Sen. Specter asked to leave the stage as Rep. Sestak makes closing statement...? - pics

[Kadie]

:shrug: I don't see anymore info other than the caption...



Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., right, gestures as he talks with Jonathan Fox, of Lancaster, Pa., moments after Specter was asked to leave the stage at a gathering sponsored by labor unions and citizen activist groups, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, in Harrisburg, Pa. Specter was asked to leave the stage after walking on to shake the hand of Rep. Joe Sestak D-Pa., who was making his closing statement.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)


Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., speaks at a gathering sponsored by labor unions and citizen activist groups, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, in Harrisburg, Pa. Rep. Joe Sestak D-Pa., spoke before him. The event is being held at the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)


U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa. speaks before a gathering sponsored by labor unions and citizen activist groups, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, in Harrisburg, Pa. He will be followed by Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa. The event is being at the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

[rgbecker]

1. I wanna hear about this one! Who was there to give us the scoop?

[Kadie]

4. I still don't see anything except for the caption to the picture.

:shrug:

[napi21]

2. I'm not a BIG fan of Arlan's, but I think Sestak is a Blue Dog!

Sometimes he sounds great, but if you listen to him on all the diff. shows he's been on, he's anti abortion, and several comments he's made just make me not trust him. The People of Pa. better do some serious checking before they make their decision!!

[AlinPA]

3. He is a Democrat; I don't trust Specter. Will he flip back if he beats Toomey? A big problem

with Specter is that he isn't trusted by republicans now, Democrats are suspicious of him and Independents are turning to the teabaggers.

[napi21]

8. Arlan was never a lock step Pub, and he can't go back because they hate him now.

I have to say I'm surprised he's running again after the at least 2 bouts he's had with cancer. He's pretty old, and I doubt he'll finish another term is he is elected!

[AlinPA]

18. He seems to be worn out, I'm afraid that he can't keep up the campaigning to match the younger

Toomey. PA is a big state, a lot of miles to cover.

[SoCalDem]

20. Spector is too old, and needs to retire..

Too many older pols just hang on too long, and freeze out too many younger ones with better ideas..

Term limits is the answer...

There have been many really worthy people who withered on the vine, while they waited "their turn".

I respect Byrd & Kennedy & many of the other ones who hung in there to the bitter end, but there's really no reason for them to hold onto those seats so long..

I know they do it for historical reasons, as well as for personal ones, but it's about service to the people, and when one is old and ill, that cannot be accomplished well.

Especially with the 6 yr terms of the senate, we can never be "sure" that when a senator dies in office, that there will not be a republican governor, all ready to flip that seat.


Had Kennedy retired while he was still in relatively good condition, he could have ramped up enthusiasm & support for a hand-picked successor, and that seat would still be ours, and the person in that seat would probably coast to re-election in '12. Kennedy could still have played a part in health care...at least as big a part as what he was able to do while still a senator.

[TorchTheWitch]

13. he's pro-choice, pro-gender equality and pro-GLBT rights

He's my congressman and he's progressive. You're the one that needs to do some checking!

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. "after walking on to shake the hand... who was making his closing statement."

Sounds like a decorum issue to me - interrupting an opponent's closing remarks.

[Dappleganger]

6. Was he pulling a Kanye?

See what he started!

[Kadie]

9. LOL!

I’m really happy for you. I’ll let you finish, but ...


:rofl:

[kentuck]

7. I don't believe Arlen can win the general election.

Too many Democrats don't trust him and too many Republicans will not vote for him. I think he will we roundly defeated if he is the candidate.

[Zavulon]

10. I hope he gets crushed.

Specter is a political whore who will vote for his own good, not ours. I can't wait to see him booted out of Washington. Better that we take a chance on a real Democrat and lose than be stuck with Specter and never know what to expect from him.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Sestak has avoided Philadelphia for the most part

and THAT is where most of the Democratic votes are and the metro area represents 1/3rd of the state's voters. The only reason why Specter is there today is because Philadelphia Democrats CROSSED OVER and voted for him and he has continued to bring the bacon home to the city. Regardless of Sestak's record, few here (who aren't already involved in monitoring politics) even know who Sestak is. So don't count Specter out just yet.

[old mark]

11. Sestak was on a Philly radio station about 2 weeks ago, and stated that he

came from a district that was 55% Republican, so would have to be a representative of thet district. He does have better ideas than Specter.
Specter has the backing of the PA democratic party machine - ed rendell and company - as well as the WH, which is enough for me to vote against him.

The GOP candidate - Toomey- is a real RW psycho who has a lot of support and will make a tough opponent.
I'd really like to se Sestak win, though.

I had an invitation email to the progressive meeting, but didn't go.

mark

[TorchTheWitch]

12. he's my congressman and is pretty progressive

He's far and away better than Specter and we like him a lot here. He grew up here and one of my brothers has known him since school days. I think they still keep in touch somewhat. He's big on unions and working and low income families and is also big on gender equality and GLBT rights.


Political positions

Abortion:
Sestak has a 100% rating from NARAL and has stated his support for Roe v. Wade.<12>

Economy:
Since 2007, Congressman Sestak has hosted eleven economic summits in the 7th District. He voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("the Stimulus Bill") and the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008.<13>

Education:
Congressman Sestak voted for the Improving Head Start Act and the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.<14>

Environment:
Sestak voted for the Waxman Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (Cap and Trade) program.<15> He is the only Pennsylvanian congressman to have a 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters and PennEnvironment. He has also been endorsed by the Sierra Club. He voted for the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 and the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act. He was also an original co-sponsor of the Climate Stewardship Act (H.R. 620) and the Safe Climate Act.<16>

Gun rights:
Sestak supports gun control and has a 100% rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence <17> and an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association<18>

Sestak has called for the reinstatement of the federal ban on assault weapons.<19>

Healthcare:
Congressman Sestak credits his support for health care reform as to "pay back" the country that provided him and his family health care while he was in the Navy (the TRICARE program), especially for treating his daughter's brain tumor.<20> He supports preventive care and voted for the CHAMP Act. Sestak originally co-sponsored the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiations Act, the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act and co-sponsored H.R. 3800, which establishes a public-private Partnership for Health Care Improvement. He also announced the Pediatric Cancer Caucus, which he will co-chair.<21> He is also a member of the Autism Caucus, Diabetes Caucus, 21st Century Health Care Caucus, Congressional Mental Health Caucus, Nursing Caucus, and Cystic Fibrosis Caucus.

Labor:
Congressman Sestak is an original co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act and supports the original version that includes card check. He created the Labor Advisory Committee to address the challenges facing working families in his district.<22>

[old mark]

16. So I agree with him exc ept for the gun control nonsense.

I am just reporting what he said on MMR last week.

mark

[enough]

17. Thanks for that info.

As an old PA Dem, I don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to vote for Arlen Specter, whose most lasting gift to the nation is Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Looks like Sestak is somebody I CAN vote for.

[librechik]

14. I let you finish in a moment but first I got to say Beyonce is the greatest artist in the world!

ummm... threatened much Sen. Spector?

[TexasObserver]

15. Rep. Joe Sestak would make a great US senator.

Old Magic Bullet should retire.