Specter Calls Sestak ‘Flagrant Hypocrite’

[ccharles000]

Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) took direct aim at Rep. Joe Sestak (Pa.) for the first time Thursday, calling the two-term Congressman “a flagrant hypocrite” for challenging him in the Senate Democratic primary.

In a statement from his campaign, Specter cited Sestak’s past voting history in Pennsylvania in an effort to paint him as a political opportunist who only joined the Democratic Party in order to run for Congress.

“Congressman Sestak is a flagrant hypocrite in challenging my being a real Democrat when he did not register as a Democrat until 2006 just in time to run for Congress,” Specter said. “His lame excuse for avoiding party affiliation, because he was in the service, is undercut by his documented disinterest in the political process.”

Specter announced earlier this year that he was switching parties to run as a Democrat in 2010 and immediately picked up the support of party leaders and the White House. Claiming to be incensed by his new colleague’s party switch, Sestak has all but announced he is going to challenge Specter for the Democratic nomination next year.

The Specter campaign’s statement Thursday went into detail about Sestak’s voting record in Delaware County. Specter’s campaign cited official records on file at the Delaware County Office of Voter Registration in charging that Sestak missed voting in 12 of 35 general elections from 1971 to 2005.

“He did not vote from 1989-99, missing President Clinton’s 1996 election despite working in the White House at that time as well as missing the 1992 Presidential election,” Specter said.

Specter’s campaign cited an Associated Press story this week in which Sestak said he registered as an Independent during his military career because he did not want to be affiliated with a political party during his service. Records show he registered to become a Democrat in January 2006.

This is the first time that Specter had openly attacked Sestak in writing.


http://www.rollcall.com/news/36649-1.html?type=printer_friendly

[Kerrytravelers]

1. That's rich.

[eleny]

2. Pot meet kettle

[PSzymeczek]

8. My thought,

exactly.

[eleny]

10. belated welcome to du!

:hi:

[jefferson_dem]

3. Obviously, Specter has little room to talk.

Still, his point about Sestack is fairly valid.

[RoyGBiv]

4. I'm sorry, what?

Specter was looking in a mirror and talking to himself again?

I swear, the line between actual news and The Onion is blurring day by day.

[AlinPA]

5. Specter: "challenging my being a real Democrat " Specter a real Democrat?? This does sound

like something from the Onion News. After 36 years as a stinking republican, Specter should have learned by now that PA voters don't like negative campaigning and he is starting with it right out of the gate.

[MadBadger]

18. I wonder if this could be a response to internal numbers going down a little?

Last I saw, he has a twenty point lead, why does he need to attack at all?

[rug]

6. I can't wait to vote against this scumbag.

[Sebastian Doyle]

7. Two words, Arlen: MAGIC BULLET

You have no right to ever accuse anybody of hypocrisy after being responsible for that fraud.

[colbertforpresident]

9. Joe gets my vote

It's time for Spector and his ilk to retire.

[old mark]

11. Specter has had way too long a ride at the people's expense.

Time to retire, Arlen.

Take Ed Rendell along with you.

mark

[TheBigotBasher]

12. and Bayh

and other blue dawgs

[saltpoint]

13. Arlen has some muscle and should not be taken lightlly, but if it will

help at all, I'm donating to Sestak.

I think it would feel a lot better with Joe in there than it would with Arlen.

[ebbie15644]

14. Sounds like

Arlen is feeling the heat?

[jn2375]

15. Can't wait to vote against Specter, 8 votes in this household going to Sestak

[Dinger]

16. Fuck arlen,

Just sayin'.

[PretzelWarrior]

17. cool. sorry Sestak, you asked for it.