Posted on 05/30/2004 8:54:37 PM PDT by Badray
Party over Principle?
That is the $64,000.00 question.
This past Friday morning, Arlen Specter was at a town hall meeting in Ross Township (suburb north of Pittsburgh PA). According to Specter staffer Justin Lokay, this was at the suggestion of Lou Nudi, the Ross Committee Chairman.
There were about 35 people in attendance including the Senator and 5 or 6 staffers and interns. Also there was Congresswoman Melissa Hart, State Senator John Pippy, former Hart staffer and 16th state house district candidate Pat Geho, former row office candidate Becky Toomey (oh, the irony, but she is still the prettiest, and my favorite Specter supporter), Lou Nudi, as well as some various other local committee people. Arriving late as usual was State Representative Jeff Habay. More on him later.
I arrived shortly before the meeting started and checked to see if I was on the PNG (persona non grata) list, but was welcomed in, much to my surprise because I have been barred from previous events. I sat and listened to how conservative values were important to Arlen, how much he enjoys being around G.W.Bush, and how we must defeat the Democrats.
This is a pretty stock speech when he tries to court Republicans. Sadly too many pubbies have short memories and actually believe Arlen when he speaks. He invoked the name of his recent challenger, Pat Toomey and says that he enjoys his support because the Dem candidate is so bad. Yada, yada, yada . . .
He then tried to ingratiate himself by mentioning the names of several people in the crowd. There names were conveniently written on the cue card in his hand. The whole thing was a sad charade, but that didn't stop many from sucking it up. I don't know if they were all die hard supporters or simply supporting the "R" against the horrible "D" that looms ahead if we don't support Arlen.
He then 'yielded' to Melissa Hart. She yucked it up with him for a moment (Think Sonny and Cher, except that Sonny was the conservative, not Cher.) before he stepped aside. About now, there should have been a commercial break, but they continued anyway. Melissa then spoke in glowing terms of Arlen and how important it was to put Arlen into office so that he could chair the Judiciary Committee and help get Bush's judicial nominees approved. She cited the brave defense of former PA Attorney General Mike Fisher when some Democrats posed some minor opposition to Mike's approval. Thank God, Arlen was there to save the day and he convinced the Dems not to block him. BTW, Fisher was supported in his quest for the bench by his recent opponent for the Governor's office - Democrat Governor Ed Rendell. Gee, that must have been a tough fight, Arlen.
What no Borking of Fisher? Don't worry, if Mike starts to make some sound judgements, you can bet that Arlen will apologize like he did after fighting for Clarence Thomas.
Melissa was about 3 minutes into her praise when I just couldn't take it any longer. There she was defending the man that has been pissing on us for years and she was calling it rain. I walked out. On the way out, I said to her brother that I just couldn't stand the BS.
I stayed outside for the remainder of the meeting. I missed the Q and A session, but was told that there was only one tough question asked and that Arlen spent about ten minutes addressing it. The question may have hit a nerve, but I doubt that he will do anything more than pay lip service to it.
Some good news. There was some who expressed continued opposition to him despite coming to be convinced that they should now be supporting him.
I did tell Melissa's aide that I was not alone in my displeasure with her support of Arlen. She may or may not care, but I am sure that I am quite right in my assessment. She is putting the party before any principle she ever espoused and this will cost her later.
Another person that I engaged was Rep. Habay. He arrived only after I had left the meeting and was outside for about 15 minutes. He approached me as he entered the building and I greeted him with a snide remark that he resembled a man that I used to know and told him that I was disappointed in his support for Arlen. He told me that Arlen helped him early in his 'career' (God, I hate that word when applied to politicians.) and that he was repaying the favor. (Doesn't the mob do favors now for favors in the future too?) I told him that that is what happens when you get into bed with the wrong people. He started getting testy at that point (I have to keep the BAD in badray, ya know) and retorted that he wasn't in bed with anyone, but that he would be glad to sit down and discuss the issue with me. I said OK, but he needed to dig himself out of a big hole. Walking away, he said that he was very comfortable in his position. I thanked him for telling me what I needed to know as he turned the corner (more than metaphorically?).
Just before Arlen came out, I spoke to County GOP Chairman Rich Stampahar and he tried to convince me that Specter was the man to support. His pleas fell on deaf ears, but they were overheard by an intern of Specter's who wimpily came over to tell me that this was a private event and asked me not to create a disturbance. I replied only that I was talking to people that knew me and approached me and wasn't talking to any one else. Can you imagine anyone thinking that I would cause a disturbance? LOL Not me, I'm too shy.
On the way out, Arlen either didn't recognize me or thought that I went over to the dark side and was now a supporter. He approached me to shake my hand, but I politely declined. I reserve my handshake for those that I respect.
Maybe I'm just not a 'good republican'. Maybe I'm an 'unappeasable'. Maybe I am a purist. I've been called all of these things and more. And worse.
What I do know is that I cannot support this man. Not for party loyalty, not even for the Senate majority (we do not effectively have it now because of people like Specter). I also know that it is not out of bitterness or hatred. It's just principle. He doesn't believe the things that I believe. He doesn't value the things that I value. His vision of America is not my vision.
This November, a vote for Democrat Joe Hoeffel is a vote to put a true conservative, a true Republican in charge of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I'm voting for Joe.
Ray Horvath
Badray, I agree Spectre is reprehensible, but voting for him at this point is the best hope we have. He'll at least support the Republicans on some issues, whereas a Democrat would vote for their party line. Frankly, I have zero confidence in Bush or the Republican leaders, much less Spectre, at this point. Bush is no conservative, in my opinion, and the Republican "leadership" isn't any better, but what else can we do? A vote for a third-party candidate is as good as not voting at all, and Democrats are too busy supporting baby killers and homosexuality--not much chance for conservatism there!
Sorry, but you lose worse with Democrats. Haven't we learned anything from the last 50 years? The Democrats absolutely cannot be allowed to make gains in Congress. We can't afford to go backwards.
The time to replace "RINOs" with "conservatives" is in the primary. Most RINOs are preferable to Democrats, because most RINOs can be bullied into voting on conservative issues, even a little bit of the time (whereas Democrats will do it none of the time). I previously posted to Freerepublic some of the things that the Republican Senate has accomplished. They will accomplish more when there are more conservatives, but you're not going to get that with Joe Hoeffel.
However, I understand that Arlen Specter is not your typical RINO, he's worse. He's a traitor, a man of no principles. And he will certainly cause damage as head of the Judiciary Committee. But you have to weigh the possible damage he will cause in 6 years, with the decades of damage Democrats will cause if they make gains in the Senate.
"Toomey was our best alternative and our best chance, but Bush and Santorum mucked that up. Plan B is to de-elect the RINO by whatever means necessary. Vote for Joe Hoeffel.
I AGREE. Hyl will be a much better committee chairman than Specter. If Hoeffel is elected at least you'll have a liberal Democrat who admits he is a liberal Democrat unlike the Rino Specter.
I think Bush pissed into the wind by endorsing Specter; thinking that he could help him carry PA. Guess what? The Conservatives in PA are so miffed at GW, he ain't even gonna carry the Keystone State.
Dan, I appreciate your comments and welcome your insights. I am as sure as I can be that we will hold the senate and without the likes of this rino, it will be a more solid reliable hold.
Specter is unreliable on the gun issue anyway. A moment after telling gun owners that he made a mistake in voting for the 93 AWB because it was ineffective and violated our 2nd Amendment rights, he then told us that he would vote for it again if it was part of an important package. Now there's conviction.
If we lose all of the races that we'd have to lose in order for the Dems to take back the Senate, then this country has more problems than just Arlen. I'm willing to take this chance because it's our best one.
And remember, if Hoeffel wins it will because of our votes. He won't have them the next time and the real Republican will. Have faith and courage. We can make this work for us.
The only thing that makes the thought of a Kerry victory tolerable is the knowledge that American and EU/UN interests in the Middle East are so divergent that even a Kerry will have to stand up to the Europeans after a certain point. But then I think again that he might be another Jimmy Carter and one who speaks French.
Please note the title of the article: PARTY OVER PRINCIPLE? There's a question mark at the end there.
Many of us are sick to death of all the political whores in both parties, who sell out their principles. The GOP had control of the Senate and couldn't even convict the impeached Bill Clinton. So, please don't talk your smack about "if we lose control of the Senate". We've already lost control padnuh.
I agree with this, voting for Joe Hoeffel cannot be supported. However, I don't fault people who refuse to vote for Arlen Specter.
[And remember, if Hoeffel wins it will because of our votes. He won't have them the next time and the real Republican will.]
Hoeffel doesn't need real Republicans to win elections. He could just assemble the same coalition that Ed Rendell created in 2002. This should enable him to be in the Senate for a long time.
DameAutour wrote: " The time to replace "RINOs" with "conservatives" is in the primary."
BINGO! As much as I despise RINOs, I agree with your assessment. A RINO will vote Republican once in awhile, while Democrats usually vote in lockstep with their party.
Thanks for your thoughtful remarks.
My main concern is who will chair the judiciary committee next year. For me Kyl (ACU rating of 97) versus Specter (ACU of 43) is a no brainer. I expect Specter to be closer to a 20 or 30 rating in this his (hopefully) final term, should he win.
He distanced himself from Bush within 12 hours of winning the primary and he wouldn't have won without Bush. Then he voted against Bush's overtime pay bill. Now he's standing in the way of one of his judicial nominees.
What do you think he will be like if he wins another term - with or without Bush's help? He will be insufferable.
I have confronted Specter twice before when there was an opportunity to enlighten some undecided people. I knew many of the people in the room and most stood firmly behind him because they are as squishy as he is. I was just losing my cool, as well as my cookies, at Melissa who refused to back him in the primary praise him hear. With the right audience, I will challenge him and any other politician. This one was not the right one.
What a defeatist attitude. Let me break this down.
The Democrats had control of Congress for decades. During that time period, they were infiltrated by leftists who were able to enact many Socialist policies. Also, the American populace was being fed a steady diet of socialist ideas and programs, by the media, the schools and many churches. Not understanding the consequences of socialist policies, the American people want more.
The Republicans slimly gain control of Congress in 1994, only to lose it a few years later. They regained it less than two years ago. Throughout much of this time period, they had to deal with a wildly popular leftist President and his leftist cabinet. Who is to blame for that cretin being in office? The American people.
So the Republicans have barely had control of Congress for a few years, yet so many "principled" conservatives expect everything to change overnight. Sadly, these "principled" conservatives don't even seem to realize that the real enemy is the Democrats. And the people whose hearts and minds you need to influence are the American voting public.
Congress is a reflection of the American people. Instead of blaming the Republican party, more of the blame should be placed on the shoulders of the people who demand the socialist programs.
The smart thing to do would be for conservatives to infiltrate the Republican party just like the socialists infiltrated the Democrat party. Change it from the inside and challenge non-conservatives in primaries. But always remember that the Democrats are your true enemy, not the Republicans. There still is a difference between the Republican Party and the Democrat Party. Most of the Republicans are simply a reflection of the voters.
Question to all the Arlen Specter haters: Will you devote the same amount of energy to knock off Ed Rendell in 2006?
Are you serious? Do you know that he is pro abortion? That he is weak on the 2nd Amendment? Do you know what he thinks of conservatives and our values?
Take a look (it's posted here on FR) at his speech for his 96 presidential bid. He despises conservatives.
Take a look at Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Frederica M. Jackson. She's an example of the type of judge that he's promoted. She was opposed in her nomination bid by EVERY DA in PA.
Specter has already blocked one recent nomination (the name escapes me) and is standing in the way of another one now. Specter is not the man to chair the judiciary committee if we want conservative judges.
It will take at least 2 more elections to reach a filibuster proof majority of 60, but if we have RINOs in that number, we still won't be able to block a filibuster.
"But always remember that the Democrats are your true enemy, not the Republicans."
In my heart-of-hearts I know you are right and I could never vote for anyone who was on a the Democratic Party ticket. I just can't stand people like Arlen Specter.
I understand, and I believe that we will. But 52 without Specter is better than 53 with him. Trust me. Have I ever lied to you? ;-)
I understand that, and that is why I understand why someone wouldn't vote for Arlen Specter.
I think people are wrong when it comes to Bush, but not when it comes to Specter. He is responsible for Clinton not being tossed out of office. He is responsible for the betrayal of Robert Bork. He doesn't even have a sense of loyalty. Even a RINO like McCain can understand that, even if just a little. But Specter is a reprehensible man. Why should you vote for a reprehensible man?
Did you get that line from the trial lawyer, journalist, or used car salesman training manual?
Kerry is a repulsive idiot, nothing like a male gold digger for President.
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