Obama Gets Sen. Arlen Specter As “First 100 Days” Gift From GOP
Can we be honest here? Could the GOP be more boorish and disrespectful? Senator Arlen Specter was a staunch, highly-regarded senior senator of the Republican Party. One would think he would be treated with some measure of respect from the party, having served 29 years of his life. What the heck is wrong with the GOP? Don’t republicans realize how much clout Specter has being the fifth oldest senator in congress? Say what you will about Specter’s motives for leaving the party, yada, yada, yada, but come on, the GOP wasn’t doing him any favors.
Can the GOP be so shallow and petty as to disown him just because he voted in favor of Obama’s Stimulus Plan? Are republicans still so stuck on former President Bush’s philosophy of, You’re either with us, or against us, that they can’t see how that kind of self-serving attitude is killing them? Get over it already; it’s not working. Unless you want your efforts helping the Democratic Party, then fine.
Here is what I mean: When Senator Specter defects to the Democratic Party, what does the GOP do? Republican Party chair, Michael Steele, kicks the senator out the door remarking that Specter had “flipped the bird” at the GOP. Now that’s really classy.
Way to go, Grand Old Party. Not only is the media focus on President Obama and the success of his First 100 Days, but the spotlight is also glaring on the disrespectful treatment the GOP gave to one of their own former members.
Unfortunately, what can you expect when you have a guy like Rush Limbaugh calling the shots behind the scenes? And there is really no denying that Limbaugh is calling the shots – not when republicans including GOP Chair, Michael Steele, are tripping over themselves deferring and apologizing to him all over the creation. Rush Limbaugh is the Don King of the Republican Party.
So this morning, the GOP announced that the party is undergoing an image makeover. Republicans are planning to hold town hall meetings in nearby Arlington, Virginia that will be open to everyone – as opposed to republicans only – and to really listen to what the American people want, and what their dreams are for the future. The republicans emphasize that they are not trying to be disagreeable, but merely would like to offer an alternative plan to propose for the future.
Call me cynical, but it smells like the same old pachyderm poop to me. Particularly since the usual suspects will be attending: John McCain, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnell, et al. The only fresh new face in the bunch might be former President Bush’s younger brother, Jeb Bush.
If that’s the republican idea of a makeover, they’d better try harder than that. That’s not a makeover; that’s spackling with kabuki makeup. If the GOP is serious about changing its image, it should start first with changing its mission. Right now, it appears that the only mission the GOP has is to get as much as it can for itself while trampling on anyone and anything in its way. That certainly is not the way to endear people to their party.
Well said!
amen. the GOP is shaping up to be the small tent party, after all. is this backlash an extension of the same “on message” control freakishness that many were oggling over just a few years ago?
democrats may be messy and “off message” (if they can even agree on a message in the first place)…but democracy is messy. republicans are just increasingly anti-democracy.
Staunch and respected? By whom? Certainly not the average Republican voter in PA. Sen. Specter is and has always been about himself. His jumping to the Democratic party is about his own political survival. The day after he told Pres. Obama that he is now a “loyal Democrat” and will support his agenda he went and voted against the president’s budget. Already Democratic congressman Joe Sestak is talking about running against him in the primary. That would be ironic!
The bottom line is that Pat Toomey was going to clobber Specter in the Republican primary next year and Specter even admitted that. What good is being a political party if you stand for nothing? When Specter was one of only three Republicans to vote for Obama’s spendulus package he clearly told every Republican in the state that he did not stand with them. It was the final betrayal in a long career of shafting PA Republicans. He was a Democrat before he jumped to the GOP for political reasons before running for mayor of Philly and now he’s returning to his home. His voting record has always been liberal, and now at least he’s in a party where that voting record may find a home. This is better for all concerned.
Hello Ethan,
Thank you for your comment. Appreciate your feedback!
Hi James,
Regarding your statement about Arlen Specter: This is better for all concerned. I totally agree. Senior Senator Arlen Specter is better off with the Democratic Party. As I said, the GOP wasn’t doing him any favors either. Really don’t think all the dissing from republicans after he switched was necessary. Why do they feel a need to be nasty and ugly? Whatever happened to grace and diplomacy? Think the GOP today forgot the meaning of the word “diplomacy,” and “being diplomatic,” which used to be part of being a statesman. The GOP character of late leaves much to be desired. But as I said as well, republicans can continue on the same path and alienate more if they wish.
Republicans like Rush Limbaugh are putting partisanship before citizenship. They are not the “loyal opposition” – they are just the “opposition.” This great nation must rise above the partisan bickering and I salute President Obama for making an honest effort to do so. However, the Republicans have not been very receptive. I believe we are all Americans first, and Democrats, Republicans or Independents next, but apparently some people don’t.
Are you kidding me? Your blog must be a joke.
Arlen Specter may have been the Democrats’ favorite Republican because he could always be counted on to throw his vote with the Democrats whenever they needed him, but that doesn’t make his a senior respected Republican by Republicans. In fact, that made him a Democrat. So thus good riddance.
Hello Martin,
Thank you for sharing your views. Appreciate it!
Hello Joe,
Thank you for your views. As I said, if the republicans say good riddance to one of their own, that’s fine. And I still must say the dissing and negative remarks were totally unnecessary. A higher level of conduct by members of congress should be expected, after all they are statesmen, they should conduct themselves as such. There is no excuse for such behavior.
I don’t blame Rep. Sestak for being mad. Looks like he may run.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/0509/Sestak_is_miffed.html
Hi James,
I don’t understand what Rep. Sestak is miffed about. Why does it bother him so? Maybe he should ask himself that question.
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