Biden: Democratic Party backs Sen. Specter in Pa.

[IndianaGreen]

So much for democracy! The White House doesn't care about Democratic primary voters in Pennsylvania. Genuflect to the White House, suckers!

Biden: Democratic Party backs Sen. Specter in Pa.

By MARC LEVY (AP) – 6 hours ago

PHILADELPHIA — Vice President Joe Biden on Friday defended U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter's Democratic credentials against a primary rival's criticism that the former Republican only switched parties to save his job.

"Arlen is the Democratic candidate," Biden told KDKA radio in Pittsburgh. "Now I grant it, there's a primary, but this is the guy the Democratic Party got behind early on."

Specter is in a close race in the Democratic primary Tuesday with two-term U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, who has run an ad questioning whether Specter is a real Democrat. The commercial shows Republican-turned-Democrat Specter with former President George W. Bush and Sarah Palin. The tag line of the ad says, "Arlen Specter switched parties to save one job — his — not yours."

Specter switched his party affiliation last year, saying the Republicans had moved too far right politically. President Barack Obama and Biden promised to help Specter secure a sixth term; both have been part of ads and automated calls in the state.

In the interview, Biden said he didn't expect that Sestak would have taken on Specter.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRLeivXVE_840fD7Tlr0coHPlE1QD9FMPFTG0

[MH1]

1. Oh b.s. Biden. you guys were begging Sestak to run

until Arlen jumped. Then it was "siddown and shaddup".

Tuesday needs to get here fast, before those yahoos in DC shred their integrity completely into oblivion.

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[LakeSamish706]

3. I'm disgusted with this as well, I wish Obama, and Biden would back the hell

off of there support of Specter. Sorry, but I don't believe that he is a Democrat at heart. He is using the Democratic party to win his reelection and that's about it.

[babylonsister]

4. If you're so disgusted with Democrats, and it seems you are, why are

you bothering with them? :shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

6. Specter is not a Democrat

By his own admission, on video no less, he only switched from GOP to Dems just "to get reelected."

Will you guys kiss Lieberman's ass if he were to switch to Dem in 2012 just to save his ass?

[babylonsister]

8. I'm not kissing Lieberman's ass, and I don't like Specter. I hope

he loses and is put out to pasture, despite any allegiance this admin might feel towards him.

I don't trust him and haven't for years.

[saltpoint]

17. Hi, babylonsister. Friends of our in Philadelphia grew up there and

have watched the city's history play out right before their eyes.

They've got tales to tell about Frank Rizzo and about Mayor Wilson Goode's decision to bomb some of his own citizens and so forth... and quite a few stories about Arlen Specter.

None of them positive.

They've never trusted him and are doing all they can to nominate Sestak.

There's a concurrent post on DU showing the Intrade indicators for Specter's dropping off the cliff. Those people traffic in real money so I do think the advantage is to Sestak.

[babylonsister]

20. Specter has a few things going against him. The major one I've

read about (but can't find/remember where) is that Democrats had no interest in voting for him for years because he was a republican, so why start now? And then there's this that's related...


http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8285448

Though Specter has moved to the left since his party switch, voters know that he was a Republican for 30 years. Early polling in the race was almost certainly inflated because Specter was a known commodity statewide, and few people outside of Sestak's district had heard of him. That's slowly changed, and Sestak has crept up on Specter in the polls.



I don't trust him either, and it took me years to form that opinion. I gave him the benefit of the doubt forever, thinking he was a moderate rethug, but he disappointed me too often. He's old, tired, and I'm done. I don't know how Sestak will anger us, but you know he will. ;) I'd still like to be rid of Specter so he can enjoy his retirement.

:hi:

[saltpoint]

21. Yes. Agree that Specter's early command in the polls was likely

inflated because of his name recognition. My god, he's been in office forever.

The undecideds seem to have broken for Sestak, and may keep breaking for Sestak.

If they do, Arlen can dust off the hammock!

[MH1]

22. I agree with your last paragraph

I think highly of Sestak but I don't agree with him on everything. Still, it would take a lot for him to be as awful as Specter. Let's send Specter to retirement. Please.

[Cosmocat]

24. Specter will be worthless come Tuesday at 8 pm ...

I have been saying that all along, the moment the primary ends, he will be worthless as a dem ...

My county party won't endorse a contested primary, but most of the key people here are supporting Sestak. I like him, dems aren't autobot Rs who act and vote in complete comformity with the party. Sestak is not flat left on everything, and neither am I. So, no average he is about where I am.

Beyond that he staked his flag as a D, and to me that is the primary difference here. I have a viceral hatred of Lieberman, and no way to square that with supporting Specter ...

I am VERY happy that Sestak appears to be on the verge of taking down Specter - kudos to him for sticking with it while the numbers looked bleek for so long ...

[saltpoint]

25. Hi, MH1. From the looks of things, this coming Tuesday is going to

be a really wild one for primary elections.

DU should be hoppin'.

[MH1]

27. yeah, I'll be on election protection

and then at the post-poll party

probly not on DU :)

[saltpoint]

28. Our loss.

But democracy's gain.

Give 'em hell!

[NorthCarolina]

9. +1

[jenmito]

10. Using your logic, you should be supportive of Lieberman...

he's "really" a Democrat but just switched parties to get reelected. He's a real Dem. as much as Specter is really a Repub. :shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

12. Lieberman was rejected by Connecticut Democrats in the primary

This is not the same case as Specter's.

[jenmito]

15. That's some attempt at justification...

Specter WOULD'VE been rejected by Repubs. in the primary. Same thing.

[golfguru]

50. Specter will be another Lieberman

We don't need TWO Lieberman's in senate.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

32. Neither are you, but you won't seem to go away (nt)

[saltpoint]

5. Biden has a prepared role here, but as much as I love Biden, I hope

Pennsylvania Democrats cast their votes for Joe Sestak this coming Tuesday.

I do understand the political jostling, but I think Sestak stands the greater chance of winning against the unstable and off-putting Pat Toomey come November.

[depakid]

7. Oops!

Circling the wagons around incumbents in an anti-incumbent year isn't the brightest political move....

[marylanddem]

11. Time for "Magic Bullett" Specter to be put out to pasture

Hasn;t he done enough "Public service" "for" the United States of America?

[IndianaGreen]

13. Send him to the nursing home where he belongs!

His Single Bullet Theory succeeded in preventing a full investigation of the LBJ assassination.

[boomerbust]

37. LBJ assassinated?

I did not know that.

[IndianaGreen]

41. JFK

Sorry.

[polichick]

14. Progressives are finding ways to put their disgust into action...

Booting Specter and Lincoln is just the beginning - sorry Joe.

[jillan]

16. Biden had played a big part into talking Specter into becoming a Dem, of course he is going to back

him. NEWSFLASH - Biden isn't voting.

[havocmom]

18. WHICH Democratic Party? The one Specter is running for or from?

Judging by his confusion and misspoken allegiance the other day, I would suggest ol Arlen isn't sure what color jersey he is wearing this season.

[IndianaGreen]

19. Arlen is as welcome as an Eagles fan is in Pittsburgh

This POS must be defeated so we never have to see his creepy face on TV again.

[DCBob]

23. The WH has to do this... they made a "deal" with Specter when he switched..

I am sure privately they are hoping Sestack wins.

[Ikonoklast]

26. This is the correct answer.

They have done what the deal demanded, which was tepid support at best.

Fuck Specter, just another political opportunist that cares only for his own career.

[ChiciB1]

34. According To What Ed Rendell Said Yesterday... THE SUPPORT IS NOT

tepid! At least that's NOT what he's saying, he's saying that Specter is getting all the help he can from the DEMOCRATIC MACHINE in PA and that Specter is the RIGHT man for the job!! At 80 years old, THE RIGHT MAN!!

Seems like the man on THE RIGHT is the one they actually ARE pulling out all the stops for! The undecideds had better think long and hard on this one! I've seen Specter in action for all too long, it's time for him to GOOOOOOOOOOOOO! So many times he's said one thing only to turn around and do the opposite!

I DON'T trust him in any way, but he DID say one thing that is true. He actually said he switched parties to "save his job!" Guess THAT makes all the difference! TRUTH, that's what people want no isn't it???

[MH1]

43. I will be so glad when Rendell is shown the door also

I hope he is replaced by a Dem but the choices are rather unappealing. Rendell is so awful I'll be glad to see him go regardless.

[Jennicut]

36. Exactly. Why anyone is shocked is beyong laughable. Why would Specter have switched unless he

has assurances for backup from the WH?
Also, once again, Obama has backed EVERY single incumbent.

[VMI Dem]

29. Of course. He a kindred spirit. A right leaning moderate.

[blm]

30. WTH do you EXPECT when Specter switched parties? If WH didn't follow thru, no GOP would switch EVER

AGAIN! Get it? A Republican switching to the Dem party will NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

Seriously...why the constant DOGGING? Sestak will win this, but, why even PRETEND that the SHOW of support for Specter is somehow unexplicable?

Love my fellow DUers but, all these posts against the show of support by the WH on this particular race have ONE BOTTOM LINE - they PRETEND not to have a grasp of reality involved.

[AtomicKitten]

39. Thanks for your injection of sanity into this nonsense.

Some people here thrive on conflict and are perfectly willing agitate themselves into a tizzy to keep the buzz going.

[saltpoint]

31. There've likely been a couple of update meetings at the White House

on the course of the campaigns for the Senate nom in Pennsylvania, and I'm guessing the tone has been somewhere between "significant concern" to "I think Sestak is going to take this one."

There've likely been calls placed to county Democratic chairmen and chairwomen and to Congressional district Democrats across Pennsylvania, and the lay of the land is well known to the White House. And they are likely speaking in candid terms with Specter, in measured tones. "We're doing what we can, Senator, but the polling is volatile at this point, I'm sure your internals show the same, etc."

If the undecideds break for Sestak, Arlen Specter is history.

[ChiciB1]

33. This Is What Happens When You Lie In Bed With Dogs!! THEY (WH) Made

a deal with Specter and NOW have to follow through, which is DISGUSTING!! Rendell is pushing HARD for Specter and the "Democratic Machine" in PA is out in force with robo-calls and everything else they have at their finger tips to get Specter "his" win!

Shaka Fatah (sp) says he's doing all he can to get the black vote out for Specter!!! With this kind of support for "switcheroo" Specter it makes my skin crawl!
:WTF:

[Jennicut]

38. But no one in PA is forced to vote for Specter.

Also, Obama has backed all the incumbents running. Which most Presidents do.

[AtomicKitten]

42. It's a trap! !!!ELEVENS!!! nt

[ChiciB1]

45. Okay... Then I Can ONLY WISH Many Aren't Listening To "The Machine"

they're talking about out in force right now, this week-end and up until the last hour on Tuesday!

Ah, TIME WILL TELL!!

But I do need to say this, Specter IS AN INCUMBENT... but I think he was a Repuke one before he was a Democrat one!

THAT is what irritates me especially having seen Specter around for so many years and how he talks one way and acts another. Not all the time, but ENOUGH of the time that I DON'T TRUST HIM!!

[Jennicut]

47. He switched parties, he is a Dem officially.

Now if Obama supported Lieberman against a Dem in 2012 (if old Joe runs again), I would be pissed. Obama did support him as a Senator in 2006. But as President and as head of the party, he needs to support all Dems. Joe is not the Dem any more and we might have a good one run against him in CT. I have no problem with him and Biden supporting the incumbents, this is what Presidents do and have done in the past. It does not mean someone has to vote for the incumbent in a primary. I do understand that some feel Obama should not interfere in a primary but this is nothing new for Presidents.

[saltpoint]

49. Well it's not over til Tuesday night.

I'm rooting for Joe.

[HCE1947]

35. Sestak would be great senator

As a life-long Pennsylvanian, I have a few comments to make about the Specter-Sestak race and some of the comments in this thread.

First, why should any Pennsylvania Democrat trust Ed Rendell? For those like Chris Matthews who fawn over Rendell, please realize that he has been a horrible governor. He has yet to have a budget passed on time in seven tries. He bet the farm on gambling, and it has been a joke. In fact, he supported Joe Lieberman for president in 2004 -- what kind of judgment is that? He has little credibility in Pa. and Dan Onorato -- the likely winner for Dem. governor -- has had to run away from Rendell in the primary.

Second, Biden hopes that his Scranton roots are going to help Specter. Biden has been long gone from Pa., so those roots will be irrelevant in this election.

Third, and most important, Pennsylvania Democrats need a real Democrat in the Senate. Specter is one of the few politicians to be called both a RINO and DINO. He has no philosophy. He is a despicable human being. What he did to Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings was reprehensible. Joe Sestak provides a positive image and great resume for the U.S. Senate. He is level-headed, a true Democrat, and a person who will represent Pennsylvania well for the next few decades. The ad tying Specter to Bush, Santorum, and Palin is a classic. However, it is not negative when you use people's own words against them.

The race is far from over for either candidate. The undecideds will probably determine this election. The fact that weather is supposed to be a factor could help Sestak since the older voters tend to stay with Specter.

I think that Sestak will prevail unless Philly steals the election for Snarlin' Arlin.

[IndianaGreen]

40. Walking money does influence elections in Philly

There are a lot of votes being bought for Specter this weekend.

[MH1]

44. Thank you, good post! & welcome to DU!

I agree with all you said.

I'll be helping keep an eye on Philly polling places all day Tuesday. I sure hope we can keep the shenanigans to a minimum. But it's Philly so it will be a challenge.

[harun]

46. Come Wednesday it won't be the guy they are backing.

[krawhitham]

48. Without Spector we have no HCR

He has earned another term, we tried for 40+ for HCR and finally got it

Plus the man votes with Democrats more than Kucinich does

[saltpoint]

51. His votes since last spring have been bluer than usual, agreed, but

then there was the several previous decades of pro-Reagan and pro-Bush / Bush votes.

I'm rooting for Joe.