# Arlen Specter's take on Norm Coleman . . . huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 5, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473 "2009-05-05T23:02:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/1 "2009-05-05T23:02:03Z")
The New York Time published a 10 minute interview with Arlen Specter. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/magazine/10wwln-q4-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/magazine/10wwln-q4-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) Specter said this: > [@](#): > > (NYT) With your departure from the Republican Party, there are no more Jewish Republicans in the Senate. Do you care about that? > (AS) I sure do. There’s still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner. I would like an explanation. Where’s he coming from? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/2 "2009-05-05T23:06:16Z")
> [@Spartydog](#): > > The New York Time published a 10 minute interview with Arlen Specter. > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/magazine/10wwln-q4-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/magazine/10wwln-q4-t.html?partner=rss&emc=rss) > > Specter said this: > > I would like an explanation. Where’s he coming from? He is still depending on right wing sources of information. Outfits like the Wall Street Journal and FOX continue to hype the misinformation Coleman and his lawyers continue to push. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/3 "2009-05-05T23:15:15Z")
Why the dems took him in I do not know. He got tenure ,he got to ignore the party votes and he keeps his seats. In short ,he made no concessions and admitted that he changed because he would have had a strong repub challenger next election. Jettison him right now. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/4 "2009-05-05T23:18:59Z")
Actually kinda crazy that of the 14 Jews in the Senate all of them are now Dems. On the other hand, most of everything in the Senate is Dems at this point. (though looking at wiki, I see the Greek orthodox membership is 100% Republican…and 100% female…and 100% from Maine…and 100% named Olympia Snowe). As for where he’s coming from, I don’t really understand the question. I can’t imagine Coleman will win, but it’s pretty clear that Arlen is refering to the fact that his appeal is still pending in the MN courts. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/5 "2009-05-05T23:30:39Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Actually kinda crazy that of the 14 Jews in the Senate all of them are now Dems. Lieberman’s not a Dem, and he’s probably closer to the Republican platform than Sepcter was. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/6 "2009-05-05T23:45:54Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > Lieberman’s not a Dem, and he’s probably closer to the Republican platform than Sepcter was. Well, technically, neither is (Jewish) Bernie Sanders, but they both caucus with the Dems, so I think its fair to call them Democrats, at least for purposes of discussing the demographic make up of the parties. Also the Liebermann as cryptic Conservative Republican thing is pretty over-blown. In rankings of senators by ideology, he’s usually at least a few spots up from the most conservative _democratic_ senators, and does even better if you ignore his foreign policy votes. [example](http://voteview.com/sen110.htm). ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/7 "2009-05-06T00:04:21Z")
[TPM](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/05/tongue_in_cheek.php) thinks there’s a possibility he may have been joking. I suppose it’s possible, but I have my doubts. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/8 "2009-05-06T00:11:11Z")
Specter wants to declare himself still as mavericky as ever I guess. And this is a low cost way to do that. No vote at stake. Nah. Put in Coleman for GOP Jewish affirmative action? Okaaaay. Must have been a joke. Really. I never knew Specter was Jewish. Let alone Coleman. [Yiddish]Who knew?[/Yiddish] Where is Adam Sandler when you need him? Pretty odd that Minnesota had/has two Jews duking it out for Senate, now that it is pointed out. Heck, Jews are less than 1% of Minnesota’s population. Even Missouri, even Virginia, have more. OTOH about 25% are Catholic and 24% Lutheran. Heck there are about as many Muslims, and as many Buddhists for Og’s sake, as Jews there. And yet two of them are fighting it out like this? They need a bubby to pull on their ears and to tell Coleman to stop being such a schmuck. Oy. I don’t know what to make of that but it is … interesting. Meanwhile there are 31 Jews in the House. One is in the GOP: Eric Cantor. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/9 "2009-05-06T01:55:30Z")
An update. Specter [misspoke!](http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003110567&parm1=5) > [@](#): > > ``` > Asked whether he cared about a shortage of Jewish Republicans in the Senate, Specter replied: “I sure do. There’s still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner.” > > But questioned outside the Senate chamber Tuesday, Specter said the comment was a mistake. > > “In the swirl of moving from one caucus to another, I have to get used to my new teammates,” he said. “I’m ordinarily pretty correct in what I say. I’ve made a career of being precise. I conclusively misspoke.” > > Asked who he’s backing now in elections, Specter said, “I’m looking for more Democratic members. Nothing personal.” > > ``` I don’t know why the Dems think this clown is a useful addition to the party. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/10 "2009-05-06T02:05:00Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Specter wants to declare himself still as mavericky as ever I guess. And this is a low cost way to do that. No vote at stake. Nah. > > Put in Coleman for GOP Jewish affirmative action? Okaaaay. Must have been a joke. Really. > > I never knew Specter was Jewish. Let alone Coleman. [Yiddish]Who knew?[/Yiddish] Where is Adam Sandler when you need him? > > Pretty odd that Minnesota had/has two Jews duking it out for Senate, now that it is pointed out. Heck, Jews are less than 1% of Minnesota’s population. Even Missouri, even Virginia, have more. OTOH about 25% are Catholic and 24% Lutheran. Heck there are about as many Muslims, and as many Buddhists for Og’s sake, as Jews there. And yet two of them are fighting it out like this? They need a bubby to pull on their ears and to tell Coleman to stop being such a schmuck. Oy. > > I don’t know what to make of that but it is … interesting. > > Meanwhile there are 31 Jews in the House. One is in the GOP: Eric Cantor. We have lots of Jews in Minnesota - I believe most of them have been Senators (Rudy Boschwitz, Paul Wellstone). And we do have the only Muslim in Congress. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/11 "2009-05-06T02:06:20Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > An update. Specter [url=[http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003110567&parm1=5](http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003110567&parm1=5)]misspoke! No, sounds like he’s backtracking from a joke because of some unwritten law that says politicians never joke. Not even about politics, which would make them just about the only (not insane) citizens who don’t consider politics a free show and a bottomless source late night hosts. ---
**Author:** ![kenner116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/12 "2009-05-06T02:18:27Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > And we do have the only Muslim in Congress. [André Carson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Carson) ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/13 "2009-05-06T02:33:31Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > No, sounds like he’s backtracking from a joke because of some unwritten law that says politicians never joke. Not even about politics, which would make them just about the only (not insane) citizens who don’t consider politics a free show and a bottomless source late night hosts. He’s the one who says he misspoke. You can argue it with him. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/14 "2009-05-06T03:11:04Z")
Okay, now two Muslim Congresscritters! And none from Dearbourn. (Carson won his dead Gramma’s vacated seat, to complete her term?) Next is a Republican one and then (s)he and Cantor can form a GOP Judeo-Islamic Alliance! ---
**Author:** ![2ply](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/b2d939/32.png) [@2ply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ply)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/15 "2009-05-06T03:24:18Z")
Actually, a lot of the Arab population in Dearborn is Christian. I don’t know what the percentage is between Christians and Muslims, but much of Michigan’s Arab population is descended from the Christian communities of the eastern Mediterranean. From 2001 to 2005, one of Michigan’s senators was a olive skinned Lebanese fellow who was an Orthodox Christian. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/16 "2009-05-06T03:29:19Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > He’s the one who says he misspoke. You can argue it with him. Yeah, but the misunderstandings of people who pay only half attention can force a pol to make that claim falsely, especially one as poll-driven as Specter. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/17 "2009-05-06T12:55:49Z")
Well, it’s possible he misspoke. I mean, he’s used to being a Republican, and it takes time for him to come to terms with being a Democrat. Do you know what I’m saying? If he’s used to supporting Coleman in the race, then it’s a mental jump to now support Franken, and he could have just said what he said without thinking because he was used to saying it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/18 "2009-05-06T15:26:07Z")
I would like to hear him explain why the guy who has lost the vote count and several court cases should be seated. I need to know his logic. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/19 "2009-05-06T16:33:36Z")
Give Spector time to get used to talking out of the other side of his mouth. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473/20 "2009-05-06T16:37:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Give Spector time to get used to talking out of the other side of his mouth. He’ll have a substantial handicap if he has to start using only one side. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arlen-specters-take-on-norm-coleman-huh/495473.md?page=2)