To any conservatives STILL considering Arlen Specter -- here's a little reminder of how he REALLY feels about you:
EXCERTS FROM:
ARLEN SPECTER PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT SPEECH
MARCH 30, 1995
“Today, I offer my ideas, my experience, and my energy to the American people -- to lead our great nation into the 21st Century as the next President of the United States.”
“In 1996, I intend to win the other house -- the White House – with [these] commitments to America: to reduce violent crime; to reform health care… to provide strong leadership in international affairs; to champion tolerance and freedom, including a woman's right to choose. These commitments embody my personal core beliefs … we must get government out of our bedrooms”
“Today I have outlined goals and priorities I see for America. Even though we have this historic opportunity for these achievements, there are those in our party who would lead us down a different path and squander this unique moment in our nation's history -- by using our political capital -- to pursue a radical social agenda that would end a woman's right to choose and mandate school prayer”.
“When Pat Robertson says there is no constitutional doctrine of separation between Church and State, I say he is wrong. The First Amendment freedom of religion is as important today as when the Bill of Rights was written . It is not Christian, or religious, or Judeo-Christian to bring God into politics; or to advocate the intolerance and exclusion. We don't need holy wars, we need tolerance and simple humanity”.
“When Ralph Reed says a pro-choice Republican isn't qualified to be our President, I say the Republican Party will not be blackmailed. I and millions of other pro-choice Republicans -- will not be disenfranchised. I want to keep the Republican Party focused on the vital economic and foreign policy issues -- and leave moral issues such as abortion to the conscience of the individual. I believe abortion is an issue to be decided by women.”
“I will lead the fight to strip the strident anti-choice language from the Republican National platform -- and replace it with language that respects the diversity of opinion within our own Party on this issue. Let me say it as plainly as I can: Neither this nation -- nor this Party can afford a Republican candidate -- so captive to the demands of the intolerant right.”
“Everything I learned about opportunity, hard work, and sacrifice, I learned from my father. A peasant in his native land. My father had no formal education -- and my mother left school in the 8th grade to help support her family. My brother, my two sisters and I have shared in the American dream because of our educational opportunities – so I am very, very deeply committed to education and economic opportunity for all Americans. And as much as I learned from my father, -- everything I learned about compassion and family values, I learned from my mother, Lillie Specter. It was my mother who would tell me that in America, I could be anything I wanted to be -- even President.”
“To that cause -- I pledge my total dedication; in that cause, I ask my fellow Americans for their hearts, their hands, and their help”.