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
I don't characterize myself as pro-Specter, I am more anti-hoeffel.
The chocies for PA voters, IMO, aren't great in the Senator race, but that is life, and people have to deal with what is dealt.
I would have liked to see Toomey win, he didn't and he moved on and has shown much grace in endorsing Specter and becoming Vice Chairman of W's re-election campaign in PA.
JMO, but some of the most "loyal of the loyal" Toomey supporters should take his lead and learn not on how to become the definition of the term "burning bridges".
Barlowmaker drolls on his keyboard:
"I saw how some folks here struck out viciously at Senator Santorum and President Bush after Toomey lost. They're single issue cuckoo birds."
Ahhhhh, yes! Thanks for the reminder... maybe to refresh some memories:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1127843/posts
Thanks Mr/Mrs Barlowmaker... I appreciate your reminder!
But, of course, I wouldn't want to stray from the original theme that has been advocated here; namely, a reasoned strategy to remove Specter from office to allow John Kyl to assume Chairmanship of the SJC.
Have a good one!
good no monkeys.: ) I am also anti hoeffel. and I have said in the past,[abortion aside(hard for me to do)]that if there were a REAL threat to our majority, even I would vote for Specter(i think Badray said this as well. better ask though.)
but, with no realistic threat to the majority, and the looming SCOTUS openings,(some say 3!) and Specters past history, even now, trying to scuttle judge Holmes floor vote. open defiance to GWB within 24hours of his reelection how could anyone support him? Badrays plan makes long term conservative sense. even if we lose the seat for more than one term. we will still have the senior senator spot with Santorum.
We are about 2 senate loses away from having Hillary or Kennedy as chairman of the judiciary committee.
trillium blathers:
"If you want to support a Democrat because you think it is the "principled" thing to do, then that is what you must do. But please, do not think that any good Republican is going to follow you."
It's not so much that I "follow" Ray; rather, I walk side-by-side, one GOOD Republican next to another GOOD Republican... and many more who are side-by-side with us; ALL for the GOOD of the party.
Would you be willing to say that to the founder of this sight because he too, believes in the above nonsensical notion.
This is a CONSERVATIVE site, where do you get off making insulting comments like that. BTW most of the Toomey supporters on this thread vote Republican 95% or more of the time.
"President Bush adores me, so I guess he is a RINO lover."
And the rest of your post is absolutely sickening. President Bush, as much as I like him also made the mistake of supporting a snake like Specter. He sure looked as though he liked him too.
There are quite a few people here, it seems, who would vote for him in a heartbeat.
Hey G, I wonder if she knows that Planned Parenthood ENDORSED SPECTER IN THE PRIMARY and CALLED REPUBLICAN VOTERS ON HIS BEHALF?
not only that, but Specter brought in NY Democrats to also call Republican voters.
And more, Planned Parenthood (pukers that they are) sent out incredible hit pieces days before the election, all in support of... yup... you guessed it... Specter!
Surprise!
but some here (and supposed PA conservative R's at that, who even profess to being pro-life) will still blindly and narrowly continue to push Specter.
Go figure!
ActionNewsBill... you couldn't be more right in your observation... further, I think your tag-line brings home the point even better.
Then I suggest you read every post on this thread and see how party loyal Republicans 'argue the issues'. I believe it might embarassed you.
I suggest you check out post #456 first. I am sure you would like to make sure he becomes a chairman.
Although I don't live in PA, I believe Badray is right.
It took a lot of guts for him to post this and put up with the abuse from the "party over principle" crowd.
probably, all the proof is there to see, yet, its hear no, see no, speak no...... maybe those are the monkeys our buddy Dane keeps talkin about HAHAHAHAHA
wow, I miss that one.
missed
I don't blame you for being Specterfatigued (good choice of words). He isn't one of my favorites, either. I would like to see a pro-life, pro-gun, fair-trade conservative replace him, myself. But this isn't the year it happens. Furthermore, the election isn't an up-or-down referendum on one Senator, it's a choice between two candidates. It's either Specter or Hoeffel. Do you really think Hoeffel's voting record will be any better than Specter's?
What do you think a vote for Joe Hoeffel is? Are you saying that Joe Hoeffel is pro-life? Do you think that Joe Hoeffel will support anti-abortion legislation? Will you state for the record that Joe Hoeffel will not filibuster judges that he suspects of being Constitutionalist conservatives? At least Specter hasn't supported any of those femi-nazi filibusters.
A vote against Arlen Specter is a vote for Joe Hoeffel. Please explain what in Joe Hoeffel's record do you approve of?
1, will guaranteed be made head of the committee despite the GOP having ways of preventing this and"
He has been campaigning on the importance of winning so that he can be there to help Bush's nominees. Are you telling me that Specter cannot be trusted?
"2, if he is head that he will personally want to block all pro-life judges and"
No. He will block judges and he will move judges depending on how it benefits Arlen Specter. Even a blind squirrel finds the occasional acorn, so some of them may get to the floor.
"3, if he wants to block all pro-life judges that nobody will be able to stop him from doing so."
As the chairman, he gets to decide who is brought up, what bills are brought up. If he doesn't want something to be voted on, it'll never see the light of day.
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