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
Thanks.
Aside from the camera, I usually do have several friendly witnesses and I'm always careful not to be in position to be charged with anything. But I also know that some of these SOB's will stoop to some pretty nasty things to protect their seats.
Thanks for the ping. Will read and comment. Right now, I'm watching the sun come up. Little misty, but beautiful.
Citizen... here's where this whole discussion comes into clearer focus... you write:
"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"
There is no delusion that Hoeffel will vote "with us". It is a agreed that he has absolutely no redeeming qualities. None! However, and this is the key... a Hoeffel (would-be Junior Senator) victory knocks out a 24-year liberal RINO who is set to become chair of the Senate Judiciary.
As chair of SJC, with potentially 3 Supreme Court replacements in the next 4 years, Specter will have an opportunity to impact this nation for 30 years or more by blocking conservative appointments. And this doesn't even begin to address the large number of lower court appointments. If Specter is not Chair (because he loses), a very conservative (and consistent) John Kyl will ascend. And as to the commentary concerning the loss of the seat relative to keeping the majority, most analysts (even the Democrats) are expecting that the R's are actually in position to gain seats.
Finally, you further write:
"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!"
If we vote 3rd party, that's only taking 1 vote away from Specter. If our goal is to actually remove Specter from office, a vote for Hoeffel in effect counts as 2 votes. Concerning the comment of "too busy supporting baby killers", be mindful of the fact that Specter has consistently voted pro-abortion. And he wants to take no proactive position to support traditional marriage laws in Pennsylvania.
Your thoughts are insightful... I hope you (and others) will cut well beneath the outer layer on this issue to expose the rotten core for what it really is.
Love your report, and I agree! At this point, I'm staying away from all political people.
If Bill Clinton had been convicted by the Senate, we would have Al Gore as President today, and that isfactpure nonsense and ridiculous speculation. There, that's better.
While it is true that had clinton been removed Gore would have become president, I doubt he would have been re-elected. Specter's 'Not Proven' vote -- that he openly bragged about prior to its casting, gave cover to the other RINOs and likely closed out those few Dems that were tending to conviction. The Media would have turned around and realised that there was more to the indictment -- involving Gore and Hillary both. I still don't think that clinton would have been convicted, but the resultant fallout of ALL the Republicans voting to convict would have made a vast difference in how the public perceived the Senate trial and indictments.
WRT Specter, he has many times shown his open disdain for the Constitution; his support to Massiah-Jackson was a direct assault on it and the rule of law. I will not vote for either 'Offal or Specter. They are cut from the same cloth.
A majority of what ? Wishy-washy republicans interspersed with RINOS ? Where is the majority ?
No?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1144839/posts
You also need to look a Specter's past record. I would rather have a junior senator voting on issues that can be overturned in the near future than a RINO as bad as Arlen manipulating a judicial committee that will affect us and future generations for a lifetime.
Wow ! Badray, this sounds like something out of the UN ! Just replace Republican with UN !!
Exactly ! Call Henry Hyde or David Schippers and ask then about their "meeting" with Lott and Santorum !
I am also from Pennsylvania and I have to tell all the non-Pennsylvanians here that all of their "support Specter" arguments fall on deaf ears. It's our election, our votes to cast, and Arlen has seen the last of them. If it were a question of voting for Arlen or having the Senate fall in to Democrat hands (it isn't), you might have a valid argument; barring that, "anyone but Arlen" is our rallying cry!
We all need to read once again, George Washington's farewell speech. He understood the future danger. Here's what he said: Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.
If I were in your position I would vote for the Constitution or the American Independednt candidate in your state as opposed to the Democrat.
This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
But that's just me. That way, my vote would also stand on the same principles as my protest since I couldn;t use it (as I know you would) if Toomay were in the race.
Boy did you get the freepers going. I enjoyed reading the posts. Those wanting to play politics over principal at all costs are giving cover for Bush & Frist & Santorum. They see the willing cool-aid sippers and think they are on the right track. At some point we cross a line and become no better than the Dem's. For me Arlen is that line.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1144059/posts?page=13
By voting for the Constitution or the Independent American candidate...your vote would stand on the same principle as your vote for Toomay would have if he were in the race.
God bless.
Keep fighting the good fight Ray.
Thanks...God grant that a man like him rises to the presidency again in our life time.
Good morning, Bill. I look forward to hearing your insights and comments. But be gentle. ;-)
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