“I will not be an automatic 60th vote,” Specter said Tuesday afternoon. “I would illustrate that with my position on employee choice, also known as card check. I think it’s a bad deal and I’m opposed to it. I will not vote to impose cloture. … If the Democratic Party asks too much, I will not vote with them.” [via Politico]
I don’t support imposing strict party discipline and ideological purity like Republicans have done. Democrats should not require that Specter vote with them 100 percent of the time. Nevertheless, one thing is clear: Specter needs the Democratic party. If he lost the Republican nomination — which he would have — he would not have been able to run as an independent in Pennsylvania. As such, Specter will need to make some concessions to the Democrats.
I’m certainly concerned that, while Specter often crosses party lines, he leans more to the right than he does to the left. The Wonk Room details some of his leanings, such as his opposition to Obama’s nominee to head the Office of Legal Counsel, the Employee Free Choice Act, and clean energy proposals.
Pennsylvania Democrats should keep Specter honest by challenging him in 2010, and ask him to prove himself throughout the remainder of this session. If Specter is going to receive the Democrats’ support in the 2010 primary, he needs to be a reliable vote for the Democrats’ agenda, and in particular, he needs to be a reliable vote for cloture. He doesn’t need to vote for cloture 100 percent of the time, but if he remains a reliable Republican vote while simply changing his party affiliation, his switch doesn’t really benefit the Democrats.
Because of Specter’s vulnerability within the Republican party, Democrats are now in the driver’s seat. They need to make sure they’re actually getting votes from Specter in exchange for saving his political career.
Specter better be looking for some way to move on the Employee Free Choice Act. A former Republican who switched to the Dems and still couldn’t help out on the Employee Free Choice Act will have a tough time in a Democratic primary. Labor pulls a lot of weight in those, both with number of voters and ground game. I have a feeling that something will change in the bill to allow Specter to save face and vote for cloture.
I was always taught to fight tooth and nail for your position, but to always leave some sort of face saving out for your opponent. I think there are some to be found in the Employee Free Choice Act.
Also, the opposition to Clean Energy will become more and more difficult for him in Pennsylvania among Democrats. I don’t know specifics, only saw it mentioned above, but the Steelworkers are still a large presence in PA and they are all about the new energy econonmy.
If a majority of Dems want to vote, then Spector must vote for cloture, or he is not really part of the caucus.
Regardless of his party switch, I would be surprised it the PA dems didn’t run a challenger in the primary.
The PA Dems have a right to pick their own candidate, and I would personally support a strong challenge to Spector.
Here’s where it get interesting. So Specter wants to run for re-election. He’ll need money to do this. In the next month, after he gets done replacing the finance staffers who are more loyal to the big picture of being a GOPer than to him personally, he’ll realize he’s a lost a lot of his list. A whole lot of it.
After that point, he’ll realize he really needs to keep the DSCC happy if he wants to keep his seat. He may in fact need the DS to pull through the Democratic primary. Very happy. And while the party will bend over backwards to keep 60 (see: Nelson, Ben), its not just a one way street. Then some conversations along the lines of ‘Arlen, you don’t have to vote for final passage, just vote for cloture’ are (hopefully) bound to happen.
Zach…I love your ability to discriminate issues.
“We need bi-partisan support and less “vote with the party or else” politicians.”
“Specter needs to bend to Democratic policies if he wants to stay in politics.”
Hmmmm? Which view do you hold?
Specter already has a democratic challenger with half a million CoH.
Which is exactly why, if he wants to keep his street, Specter better make the DSCC very happy with him. Very happy. DSCC help plus name recognition can get him through his primary.
This is sad. The GOP is getting more conservative and the Democrats are getting more liberal. There is no place left for a guy like Spector.
I don’t know who is the big tent, but if a man can’t vote his conscience without being reprimanded, then neither of these two parties are it. Perhaps there is room for a Leiberman / Spector / Ben Nelson / Olympia Snowe / Susan Collins Independent party. I’d campaign for that one.
“
This is sad. The GOP is getting more conservative and the Democrats are getting more liberal. There is no place left for a guy like Spector.”
The democrats need to get more liberal in order to match the mood and desires of the American people. The republicans are becoming a party of reactionary fools.
“The democrats need to get more liberal in order to match the mood and desires of the American people”
????? Obama won by 54-46%. A mandate for him to follow through on his campaign promises, but hardly a movement toward liberalism.
DtM,
On this one, I think you are shoveling a complete load of crap. The Democratic Party is much, much more open to moderates. In the house, you will rarely see 100% purity votes on major issues like the stimulus bill or budget. Dems vote against it. Sometimes double digit Dems vote against a Dem bill. The Republicans are, by proof of vote, a purity party.
From a truly idealistic standpoint we might grouse and complain about tools like Ben Nelson, but from a pragmatic and realistic view point the Democrats know that purity of thought leads to some problems and you need balance.
So, yeah, I am annoyed by Ben Nelson and Traitor Joe, but glad the Democratic Party has them. Look at our own Collin Peterson on the House side. He voted against the Obama stimulus. So what. But Spector votes for the stimulus and all hell breaks loose! You would be a perfect Blue Dog Democrat DtM. Come on over. There is no similar place for you in the Republican Party.
Take care,
Alec
DantheMan,
“The GOP is getting more conservative and the Democrats are getting more liberal.”
The Democrats are getting:
A. More Liberal then they have ever been.
B. Same as they always have been, but are now gaining power.
I say B. Democrats are a big tent.
The Republicans are getting:
A. More Conservative than they have ever been.
B. More radical and out of touch than they have ever been.
Again I say B. The Republican base is as out of touch with reality as I have ever seen them. Just check the teabag parties for that dose of reality. They have a tiny intolerant tent. It’s pretty easy for anyone to see. This is not your Fathers GOP, even Reagans words are arguably labeled as socialist in their eyes.
Again, you have a very dumbed down black and white opinion that is also easy to see, DantheMan.
The constant point you keep trying to make, that both partys are bad and the only good is in the middle, ignores the reality of both the Democrats and the Republicans and where their heads are at. There are truths, and lies, and it’s as simple as that. There is no middle between a truth and a lie, other than a half-truth.
I’ll keep marking you down, DantrheMan, as a half-truth teller. It is not appreciated.
“Obama won by 54-46%. A mandate for him to follow through on his campaign promises, but hardly a movement toward liberalism.”
Jesus jumping christ, man. I have told you many times before.
A majority of Americans support abortion rights
A majority of Americans support more taxes for education
A majority of Americans support assault weapons ban
A majority of Americans support legal parity for gays
A majority of Americans support leaving Iraq
A majority of Americans support complete family planning education
A majority of Americans support current, or een higher taxation.
Nearly all republicans oppose these things.
too many democrats oppose these things. Both parties need to be dragged to the LEFT in order to fall in line with the American gestalt. No number of question marks will change this fact.
Right, in most polls, you might even get a majority say they are “conservative”, but when asked about actual issues, they align with progressives. In Health Care, in fact, they line up almost 3 to 1 in favor of a social solution.
Proof please…
Doughhead…
True…but the issue is already settled. You’ll have to show me where Republicans are calling for a retraction of RoeVWade.
False. The majority of people support school choice…not MORE taxes for education. I call BS on your post and ask for proof. There has never been a time when education spending was REDUCED in the budget and the overall PPU cost has risen dramatically while enrollments have been decreasing steadily for a decade. Again, proof your statement or retract it.
False. The majority of Americans do not support a ban…http://shootingmessengers.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-do-you-think.html
Again, blatantly false. I have seen NO poll that shows Americans in favor of gay marriage. Every state that has put the issue to a vote has had the people vote gay marriage down. Again, prove or retract.
True…thanks for stating the obvious. Who in there right mind would answer no to such a question? But, Obama doesn’t seem to intent on speeding up the process at all, now does he.
True…but again, who wouldn’t? What most people DO object to is the indoctrination of GLBT ideology in the public schools. But as far as sex ed and family planning education…even I agree with that. So, big deal.
FALSE…this is false on SO many levels its not even funny. I wont even rebut it outside of saying again, prove or retract.
Lojasdougheadmo. You REALLY need to purge yourself of these stereotypes. Your last statement says that most Republicans OPPOSE all of those things, which is utter BS. You can continue to live in that bubble of misconceived ideology all you want, but it sure wont help your DFL causes. In your case, ignorance IS bliss.
Don Huizenga,
“Doughhead”
You lost most readers right there.
Don Huizenga,
“Proof please…”
Google “Health Care Poll”.
Oh…you are responding FOR Alec. Got it.
OK…heres a poll….
In fact, half of the 2,491 adults surveyed in the nationwide poll said they either “strongly” or “somewhat” supported the president’s plan to overhaul health care. Twenty-nine percent said they were still not sure about the plan, while 20 percent expressed opposition to the Obama proposals.
While Obama’s exact blueprint has not been laid out, he has indicated, both from the Oval Office and on the campaign trail, that the nation’s health care system needs to better serve more people at a lesser cost.
So half strongly or somewhat support the Presidents plan. I believe Alec said that 2/3 want a social system?
Are you going to try again, or maybe YOU should post up a poll supporting your position?
Don Huizenga,
“Are you going to try again, or maybe YOU should post up a poll supporting your position?”
Try what again? You posted a poll. A majority support Obama.
Do you have the vapors?
Nitro…ALec made the statement that it was 3 to 1. Do you have a poll you want to post, or are we going to play childish games where you make blatantly false statements, I respond factually, then you make some stupid comment about vapors?