Posted on 11/05/2004 4:10:44 PM PST by Founding Father
Specter urges moderation to boost GOP gains at polls
Thursday, November 04, 2004
BY PETER L. DeCOURSEY AND CARRIE CALDWELL Of The Patriot-News
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., proclaimed that his re-election on Tuesday was a "victory for moderate Republicans." He said he hopes to recruit more statewide Republicans to that banner.
Specter led all statewide Republicans as he swept to his fifth Senate term, a record for Pennsylvania. He rolled up more votes than President Bush statewide and in Dauphin and Cumberland counties.
With 99 percent of the vote counted in unofficial returns, Specter garnered 2,882,829 votes or 53 percent, well ahead of U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel, D-Montgomery, who earned 2,283,694 votes or 42 percent.
They were followed by Constitution Party nominee James Clymer, 216,378 or 4 percent, and Libertarian Betsy Summers, 77,310 or 1 percent.
Specter hopes Bush's "compassionate conservatism" will bring more funding to education and health care and motivate Bush to dramatically expand stem-cell research.
Specter believes stem-cell research saves lives, and he used a commercial by actor Michael J. Fox in his campaign. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, said stem-cell research gives people such as him hope and that "Arlen gets it."
Specter said that commercial and other appeals to moderates allowed him to escape the voter tide that swept President Bush and two statewide GOP candidates to defeat in Pennsylvania.
Specter attributed his success to his moderate politics and wants other candidates to follow his example.
He said his example proves that moderate Republicans are most successful in general elections, and that it is time for his party to stop nominating conservative candidates who lose to Democrats perceived to be moderate.
But Leslie Gromis-Baker, Bush's Mid-Atlantic coordinator, said Specter was wrong to say that moderates were the best model for statewide GOP candidates.
Gromis-Baker, who helped Attorney General-elect Tom Corbett win narrowly Tuesday, noted that Corbett is a more traditional conservative Republican.
"Moderates do better in the southeast. Conservatives do better in the west," she said.
While Specter outpolled Bush in Dauphin, Cumberland and other central Pennsylvania counties, Gromis-Baker pointed out that Hoeffel "was an unknown congressman, underfunded, and no one west of Chester County ever heard of him."
She also scorned Specter's often- expressed claim that he and former governor Tom Ridge are moderates.
Gromis-Baker said Ridge is a conservative, "but not pro-life. ... That is very different from Sen. Specter."
Specter previewed his expected role as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which reviews and votes on federal judicial nominees.
In his tough Republican primary, Specter courted conservative voters by saying he would confirm only "strict constructionist" judges, a term used by conservatives to denote judges they favor. Then, in the fall campaign against Hoeffel, Specter said he favored "centrist judges."
Yesterday, Specter defined what he wanted in a judge and said he hoped Bush would consult him before picking nominees.
Specter said the late Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo said, "The constitution is an evolving document based upon the values of the people."
"That's the kind of strict constructionist that I'm looking for" in a judge, Specter said, pointing out that such a judge would not be labeled a moderate or conservative.
What does this say about Senator Specter?
Arlen is an imbecile. Moderation is just a fancy word for bend over and let the libs give it to you one more time. Where was their moderation during the campaign? They called us liars and idiots. In fact Kerry was caught on tape saying this very thing. Arlen, baby, President Bush received over 50% of the popular vote. 60,000,000 people think he's right. Take your RINO B$ and stick it where the sun doesn't shine pal!
I'm not familiar with Cogburn, but Santorum coming out for Specter torpedoed Toomey's chance in the primary. Toomey's was a true, grass-roots conservitive run.
"Specter said that commercial and other appeals to moderates allowed him to escape the voter tide that swept President Bush and two statewide GOP candidates to defeat in Pennsylvania."
The only "voter tide" in PA was the apparent massive fraud perpetrated on the honest voters of PA by Governor Rendell and RAT operatives, including ACORN and ACT, which dumped tens of thousands of voter registrations on the counties immediately surrounding Philadelphia on the last hour of voter registration. Kerry only won about 4-5 counties in all of PA, which looks very much like a "RED STATE" with a couple of "blue" pustules in and around Philly and Pittsburgh. Specter is sounding nuts. It might have been better to take our chances with Toomey.
We don't make progress by being wishy-washy cupcakes. This is the great lesson of Ronald Reagan, a lesson which the GOP quickly forgot after '88. Reagan trumpeted his conservative beliefs and agenda and got rewarded with two things: (1) 91% of all TV coverage of him was negative; (2) he won 49 states.
Bush II needs to learn from the mistakes of Bush I. Be strong, be bold, and be principled.
"Moderate" Republicans who try for national office are failures: Tafts, Fords, Rockefellers, McCains.
Pound this mofo. Beat his ass into the ground. We don't need this type of person on our side. Save the babies, emasculate the RINOS.
Specter barely won at all. I am convinced Toomey would have won by 55% or better. Rove's PA strategy failed utterly. I would prefer Toomey to Santorum at this point too.
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He is.
Almost every time I read something about Specter it reminds me of things I've seen touted on FR before. Weird.
I believe that you are correct. Bush is strong and resolute and will not repeat the mistakes of his father. And I don't think he give's a rat about the legacy poop. I honestly believe that Bush II will do what he believes is right and let that be his legacy.
LOL
Mr. Specter nobody gave you any mandate about anything. Just because you won the election in Pennsylvania it does not give you any mandate to dictate any policy in regards to the Judicial appointees by Prez Bush.
So, stop grand standing and get on with the program, before it is to late.
Tell that to Denny Hastert.
Uh, what? Denny Hastert? What on earth does he have the do with it? Good grief.
WOW well said!!!!!!!!! Can we use this talking point??? should be our motto!!!!
Google it yourself - don't waste my time.
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