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Specter's statement: "Not defined" by party
Politico via Drudge ^ | April 28, 2009 | Arlen Specter

Posted on 04/28/2009 9:26:22 AM PDT by pillut48

Statement by Senator Arlen Specter

I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.

Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate.

I have not represented the Republican Party.

I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.

I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: 111th; agenda; bushlegacy; democrats; dieapainfuldeath; pa2010; pennsylvania; rino; rovelegacy; specter; sphincter; turncoat
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To: pillut48

What a self-serving POS. Truly a worthless individual and
traitor to the party.


141 posted on 04/28/2009 10:23:32 AM PDT by edge10 (Obama lied, babies died!)
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To: 11th Commandment
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn released a letter today offering a full-throated endorsement of Sen. Arlen Specter in his coming primary against former congressman Pat Toomey,

That is why a party should NEVER endorse on candidate over another in the primary. Now you are ON RECORD supporting the Democratic candidate over your own candidate and they will FLOOD the airwaves with this statement at election time.

The powers that be wanted to support a RINO and they ended up supporting a Democrat. A microcosm of their overall problem.
142 posted on 04/28/2009 10:24:05 AM PDT by Arkinsaw
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To: Billthedrill

Wouldn’t it be great if a class action suit against him to return donations came out of this?!! :-) Breach of contract or something like that should apply, shouldn’t it??


143 posted on 04/28/2009 10:24:59 AM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX --"God help us all, and God help America!!" --my new mantra for the next 4 years)
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To: pillut48

Wow. He’s disappointed that so many in the party do not want him to be their candidate. It’s all about arlen and what is good for arlen. To hell with you, arlen.


144 posted on 04/28/2009 10:25:12 AM PDT by new cruelty (Shoot your TV. Torch your newspaper.)
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To: donna
Is the RNC still going to support him?

The Senate Campaign Committee is already on record as supporting him over their (now) own candidate. LOL. What a bunch a maroons.
145 posted on 04/28/2009 10:25:58 AM PDT by Arkinsaw
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To: pillut48

“Not defined” by party....

Snarlin’ Arlen is not defined by PRINCIPLE either!


146 posted on 04/28/2009 10:26:26 AM PDT by RasterMaster (DUmocrats - the party of slavery, sedition, subversion, socialism & surrender)
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To: org.whodat

THE CURE: TERM LIMITS!!!


147 posted on 04/28/2009 10:27:01 AM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX --"God help us all, and God help America!!" --my new mantra for the next 4 years)
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To: pillut48

True colors.
The Scottish candidate.


148 posted on 04/28/2009 10:28:00 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: TonyM
Has anyone asked Cornyn if he is still going to back Specter as a democrat?

His statement of preferring Specter over his own candidate is already on the record and will be broadcast widely during the election.

This is why parties should not try to interfere with and manipulate primary elections to support incumbents with no principles when their own party-members do not want those unprincipled incumbents.

Let the lesson be learned. Stay out of the primary fight and let the voters decide who your candidate is going to be.
149 posted on 04/28/2009 10:28:51 AM PDT by Arkinsaw
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To: chuck_the_tv_out

Carpet munchers complaining about funding for bush? What gives?


150 posted on 04/28/2009 10:28:55 AM PDT by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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To: pillut48

I tried to email him, but only takes email for Pennsylvanians. Just curious. Have any of you PA people gotten through by email, phone or whatever to let him know what a RINO piece of sh— he is?


151 posted on 04/28/2009 10:30:20 AM PDT by Wisconsinlady
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To: pillut48
It is official now, no longer do we have to hear "what will specter do"

Good Riddance !

Perhaps the republican can learn some things, but I will not give odds.

152 posted on 04/28/2009 10:30:50 AM PDT by TYVets
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To: RC2
"He should step down now. He no longer represents what the people elected him for. Any time someone switches partys, while in office, should be forced to step down."

I'm with you if your elected under one party you can not change parties in the middle of the term either resign or wait until the next election cycle to change parties. The people who have elected Spector have now be disenfranchised. He is going down in 2010.

153 posted on 04/28/2009 10:32:20 AM PDT by guitarplayer1953 (Psalm 83:1-8 is on the horizon.)
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To: pillut48

same crap as crist(my Gov) says.

he is not for republicans but all floridians, well crist it was not the Dem who voted for you was it and hopefully we get a decent senator and Gov in the upcoming elections


154 posted on 04/28/2009 10:32:35 AM PDT by manc (Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick queer sham--- end racism end affirmative action)
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To: pillut48

I wonder what deal the Dems gave him to change seeing as they are so desperate to get that majority

now we need to target some of the more conservative Dems in red areas along with getting rid of McCain


155 posted on 04/28/2009 10:34:08 AM PDT by manc (Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick queer sham--- end racism end affirmative action)
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To: chuck_the_tv_out

Roger that.

156 posted on 04/28/2009 10:39:39 AM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (What did Obama's Teleprompter know, and when did it know it...)
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To: manc

The DUmp is buzzing, some with almost conservative clear thinking that he’s switched because he was losing the primary to Toomey. Others think it’s because he doesn’t want to get ‘it’ when the so-called ‘torture trials’ begin because he was heavily involved...one poster even responded that Specter will be in trouble with PADems due to his ‘involvement with the Kennedy assassination’. ;-)

ABSOLUTE BEST CLUELESS LINE FROM A DUMMIE SO FAR:
“This is the absolute worst possible news the GOP can imagine

Gawd it must suck to be them. In 2010 we’ll probably have 70+ Senators. :)”

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! We’ll just see about that in 2010!!! :-)


157 posted on 04/28/2009 10:43:10 AM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX --"God help us all, and God help America!!" --my new mantra for the next 4 years)
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To: pillut48

Specter Defecter.

It was all about the stimulus? You mean the fact that they didn’t even read it? Ya, we were mad about that. Were we wrong to be mad about passing a spending bill you didn’t even read?

If it was a move about “principles”, he would have moved to the Libertarian party. Or some other party. This is a move about getting power and getting reelected.

The media will be on fire with the “Republican Party Infighting” story.


158 posted on 04/28/2009 10:50:02 AM PDT by Winstons Julia
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To: pillut48
I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

No you haven't! You have represented Arlen and ONLY Arlen!

Bye Bye you RINO POS!!

159 posted on 04/28/2009 10:54:17 AM PDT by Bigun ("It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." Voltaire)
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To: pillut48

Sorry I’m so late to the celebration.

In 1996 I had the pleasure to diss Specter when he very rudely interrupted a private discussion I was having at a Republican political event.

I reluctantly offered him a dead fish of a handshake, gave him a look of complete disgust, and was happy to observe that he understood both.

Glad to see he’s gone. And very happy to see that he’s miffed that he’s been booted.

“Many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate.”

Poor boy.

Go away now!


160 posted on 04/28/2009 10:59:23 AM PDT by angkor
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