GOP's right has Specter in its sights

[Pale Blue Dot]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/7679583.htm

Despite nearly $10 million in campaign funds, an endorsement from President Bush, and a double-digit lead in the polls, Specter faces a bona fide primary challenge from U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley conservative whose candidacy has become a rallying cry for the party's right flank.

The April 27 primary has attracted national attention for the way it crystallizes the party's underlying power struggle between its moderate and conservative wings.

<snip>

After officially beginning his reelection campaign in Philadelphia last week, Specter acknowledged a desire to beat back the conservative groups - such as the Club for Growth, which pledged to spend $2 million for Toomey - that view his defeat as a priority in forcing other Republicans to abandon moderate politics.

"When the Club for Growth says they want Arlen Specter's scalp on the wall - those are their exact words - so other senators will behave, that is pretty much a clarion call to a fight for a big tent," Specter said.

Looks like the Democrats aren't the only ones having an identity crisis!

[Zhade]

1. He'd better be careful, or he might receive a "magic bullet" of his own.

I wouldn't put it past the Reich Wing.

Besides, he knows too much, I'm sure.

[okieinpain]

25. plane trips can be bad also.

[Gysgt213]

2. Of course not the Republicans are having their party highjacked

Just as the liberals can't go too far left the conservatives have to guard against going to far to the right. While the NeoCons might think this is a good idea to control the party. I see a revolt coming from the majority of members who are closer to the center.

[devinsgram]

5. After reading Kevin Phillips new book,

there are alot of Republicans starting to wake up and realize they are going to have fight to get their party back and away from this Reich wing that has hi-jacked it.

[pinto]

8. here in CA the Rep party is controlled by extremists, mainly through

fear tactics aimed at the electorate and intimidation tactics aimed at fellow legislators, not to mention the small (:eyes:) item of protected, gerrymandered districts....

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. More info on the "Club For Growth"

http://www.clubforgrowth.org/

They have already produced and aired Anti-Dean ads that show his "abysmal record on taxes and his extreme liberalism."

These are bad people.

[tedoll78]

17. Abysmal record on taxes?

He cut taxes while governor! Lured businesses to the state of Vermont! Hell, he's a moderate!

[4dsc]

19. I wonder how far right they can move

MoveRight.org is the new website created by the Club for Growth to help conservatives take action against the crazy liberalism put forward by the Left.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

4. Looney Toomey CANNOT win in Pa. He can win the Rethug.....

primary but a general election is out of the question!

[devinsgram]

7. Spector is way too entrenched to lose in PA.

Those in my area think he walks on water. This club and Toomey better save their money.

[bleedingheart]

13. Toomey is appealing to the goofballs in the middle of the state

but the republicans in the cities aren't really keen on the right wing...

I can guarantee Specter will take the Philly and Pittsburgh areas with no trouble in the primary... its the middle that may swing to Toomey and his goofiness..

[Crunchy Frog]

6. This does not surprise me.

I believe that the Republican party is morphing into an essentially totalitarian party. As such, it will no longer tolerate in its ranks anyone who shows the least amount of independence or tendency to veer from the party line. They clearly want to replace all independent minded Republicans with people who will march in lockstep to the party line.

As much as I dislike Specter, I at least respect him for standing up for his own positions even when they go against the official party line.

[pinto]

10. kick, can you say lockstep? internal dissent or debate is not tolerated.

[snippy]

12. I agree.

[GRClarkesq]

9. Even if you were a moderate Republican

Specter would be hard to like. He does not DO anything. Has a horrible rep on the hill. Coasts for 5 years then sells his vote for goddies in the election year.

[leetrisck]

11. Specter is scheduled to take Hatch's place

on the Judiciary Committee and the right wing is having heart failure - he's just much to liberal to stand up for those right wing conservative judges.

[The Zanti Regent]

14. Remember what Specter did to Anita Hill?

Specter has always been a god-damned fake!

[leetrisck]

15. I sure do remember and then later

he said "if only I had known at the time" - well, so impeach Clarence Thomas for lying.

[xxqqqzme]

16. I don't! what happened?

I only clearly recall Biden practically mocking Ms. Hill. I have distrusted him since that event.

[bobbieinok]

24. they were all men on the committee

Specter was in major attack mode vs Hill, I think.

I couldn't watch any of it; it was disgusting.

[NewJerseyDem]

21. Well, he did save us from Bork

If it weren't for him we would probably have Supreme Court Justice Robert Bork instead of Anthony Kennedy. So, I think we can all be happy for what Specter did in that case even if he didn't do well when it came to Clarence Thomas.

[tedoll78]

18. This pleases me..

this is money that they will spend fighting each other rather than uniting to fight us.

Secondly, I hope the more extreme candidate wins. We could use a Senate seat in PA;)

[Demonaut]

20. Specter is Jewish

He does not fit the Republican's view of a real neocon, I truly believe the next book will be from Arlen and it will cover the christian fundamentalism taking over Washington.......this is if he loses

[David__77]

22. May the weaker man win.

I think we can win in PA. There's no reason we can't politically destroy that other GOP bigot from PA in 2006 either.

[Ramsey]

23. It would be better for us if Toomey won

He'd never take the state, so we'd have a better chance of picking up a Senate seat. But I think there's little chance he'll oust Specter.