Obama, Specter, and Ed Rendell

[Yavin4]

This is probably how it went. Ed Rendell, PA Governor, is a close friend and supporter of Specter, and he was very influential to get Specter to switch parties, which was critical to getting HCR passed.

So, Obama owed Rendell and Specter, and he gave his support to Specter in order to appease Rendell's political machine.

Sestak wins. Obama says, "meh". Rendell does not really have any complaints against Obama, and there's political peace between Rendell's machine and the White House.

[mikelgb]

1. You have it totally wrong.

This is definitely how it went. Michelle Obama noticed that Ed Rendell, PA Governor, who owes Specter five dollars, has a large ass and she frankly told him so, which was critical to getting HRC passed out laughing.

So, now Obama owed Rendell and Specter, and he gave his jockstrap to Specter in order to appease Rendell's kinky fetish.

Sestak wins. Obama says, "this is a BFD". Rendell does not really look up from Obama's crotch, and there's sexual tension between Rendell and the White House.

[Jennicut]

2. I really dislike Rendell.

He is incredibly arrogant and annoying. And interfering would not surprise me about him. But I always thought it was Biden is the one that really worked on getting Specter switched. They are good friends.

[DrToast]

3. It was Biden. Third senator from PA, and all that stuff.

[zipplewrath]

4. Yeah that's it

Keep up the happy talk. Ignore the fact that Biden and Obama were both friends of Specter. Yeah, that wasn't it. It was that Obama HAD to support him. Yeah that's it. And he had to use OFA to do it to. Couldn't just make a TV commercial, or do a fund raiser. No, no, he was FORCED to have to use OFA, and actually show up in the state, do robo calls, the whole bit. Yeah that's it, he was forced by internal politics.


It's called rationalization, and there's alot of it going around.

[Yavin4]

8. Do You Really Think That Obama Is Crying Today Because Specter Lost?

Come on. Specter switched. Obama owed him and Rendell a favor. Obama did his part. Specter lost on his own. Life goes on.

[zipplewrath]

9. Did more than his part

I think he is about as "upset" as when he dumped the public option and added cadillac taxes and mandates.

[RamboLiberal]

5. IMHO Obama had to appease Specter & Rendell

But I don't think he was going to do much beyond. I don't think Obama is all that close to Rendell. After all Big Eddie backed Hillary, then spouted off he didn't think Obama could win the older white racist vote here. Then Rendell bitched that the Obama campaign wouldn't spread around the expected walking around money in Philly during the election in 2008.

I will be curious to see how strongly Obama backs Sestak. I hope it will be strong support but wonder since Sestak did buck the understanding the WH and Rendell had in assuring Specter when he made the switch he wouldn't have Dem opposition in the primary.

[Yavin4]

6. Obama Is Not Close to Rendell, But He Doesn't Want Any Problems with Him

Why piss off Rendell? Politics is a game of compromises and alliances. You can't pick fights with everyone.

Obama is going to need Rendell's machine to defeat Toomey.

[RamboLiberal]

14. Rendell's vaunted machine sure didn't help Specter

Sestak took Philly. And what is most encouraging to me is he took Allegheny county as well and most of PA counties.

[tsuki]

15. Only the left. nt

[whyverne]

7. Close enough. Obama doesn't give a shit who wins till November.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[Clio the Leo]

11. Yep and am I the ONLY one who thinks it would have been FOUL...

... for the President and Vice President to get Specter to switch parties and THEN back his primary challenger? That would have been awful.

Couple that with the fact that you cant have seated members of Congress not having at least some expectation that the President will go to bat for them come election time if they'll vote the way he wants. Even Blanche misbehaved the ENTIRE year, but finally voted yes when it came time for the health care bill. .... I dont know about full on campaign stumps, but I dont begrudge her some Obama robocalls.

That's just how it works. If the people dont like the President's choice, let them rise up again like they did last night. Sounds fair to me.

[Cha]

12. No, you're not the only one..

the only ones who think that aren't looking at the whole picture..just the tunnel.

Democrats in PA voted for the Democrat..not the one who changed parties..but, the White House still has Arlen's vote until January(we'll see).

This is a win win. And, so was the Critz win the 12th District which the gNOps said was a must. I believe steele said it was guarenteed.

[Arkana]

13. That's most likely how it went.

But you'll hear otherwise from the vast majority of DU about how Obama must be crying his eyes out because Specter lost and will now refuse to help Sestak, followed by an angry diatribe about Obama "forcing Specter down ARE THROATS".

[freddie mertz]

16. Did you mean"Our"?

[drlindaphd]

17. PA Politics

Hi, I am brand new here, but I was born and bred on Pennsylvania Politics. My father was part of the PA and Philly Democratic machine before he was eligible to vote. He became a committeeman when he was 18 in 1929. He was one of the people who helped defeat the Republican machine in Philly. I was never even allowed to have a toy elephant. As a matter of fact the word elephant was not allowed to be spoken in our home.

I watched my Dad switch his allegiance to a candidate on a dime. He supported who ever the party told him to support. That is the way a machine works. I am not saying that is right. I am just saying that is the way a machine works. PA works like a machine. The voters are less pliable today and less compliant, thank goodness. I could tell you some wild stories that my father told me about the early days before I was born. The machine did not take over by playing by the rules. There was no Internet and very little oversight back then.

In my opinion, Obama, Biden, Rendell, and everyone else in high places will put the full force of their power behind Sestak. They have to. It is not personal, it's politics. This is about keeping control of the Senate. We must keep control of Congress or we are sunk. I cannot imagine the disaster if the Republicans win to many seats in either house. Democrats need to be in control for as long as possible. We've only just gotten started. We need to have at least a public option, or better yet single payer. We need serious financial reform. We really need more progressive dems, but we have to take what we can get.