Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has been showing his independence consistently since switching to the Democratic side of the aisle. But his latest display of unorthodox thinking is particularly eye-opening. In an interview with the New York Times Magazine, the newly minted Democrat said he thinks Republican Norm Coleman should win his Senate recount court battle against Al Franken in Minnesota.... "There's still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner," Specter said, when asked how he felt about the lack of Jewish Republicans in the Senate.
OK, so I get that Arlen Specter is now (allegedly) a Democrat. While some of his words may indicate his willingness to break bread with the new majority party, his actions (and most of his words) betray his true ideology...which seems to be whatever it takes to get himself re-elected in 2010. Self-interest? Hypocrisy? Perish the thought; Specter is a man of great principle who just happens to be a bit...uh, confused?? The mere act of declaring oneself a Democrat is meaningless without accompanying actions that indicate an actual willingness to support your new ideological home.
So, most Republicans realize that Norm Coleman lost his re-election bid in Minnesota...and yet Specter, allegedly a Democrat, is getting in Coleman's corner? WTF?? What possible interest would Specter have in supporting a REPUBLICAN who has been certified to have received FEWER votes than Al Franken? One might be forgiven for thinking that Specter is trying to have his cake and eat it too- claiming to be a Democrat while still acting like a member of the Party of "NO!!".
IT'S A DESSERT TOPPING AND A FLOOR WAX!!
If Democratic leaders honestly believe that Arlen Specter is a Democrat, then pigs are as we speak violating Saudi Arabian air space. There's nothing in Specter's words or actions that could reasonably lead any thinking Progressive Democrat to believe that Specter is anything but a wolf in sheep's clothing- a transparent politician who slapped a new label on himself because he knows he can't win re-election as a Republican. Yes, the label on the bottle has changed, but the wine is every bit as rancid as it been for years. If Arlen Specter is a Democrat, then I'm the Queen of England.
I understand the idea of party loyalty, but how and why should Democrats be expected to devote resources to supporting a Senator as nakedly and transparently careerist as Arlen Specter? If it walks like a Republican...and talks like a Republican...and votes like a Republican....
Democrats need to find a recognizable Pennsylvania Progressive to pose a primary threat to Specter next year. Even if Specter survives said primary, he needs to be given the message that being a Democrat is not merely about slapping a new label on the same old bottle. It's means getting behind Progressive goals. It means recognizing why Democrats were voted in as a pronounced majority in November. It means getting behind President Obama and helping him clean up the mess that eight years of the Reign of Error © left behind. It means BEING A DEMOCRAT.
Memo to Arlen Specter: lead, follow, or get the Hell off the bus! WE DESERVE BETTER.
