I don't like it but two-year campaigns is how it is.

Also, I wonder if you look at which votes he missed, vs. which ones Specter missed... let's see, let's go to LCV again, they measure KEY votes:

in 2009, Sestak missed 1 out of 15 KEY environmental votes as scored by LCV.

in 2009, Specter missed 2 out of 11 KEY environmental votes as scored by LCV.

I'll take 1/15 over 2/11 any day.

[MH1]

31. and what about Specter supporting flat tax and elimination of estate tax?

do you agree with those positions?

[blue neen]

32. I appreciate the info and will definitely check it out.

The next week and a half are going to be crazy in PA!

[MH1]

33. cool

and yes they will be :)

[MH1]

17. I'm struggling with the governor decision

I like Williams in some ways but I saw an ad he ran about gun control and just winced. I figure all the GOP would have to do is run Williams' own ad in certain parts of the state, and he's toast.

I've heard Onorato is really quite conservative, just doing a Specter in trying to be more 'liberal' long enough to win the primary. But I want to do my own research on that. One thing, I have confidence that Onorato has the organization and competence to win, if any Dem can. If his positions are awful I will either vote Wagner or Hoeffel, but if his positions aren't that bad I might go with Onorato. Tough call right now.

As to Sestak/Specter - I am advising everyone to check factual voting records at Project Vote-Smart. How they will vote and what they will work for is all that really counts. For me, that means I'm voting Sestak. I know there are some conservative dems even at DU (although some try to masquerade as progressives at times), and for them Specter might be a good choice. But I think if you look at votes across the board, and consistency, it's clear Sestak is more reliably liberal.

(Specter supports a flat tax and elimination of the estate tax, by the way. For anyone who didn't know: http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=53340#544 )

[howaboutme]

14. Party big wigs made the decision

early on that they would support Specter, if Specter became a Republican, and if in the process the Party hacks would throw all the other contenders such as Sestak to the wolves, and urge the press to follow their lead. Coincidentally Specter made another deal with Santorum about supporting only conservative SCOTUS candidates if Santorum supported only him for election in 2006 against his opposition. The reality is we have an 80yo over the hill, has-been and former Republican, who has always preferred making deals to get himself reelected rather than voting in the interests of PA constituents getting preferential treatment from Democratic Party.

Politics is a dirty game of self interests, conniving and deal making and building support and Specter's deal with Democrat big wigs only highlights it. Politics should be first about doing the right thing for the greater good. I do not trust Specter.

[wisteria]

24. Specter has done nothing more than leave a party that left him a few years ago.

He was asked by our President and our VP to come back into the Democrtic party and he accepted.
I trust that Specter will get the job done for PA. He has the experience and connections to do it. PA is sorely in need of experience especially after losing Murtha. I would not risk the state of PA to someone with so little experience as Sestak.

[MH1]

16. Kicking this with a huge thanks

I am a fan of Joe Sestak and not so much anymore of DU, hence not spending much time here lately.

You've put into words, better than I've been able to, a big reason not just why I support Sestak, but why I ultimately choose ANY politician:

When I look for a medical specialist for myself or a family member, I don't give a tinker's D### about bedside manner or the atmosphere in his/her office. I want a board certified specialist who will be honest with me, who has in-depth experience regarding my medical problem and will tell it like it is, even if the news is bad. Sestak's 31 years of naval service, rising to the rank of rear admiral is the equivalent of board certification. And we know he's willing to tell it like it is, even when doing so puts him in the crosshairs.

Another reason: the man works his friggin' ass off, all day long every day. I have seen that through 3 campaigns now. Perhaps that makes him a bit insensitive at times - although I haven't seen it, I am allowing the possibility - to weaker, less experienced members of his staff. Waaah! I also know that his first campaign manager, who is now his chief of staff, is a loyal Navy vet who served with him. You don't earn that kind of loyalty by being a complete asswipe, as Specter and some here (who don't even know him!) are trying to paint him.

[wisteria]

19. Sestak's has no experience and his claim to fame is that he claims to be the

"real Democrat" and he served in the Navy-big fu*king deal. I am not about to vote away the 30 years of experience Specter has for getting things done in PA to vote for this Joe Smoe.

[MH1]

21. Two congressional terms and the voting record to go with it.

Sestak:
http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=58333

vs:
http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=53340

[wisteria]

26. He missed a lot of votes. And THAT does not even come close to

Specter's service to PA. You did not have to tell me Sestak is/was a Congressman-I am not stupid. I know what his voting record is like.

[MH1]

30. in 2009, Specter missed MORE key environmental votes

in 2009, Sestak missed 1 out of 15 KEY environmental votes as scored by LCV.

in 2009, Specter missed 2 out of 11 KEY environmental votes as scored by LCV.

I'll take 1/15 over 2/11 any day.

http://capwiz.com/lcv/dbq/vote_info/?command=results&sort=Last&state=PA&submit.x=6&submit.y=18&submit=go

click on their names to get their 2009 records.

the missed vote nonsense is just campaign propaganda. Bushites tried to use that against Kerry in 2004 too, and most Kerry supporters defended it then.

[wisteria]

22. You think Sestak comes across as honest, funny, I see him as coming off as phony

and way over nice-to a point of it being phony. To me, the man looks like a hothead ready to explode and trying to contain himself. Just my opinion. And, I am not voting for him anyway. Not now nor in the general if he wins. I won't waste my time.

[MH1]

25. I've spoken to him in person, many times, and seen him speak to small groups

he does need to improve in front of the camera, I think. He comes across much differently in person and in front of small groups. His public speaking style has improved greatly in the last few years and he can smarten it up for the debates with Toomey - if needed.

[wisteria]

27. Give it up, I dislike the guy immensely and I am telling you I see him as

snowballing everyone with his pretend niceness. I think he is a hot head and an egotist. He didn't get relieved of his command for being nice. Perhaps he is even a little dictator.

[MH1]

29. posting here at DU is not about you. I realize you have chosen Specter.

But, I have chosen Sestak, I know him personally, and if you write stuff against him here, I will respond as long as I have the time and the energy in my typing fingers.

You don't know if his niceness is 'pretend' or not, because you have not spent time around him. I have, and I assess him to be genuinely nice - but also driven and more energetic than some people can take. Some people, not me, and not something I hold against a politician I want WORKING for me. I also have some difficulty with public speaking so am willing to give a pass to someone who isn't always as polished as I might like.

[MH1]

34. kicking cause there's a lot of good stuff in this thread.