For Toomey Supporters: A Choice, Not an Echo

Lancaster New Era ^ | Aug 07, 2004 11:23 AM EST | Jane Holahan

[TBP]

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - When Jim Clymer announced on Monday that he was going to be on the ballot for U.S. Senate this Nov. 2, a lot of Republicans groaned. They worry that Clymer, who ran a strong but unsuccessful campaign for Lancaster County commissioner in 2003, will doom Republican Sen. Arlen Specter’s chance to win re-election.

A conservative, third-party candidate such as Clymer, of the Constitution Party, will siphon votes from Specter and benefit Democrat Joe Hoeffel, they believe. And a Hoeffel victory could tip the Senate’s balance of power in favor of the Democrats.

The Democrats think so too. Backers of Hoeffel, a Montgomery County congressman, helped get some of the signatures Clymer needed to get on the ballot.

But as the conservative Lancaster County native sees it, there’s little difference between the two parties anymore.

“I don’t believe the majority of Pennsylvanians agree with what either party stands for,’’ says Clymer, 56, who lives near Millersville. “Their similarities are much greater than their differences. The idea of the two-party system is that you have alternative viewpoints. You don’t have that this year.’’

Clymer, who left the Republican party in 1992 because he thought it was becoming too much like the Democratic party, is now the national chairman of the Constitution Party, a right-wing organization that some have called extreme.

Among other things, the party’s platform calls for the elimination of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service and the entire Civil Service system, withdrawal from the United Nations, a moratorium on immigration and termination of all foreign aid.

Clymer says he generally agrees with this platform.

“Fundamentally, what we’d like to achieve in the Constitution Party is the restraint of the federal government to the limited delegated powers that are given in the Constitution,’’ he says.

For example, Clymer said that regulation of drugs could be handled on a state or local level or by private enterprise.

“People see government as the mother and big brother that’s going to remedy every wrong done to them and protect them from every foolish mistake they might make for themselves,’’ he says. “We’re not in favor of totally disrupting society or the economy by making drastic changes that are harmful. We have to study how to extricate the government from involvement so it doesn’t create a crisis.’’

Both mainstream parties, Clymer says, are interested only in increasing the size and scope of government. And he believes there are enough Pennsylvanians unhappy with them to give him a shot at winning.

A long shot, no doubt, but he’s encouraged by recent polling done before he got on the ballot that showed the number of “undecided” voters jumped from 2 percent to 12 percent after he aired a series of radio ads.

“I compare it to David and Goliath,’’ he says of his campaign. “Goliath had all these sophisticated armaments and all David had was a sling shot and some stones. Well, my stones and sling shot are all the volunteers coming to the cause. They’re working for something they really believe in.’’

And Clymer believes that’s no longer the case for most Republicans or Democrats.

“Conservative Republicans are frustrated because they know (President) Bush is not a conservative,’’ says Clymer. “There’s a sense that the Republicans have lost their moorings. It’s like ‘Animal Farm’ or ‘1984,’ where black is white and things change and we’re told they haven’t changed.’’

The Republicans continue to increase spending and are failing to appoint the strict constructionist judges Clymer believes would truly uphold the Constitution.

He sees Specter, who heads the judiciary committee, as a particular problem.

“Republicans are getting cynical. When they see Sen. Rick Santorum endorsing Specter over (conservative Republican) Pat Toomey for the sake of the party, it makes people cynical.’’

Clymer doesn’t like the Patriot Act either.

“Every time there is a crisis in the country, it creates an opportunity for the government to gain in size and power and take away our freedoms. September 11th is an example of that. It’s an excuse to deny us our liberties, to tap phones and pry into our bank accounts and go into our homes,’’ Clymer said.

Not that he thinks Democrats are all happy campers.

“A lot of Democrats still believe in fundamental values. They are social conservatives,’’ he says. “They believe we shouldn’t open our borders and give amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. They are wary of international trade alliances. They believe in the sanctity of life and they are out of step with party leaders.’’

As Clymer sees it, the public is being misled by both parties.

“The American public has been taught that the government is a sugar daddy, that any need you have, the government is here to solve.’’

Clymer says he has always believed in smaller government and self reliance.

He grew up on a farm in Quarryville, the fourth youngest of 10 children.

“We were poor but we had a good life. We were a happy family,’’ Clymer recalls. “We raised a lot of our own food — we had cows and chickens and a truck farm.’’

Clymer’s family was Mennonite and very religious.

In fact, his father objected to Clymer’s going to law school, believing that a Christian couldn’t be an attorney.

After Clymer graduated from Lancaster Mennonite High School in 1965, he went back to work on the farm. His family believed that children owed their services to their parents until age 21.

Four years later, Clymer went to Millersville University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1972. He also loved languages and took German, ancient Greek, and Spanish, in which he is still fluent.

And to this day, he enjoys reading poetry and says he’s good at memorizing and reciting it. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is his favorite poet.

“I set out to be a teacher but it was the late 1960s and early 70s and progressive education was running wild,’’ Clymer says. “I was disgusted and decided to find a different career.’’

He waited three years in deference to his father, who would come to accept his son’s career goals, and spent time driving trucks before heading to Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kan., when he was 27. He graduated cum laude in 1978.

Clymer came back to Lancaster, despite the chance to clerk with the circuit court of appeals in Kansas.

His wife, Lois, whom he met in high school and started dating after they’d both graduated, wanted to live in Lancaster.

Clymer came into a practice with another lawyer then went out on his own. He now practices in the firm of Clymer and Musser at 23 N. Lime St.

But he’s always had an interest in politics and considers Barry Goldwater a political hero. He’s run for office a number of times, including a run for lieutenant governor in 1994 and 1998.

He and his wife raised five kids — the youngest just graduated from Lancaster Christian School.

The Clymers are members of the Congregational Bible Church in Marietta.

Running for office and running a law firm take up a lot of time, but Clymer fits a lot into his day. An early riser, he usually manages on only five hours of sleep a night.

He enjoys the outdoors and is a licensed pilot.

That skill will come in handy as he begins his campaign.

“I’m planning to use my plane a lot,’’ he says. “Especially with all the windy roads and mountains across Pennsylvania.’’

[TBP]

Clymer is the only conservative in the race. The Specter has done nothing to advance our cause.

[WOSG]

I guess we can recycle the old line:

What a CLYMER

With Bush tight in the polls, Obama likely taking a GOP seat, and the money situation for the Republicans worse than ever vs Democrats, making it harder for us to win Senate seats ... I really *dont* think it is right to take on Specter now or try to get him to lose to the Liberal Democrat Hoeffel. We tried with Toomey and came up short. Now let's work on the races that are must-wins ... We need to get Bush to win PA. That should be the focus, not a 3rd party candidate that will get a few percent at most. (and at worst make PA a democrat seat.) JMHO.

[BillyBoy]

I'm proudly supporting Jim. I'm sure some Scottish Law Specter apologists will rant and rave about how I'm such a wacko "purist" who opposes any candidate who doesn't agree with me on "100%" of the issues, which is really funny considering I am backing EVERY candidate for the U.S. Senate who was NOT my "original choice" in the primary (Keyes, Isakson, DeMint, McCain....even Murkowski if I have to, ugh) The only EXCEPTION is Specter because the PA race has given us two reliable DEMOCRATS running against each other, only one has "R" next to his name on the ballot.

If you want to see real "purists" who are hoping a great conservative will lose to a socialist because THEIR candidate wasn't selected after the primary, check out all the Keyes bashers on the Illinois threads.

The PA race simply gives conservatives no other choice but to vote third party. If I agreed with Specter's platform, I'd be a registered RAT (like the Oklahoma RAT U.S. Senate candidate who has the SAME "Conservative" rating as Specter).

[ApesForEvolution]

Uh-oh...he's a REAL CONSERVATIVE PATRIOT...better hurry up and CRUCIFY him...lol

[ApesForEvolution]

Who's 'we' tried to elect Toomey and failed? The GOP didn't even support Toomey but rather that miserable letch AINO Sprectum...

[Minuteman23]

B-U-M-P!!!!

[LibertarianInExile]

But Specter said he'd work hard to be a better Republican and represent the values of the people of Philadelphia...er, I mean, Pennsylvania.

Unfortunate about the Constitution Party candidate's name.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

I hope there is an alternative besides a Rat here in the AZ senate race. The wife & I under no circumstances can vote for McCain again.

We will not pass, we want him to lose and will vote for a Rat if there is no other. We like our enemies upfront and out in the open, I will be letting the McCainiac know we are voting against him.

He has come to believe he is an irremovable institution, hope to prove him wrong and send a message to all the other RINOS across the nation, "Your BS rat appeasing happy days are over" and hard times are acoming.

[Dane]

Toomey has endorsed Specter.

If you are sincere supporter of his, you would follow Toomey's advice.

[Bogolyubski]

Hoeffel would be a junior Senator if elected. Specter would chair the Senate Judiciary committee, where he will block every single conservtaive judicial nominee. The only point that Specter supporters can make is that Leahy or U-Boat Commander Kennedy will chair the judiciary committee if the Dhimmis take the Senate (admitedly a possibility). And the difference between Specter and Leahy (or Kennedy) would be? Do those advocating Specter really think Limp-Wrist Frist will pass him over for the judiciary chair if elected?

However, running candidates for the legislature is exactly what the CP needs to be doing, even if the US Senate is a pretty big leap at this stage. We have a de-facto Dhimmicrat Senate now thanks to RINOs like Specter, Collins, Snowe, Chaffee, Hatch and McCain. Specter is an enemy every bit as much as Leahy is. He should be put out to pasture to enjoy his fat Senate pension.

[Cricket24]

I have to agree with you. Specter is a RINO. I held my nose last time and voted for him. I won't this time. George Bush can win PA but he really needs to ignore the big cities and concentrate on the more rural areas but of course the people that run the campaign don't understand this. He needs to make an I-80 tour from west to East or the other way around. He can hit small towns north and south of I-80 and the people would love it. The rural areas are pretty much Republican but their votes are taken for granted and I am afraid that will backfire this year. People are fed up with the loss of good paying factory jobs. (I don't necessarily see this as the gov't's fault but I lot of people do) John Kerry being president honestly scares the living crap out of me!

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

He sounds like a man I'd be proud to vote for.

Never experienced that, living in New England.

[Vigilanteman]

Actually, we have a lot of Kool-Aid drinkers on this forum who are voting for Hoeffel because they hate Specter so much. If my family were to vote for Specter, we would have to have a 10 foot pole to click the lever and hold our noses while doing it. I've simply advocated that we pair off with the Hoeffel Kool-Aid drinkers and both vote our consciouses. Rather than simply canceling each other out, we are maaking a statement to the RINO Party to move right. If Specter narrowly wins or even narrowly loses and sees the margin of voters for Clymer which could have been his had he voted more Toomey-like, he may rediscover the principles he has shown on rare occasions like supporting Clarence Thomas.

[Diago]

Go Clymer.

Santorum, go to confession and say 10,000 Hail Marys for your sin.

[snopercod]

bump

[NittanyLion]

Bush understood Specter's baggage when he supported him. Evidently the President calculated that Arlen would be a net benefit to him - even if conservatives defect to a third-party.

I guess we'll see if Bush's calculation was an accurate one. But make no mistake - the situation was a predictable one, yet Bush made his decision nonetheless.

[old and tired]

But Specter said he'd work hard to be a better Republican and represent the values of the people of Philadelphia...er, I mean, Pennsylvania.

The day after Specter won the nomination, he was on TV, spouting his "independence". I cannot, in good conscience, support him again. I did, once before, hold my nose and pull that lever, but I'm not doing it this time. I think it will be easier to vote Hoeffel out in 2010.

The ONLY reason Arlen won the nomination is because of the president's support of him. I was sad to see Santorum support him.

Go Clymer Go!

[old and tired]

I don't think Bush figured on the conservative distaste for Arlen. I really believe if Bush had known Arlen would only beat Toomey by 2 percentage points, he never would have given that RINO such vocal support.

[old and tired]

Toomey told a good friend of mine he almost choked on the words. He has to be a good soldier if he wants the nomination for the governor's race. Don't kid yourself, Pat Toomey'll be pulling the lever for Clymer.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Personally, I could care less what happens to Arlen Specter this coming November.

I know that some people would prefer to nurse grudges and stoke resentments, rather than put aside their honest disagreements and work for the president's reelection, but I just don't think that doing so is in our best interests.

I was just as pissed off as anyone else when I heard about the razor thin margin that allowed Specter to squeak through with the Republican nomination, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to hold that against President Bush this November.

Whether or not you think that his endorsement of Arlen Specter was a tactically wise choice-and I agree that ultimately that one decision may come back to haunt the Bush campaign-I think that the primary focus should be on ensuring George W. Bush's reelection.

As much respect as I have for Pat Toomy, I do think that we have an obligation to assist him-along with many other genuine conservatives living in the state of Pennsylvania-with his efforts to support President Bush during this campaign season.