Posted on 05/30/2003 10:14:59 PM PDT by LdSentinal
At age 36, Charlie Crystle is many things: a gifted musician who once traveled the world playing "socially conscious'' rock 'n' roll. A computer software entrepreneur whose first company was gobbled up for $70 million. An outspoken and opinionated philanthropist who works for human rights in developing countries.
Crystle, by all accounts, is successful.
But he wants to add one more title to his resume: U.S. senator.
The Lancaster Township resident and Democrat is weighing his first foray into politics, and he wants to unseat -- of all people -- Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, a well-funded, four-term incumbent known for his pit-bull style of campaigning.
Yes, Crystle is seriously considering it.
He believes Specter is vulnerable, but says none of the Democrats considering a November 2004 battle is truly committed to running against the incumbent.
"We don't have a top-tier name running, and even the top-tier names that are out there in the Democratic Party, I don't see any bulldogs out there who can go nose to nose with Specter and knock him out,'' Crystle said in an interview Wednesday.
Specter could be especially vulnerable, Democrats believe, if he survives what could potentially be bloody primary battle with U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey for the Republican nomination.
Among the Democrats reported to be considering a run for Senate in 2004 are U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel, who represents suburban Philadelphia; Marsha Perelman, leader of Woodforde Energy Inc. in Wynnewood; state Sen. Connie Williams, a suburban Philadelphia lawmaker; University of Pennsylvania President Judith Rodin; and John Hanger, who heads PennFuture, an environmental and natural resources watchdog group.
"The party's talking to a number of different people but nobody has stepped up yet, which says to me they lack the commitment and will to win,'' Crystle said. "There are the usual suspects, and a number of them are waiting to see how bloody the Republican primary gets before they make a commitment, which says to me they aren't committed enough to win.''
Crystle, who is single, commutes to work in New York City, where his new firm Mission Research is based. Since 2002, the company has developed computer software for nonprofits.
He is the son of Marjorie and the late Dr. C. Deans Crystle, a widely respected and well known local obstetrician. He attended McCaskey High School for two years and completed his high school education at St. Andrews School in Delaware. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Delaware.
He later founded the software company Chili!Soft, which was acquired by Cobalt Networks in May of 2000 for $70 million in stock. In an interview this week with the political Web site PoliticsPa.com, Crystle said he made about $5 million from the sale of the company, founded here in 1994.
He told the New Era he "donated substantial amounts'' to several nonprofits, including the Carter Center in Atlanta and Casa Alianza, an organization that fights for the rights of street children in Central America. But he still holds most of the stock he earned through the sale of his company.
"He has money,'' said Bruce Beardsley, the chairman of Lancaster County's Democratic Committee. "Unfortunately, that's the name of the game in politics. But he also knows the issues and he knows how to get his name known in a short period of time.''
Crystle, who describes himself as liberal on social issues but conservative on fiscal ones, is expected to meet with Beardsley and other top Democrats this evening.
Beardsley and state Rep. Mike Sturla, a Democrat from Lancaster City, say the guy has potential. "He's a very compassionate person who back that up with real ideas and doesn't hide behind rhetoric,'' Sturla said. "That's the heart and soul of the Democratic Party.
"Arlen Specter's no slacker, but I think you have to make sure you have somebody who is just as tireless running against him,'' Sturla added.
Crystle said there are compelling reasons to oust Specter, including his vote in favor of the $350 billion tax cut President Bush signed into law Wednesday.
"As far as Pennsylvanians benefiting from this, the top 5 percent income earners are benefiting much more than the rest of us,'' Crystle said. "I'm not saying don't give a tax break. I think tax cuts are a good way to curb spending and could possibly stimulate the economy if given mostly to the poor and middle class.''
Crystle also questions Specter's record of bringing home major appropriations to the state. "He's brought some projects but not the important ones, especially in transportation,'' he said.
Despite those perceived flaws with the incumbent, Crystle still accepts his status as an underdog, should he decide to run.
"I think in general everybody wants to know whether I am able to win or not,'' he said. "Who is this guy and why does he think he can win?''
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.