rssSpecter Switch Gives Conservatives Second Thoughts About ‘RINO’ Hunting
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 5:01 pm
- 48 Comments
Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), surrounded by reporters in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday (WDCpix)
This wasn’t what conservatives were expecting to talk about today. The news that Sen. Arlen Specter, the senior Republican in the Senate, would switch to the Democratic Party, came out of the blue after weeks of denials that the senator would ever do such a thing.
Image by: Matt Mahurin
Inside the Club for Growth, the conservative PAC that until this month was led by former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) — Specter’s 2004 primary opponent who was gearing up for a 2010 rematch — staffers who were preparing to beat Specter read the news from The Washington Post and scrambled to write a statement for the press. Two hours after the news broke, the Club released a statement from new president Chris Chocola that called Specter “unprincipled” and his decision “cynical,” revealing himself as a “liberal devoted to more government spending.” In an interview on MSNBC, Toomey challenged Pennsylvanians to ask “if we can trust this man.”
The Specter switch — on a day that began with the GOP attacking the White House over a botched Air Force One flight and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ nomination for secretary of health and human services — has given Republicans and conservatives a gut-check moment. Many of them have argued that the Republican defeats of 2006 and 2008 were reactions to the Bush administration’s feckless policies, biased coverage from the mainstream media, and a duplicitous campaign by Barack Obama. Specter, one of just three Republicans (all senators) who supported the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was the only one up for reelection in 2010.
That made him a target of conservatives who believe the party’s comeback depends on a return to low-tax, low-spending fiscal conservatism. Republicans in Specter’s home state would not commit to supporting him over Toomey. Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, repeatedly turned down chances to promise national support for Specter in his upcoming primary.
Specter spent several months attempting to win over the base, experiencing slightly more success in Washington than in Pennsylvania by declaring his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act and introducing (for the second time in two years) a flat tax reform bill. According to Chris Lilik, the editor of the conservative Pennsylvania Website GrassrootsPA.com and 2004 Toomey volunteer, Specter hadn’t been gaining ground with that strategy. Lilik pointed to Specter’s statements Tuesday about not wanting to “face the jury” of the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate as proof.
“There were so many issues he just wasn’t smart about,” said Lilik. “”It’s really unfair to blame conservatives for this. His problems with the base were all self-inflicted. He did this to himself.”
Self-reflection was hard to find from the Republican Party and from activists who had attacked Specter as an example of the GOP’s image problem — a man who prevented them from appealing to voters as the party of small government. Steele accused Specter of trying to “further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record.” Eric Odom, the conservative web guru who launched TaxDayTeaParty.com — and who denied Steele’s request to speak at the Chicago anti-spending rally — responded to the news by tweeting “THANK GOD we don’t have to deal with an ugly GOP primary in Specter’s district.” According to Adam Brandon, a spokesman for the Tea Party-supporting FreedomWorks, the group’s chairman Dick Armey laughed at the news and asked: “Will anyone be able to tell the difference?”
Twitter was the best place to watch the conservative base, fired up by Tea Parties and already enraged at Specter, react to the news as validation. “Specter’s party switching is about as significant as Obama’s budget cutting,” tweeted Bill Hennessy, a Missouri activist and Tea Party organizer. “Just waiting for the professional whiners to say it’s Republicans’ fault Specter left the party,” tweeted Ron Nehring, the chairman of the California Republican Party. “Give me a break.”
Among some other conservative activists, there was more regret, and more worry about how Specter’s switch would aid Obama and the Democrats. Gary Bauer, the longtime Republican evangelical activist who is now president of American Values, said Specter’s critics did not give him enough credit for his work in the Senate. “I don’t think that Clarence Thomas would be in the Supreme Court today if not for Arlen Specter,” said Bauer. “Having the support of what are derisively referred to as RINOS — Republicans in name only — can be important in the Senate.”
Bauer rejected the idea that the Republican brand would be strengthened now that Specter was no longer giving bipartisan cover to Democrats — and that Republicans were being shaped into the clear conservative choice that voters were missing in 2008. “I take a back seat to nobody in wanting the Republican Party to be Ronald Reagan’s party,” said Bauer. “But I would remind folks that Ronald Reagan picked George H.W. Bush to be his running mate. Ronald Reagan understood that there was another element of the party that needed to be brought along. We gain nothing if we replace RINOS with Democrats.”
Bay Buchanan, the president of the American Cause, acknowledged that Specter had been a “huge problem” for conservatives who opposed pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, but worried that he would become even worse as a Democrat.
“Did he give us a few things?” asked Buchanan. “Did he owe President Bush something because he flew into the fray in 2004 and saved him in the primary with Toomey? Were we able to call in a few chits? Absolutely. And now the Democrats will call in their chits. This is not good for Republicans. I’m not going to tell you that we’re cleansing the party and that this is good for Republicans.”
Democrats and union groups, whose pressure on the stimulus bill and card-check legislation were crucial to forcing Specter’s decision, spent Tuesday afternoon gloating about Specter’s announcement. Andy Stern, the president of the Service Employees International Union, had dangled the promise of political support for Specter if he came around to support the Employee Free Choice Act. While Specter ruled out support of the bill today, Stern still claimed a kind of victory.
“It’s clear to us that the right-wing conservatives in control of the leadership of the Republican party in Pennsylvania left Senator Specter long ago,” said Stern in a statement. “We are pleased that he has decided to do the same.”
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48 Comments
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Wow, it's a sad day for conservatism when Bay Buchanan is the only one NOT calling for more purity hunts…
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
New Rasmussan poll shows 77% of Americans favor FREE MARKET.This is good news ,I thought Americans had lost it,but apparently the KOOL AID trance is fading….Thank God not everyone supports poverty.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
America wanted a Democrat after Bush.Even though both parties were to blame.These things are cyclical.Obama will fade also.Point is We must never let this happen again.Hopefully Democrats that voted for CRA reform will acknowlede that interfeering in free markets created the stage for crisis.Republicans have to ease up on useless WAR.I llok for less social programs to stimulate economy,and for free markets to curb poverty.But we are 5 years away from progress.because I don't see Obama doing anything productive.But with 77% having brains,2010 looks good.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 3:12 pm
Let him go .He worthless.He voted yes on stimulas-poverty bill.He lost votes right there anyway.He is un-needed.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 3:18 pm
Senator Spector's pledge does not rule out a vote with the Democrats on cloture when EFCA comes to the Senate floor. The Democrats only need fifty votes to pass once they break the filibuster. Stay tuned.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
“a return to low-tax, low-spending fiscal conservatism.”
A return? I must have missed the previous phase. Or was merely bloviating about it sufficient?
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 7:42 pm
Your taxes under Clinton was 31%and40%.Bush dropped them to 28%and35%.We should be paying a way lower rate.The Paul Ryan tax looks great at 10%and25% for rich.The fair tax looks best at 0% on what you make ,and 23% on what you buy excludeing food,and clothing.You have to remember .The constitution says we shall keep the fruits of our labor.I dont want to argue ,but if you reply i will talk back.Maybe we can help each other learn politics.THE MORE THE PEOPLE KNOW,THE LESS BS CONGRESS CAN PASS ON US.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
You can have him.He is worthless.I live in PA,and the day he voted for the stimulas,was the day he lost his next election.GOOD RIDANCE.Any=one who changes any party to get an election,is of no need to the citizens of this fallen country.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
Excellant Point.As I said above ,He is no use to politics.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 7:54 pm
For me 31% under Clinton and 28% under Bush.Your Wrong again statist.You will be paying 35% within 2 years.Do the math,the budget is of by 1-2 trillion,and no growth on GDP for 5 years.Study economics before you vote next-time
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Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
You can have him.He is worthless.After vote for the spendulas,poverty enhancing bill,he could not win a re election here.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
Do you even know what conservatism is.Ill sum it up.FREEDOM-LOW TAXES-FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT-NO RACISM-SMALL GOVERNMENT-AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL TO SUCCEED.and most important.CAPITALISM IN PURE FORM WOULD CUT POVERTY IN HALF WORDWIDE IN 10 YEARS.All things the statist hates.Reminds me David Duke former idiot of KKK was kicked out of a country.They called him a Right Winger.If you hate Israel and GOD-and Repress the blacks doesn;t that make you a DEMOCRAT
Pingback posted April 28, 2009 @ 9:20 pm
[...] But don’t tell those conservative activists that they’re killing their party. [...]
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[...] don’t tell those conservative activists that they’re killing their party. According to Chris Lilik, the editor of the conservative Pennsylvania site GrassrootsPA.com, [...]
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
lol.
No racism!!
How's the weather in imaginationland today??
For extra credit: name a TRUE 100% capitalist nation. If you can do that, I will write in Sarah Palin for president next year. I promise.
Comment posted April 28, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
Somalia? After all, look at how we've been hearing about those industrious free-market entrepreneurs off the coast of Somalia this year, using the lack of burdensome government regulations to turn a profit off the shipping industry.
Comment posted April 29, 2009 @ 10:10 am
“You can have him.He is worthless.After vote for the spendulas,poverty enhancing bill,he could not win a re election here.”
Well, that's a bit funny given Obama won PA and he is doing what he campaigned to do… If you think for a moment that Toomey is going to win the seat over anyone, I have a Bridge to Nowhere to sell you.
The entire idea that the GOP has been losing elections because they are not “conservative enough” is hysterical in the extreme… Conservative fiscally or conservative socially? They have to be both or someone will primary them. These ideological purity tests may appeal to the GOP's ever shrinking base, but not really to anyone else.
Comment posted April 29, 2009 @ 10:25 am
As long as the right-wing thinks that the country is still in a Reaganesque mood-think that god, guns and gays are still the issue, with a liberal dose of tax cutting-then they will never return to power. All I can do is cheerily read the tweets of those in the death throes of self-delusion and drink a toast to the fact that after 30 years, the ugly, racist, middle-clas-and-poor-hating Reagan Revolution IS OVER.
Comment posted April 29, 2009 @ 10:28 am
“You can have him.He is worthless.After vote for the spendulas,poverty enhancing bill,he could not win a re election here.”
Wrong, Ed. He could not win a Republican PRIMARY there, because the base has gone so far right you makes the nazis look liberal. Were he the nominee, he would easily have won re-election, and he may yet as a Democrat, although I'd prefer someone else, like Joe Sestak. Arlen's going to have to tack to the left now! Great job, you MORONS!!!!!!!!
Comment posted April 29, 2009 @ 11:20 am
your not getting a tax cut.They will go up.The fair tax would put you at 10%.Thats a tax cut
Comment posted April 29, 2009 @ 11:58 am
I am going to join the Club for Growth. It is far and away the most effective organization for growing the Democratic caucus. I know it helped to knock on doors and make calls during the election when I was working for Obama and Merkely, but no one has a record of electing Democrats to match the Club for Growth.
I would like to give a big shoutout to Mr. Toomey
Comment posted April 29, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
Im a money maker .You cant sell me nothing that doesnt turn into gold.This is cyclical.New Rassmussan polls state 77% of Americans want free market.The honeymoon will end someday,just as fast as it did for republicans.I broke my foot,so outside of stock market trading i have nothin to do but talk to you.We disagree but you are still my fellow American.I hope will have more to discuss.
Comment posted April 29, 2009 @ 12:16 pm
There isnt one America is the closest.If we were pure we would have no poverty.THINK DUDE.We are only 3/4 capitalist and we rulr the world.China and India have used free markets to bring millions out of poverty.They will pass us someday if we dont wise up.Were good right now,Our poor have cell phones,coloreredTVs,and cars.
Comment posted April 29, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
Are you people insane or retarded with these countries.they have no government.We have a government It just needs to be smaller with way less taxes,and gov. programs.
Comment posted April 30, 2009 @ 5:48 am
Democrats hate growth.have i miss understood your comment.Liberals think Capitalism is Satan.Where they plan on getting money for fairytale land has always perplexed me.
Comment posted April 30, 2009 @ 6:23 am
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Comment posted April 30, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
I am so glad to see this guy go.These polititionions that make a few hundred thousand a year,and have thier benies paid for life do not care about us.I dont want to invest in green tech,investers do that.I dont want unions destroying any more industries in the US.I dont want a health plan that takes a month to make a doctors appointment,then tell me I have to take sub-par medicine.I dont want social programs that take our money,and leave the poor worse off.I want a FREE MARKET so I can become rich myself.I dont want the government telling me what I can drive,and I dont need help investing my own money.The last time the government regulated banks in 1998 a new crisis was born.
Comment posted April 30, 2009 @ 6:36 pm
I suppose we'll see if Specter's defection turns out to be a good thing. In the short term it gives the Dems a 60 seat supermajority, assuming Franken is seated reasonably soon, and kills the wingnuts ability to filibuster everything.
But in the long run, the Dems may have just given up a sure thing Senate seat in 2010. Specter would have lost his parties primary to Toomey or some other ideologically pure Rush Limbaugh style Republican. Then that kook would have lost to any reasonable Dem.
The best case scenario would be that Specter acts like a good Dem on the big issues for the next year and a half then a good progressive like Congressman Joe Sestak takes him out in the Dem primary and, of course, goes on to win that Senate seat.
Comment posted May 1, 2009 @ 7:08 am
I love it.Democrats are on the hook for everything ,and I have not seen any plan made that will work.The Democrats say Republicans will not work with them,and they shouldn't .I would not exspect Liberals to vote with Republicans if the shoe were on the other foot.
Comment posted May 1, 2009 @ 8:39 am
That makes no sense.The far right is only anti abortion and against gay marriage.I dont hate gays ,but if we let them marry ,whats next.Legal incest-people marrying animals,the list goes on and on.All these far left/far right bullshit topics are of no use to me.Im all about advancing the human condition.Anyway far right is one step from complete Freedom.Socialism is one step from Tyranny.That is where dictators stand,on the left.Im not saying you are like that,but far right means individual freedom.We learn that in high scool.Heres the chart Tyranny–Communism–Socialism–Democrat–Independant–Republican–Conserative–Freedom
Comment posted May 1, 2009 @ 11:05 am
He's leaveing! I thought he was a poverty spreading democrate al ready.
Comment posted May 1, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
I love it.Democrats are on the hook for everything ,and I have not seen any plan made that will work.The Democrats say Republicans will not work with them,and they shouldn't .I would not exspect Liberals to vote with Republicans if the shoe were on the other foot.
Comment posted May 1, 2009 @ 3:39 pm
That makes no sense.The far right is only anti abortion and against gay marriage.I dont hate gays ,but if we let them marry ,whats next.Legal incest-people marrying animals,the list goes on and on.All these far left/far right bullshit topics are of no use to me.Im all about advancing the human condition.Anyway far right is one step from complete Freedom.Socialism is one step from Tyranny.That is where dictators stand,on the left.Im not saying you are like that,but far right means individual freedom.We learn that in high scool.Heres the chart Tyranny–Communism–Socialism–Democrat–Independant–Republican–Conserative–Freedom
Comment posted May 1, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
He's leaveing! I thought he was a poverty spreading democrate al ready.
Pingback posted May 3, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
[...] how about that Arlen Specter? Will RINO hunting cease to be fashionable among his former brethren? Or will the Freedom Tent save [...]
Pingback posted August 29, 2009 @ 2:31 pm
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Comment posted August 5, 2010 @ 10:51 am
your not getting a tax cut.They will go up.The fair tax would put you at 10%.Thats a tax cut
Comment posted August 7, 2010 @ 2:05 am
The best case scenario would be that Specter acts like a good Dem on the big issues for the next year and a half then a good progressive like Congressman Joe Sestak takes him out in the Dem primary and, of course, goes on to win that Senate seat.
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