# Democrats strip Arlen Specter of his seniority **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 6, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530 "2009-05-06T11:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/1 "2009-05-06T11:59:01Z")
According to this [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/05/AR2009050504344.html?wprss=rss_politics) story, in a voice vote last night Specter was made the most junior Democratic member. I think this is a very good move. Especially since the Dems said the question might be revisited after the next elections. Nothing like a threat and a carrot to try instilling a little party discipline. And I wonder if it might be related to Specter’s [expressed desire to see Republican Norm Coleman get seated in the senate.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=516592&highlight=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, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/2 "2009-05-06T12:05:13Z")
Well, that’ll teach him to switch parties, I guess. ---
**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, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/3 "2009-05-06T12:21:59Z")
This is probably the right move. They basically only need Specter as a potential filibuster-breaking vote - meaning they won’t need him often, and he says he may not work with them much even then. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/4 "2009-05-06T12:28:52Z")
Several Democratic senators were peeved that they’d get passed over for committee assignments they’d waited a long while for. So I guess it makes sense. Still, I’d like to think that _something_ was worked out since I assume seniority was a talking point when Reid was luring Specter over. From the surface, it kind of looks like they fucked him over (he can’t go back Republican and now he lost a lot of power as a senator for Pennsylvania) which, regardless of how you feel about Specter, doesn’t look good for the next time there’s a potential defection. ---
**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, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/5 "2009-05-06T12:42:50Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Still, I’d like to think that _something_ was worked out since I assume seniority was a talking point when Reid was luring Specter over. Specter’s already getting a lot out of this deal: he’s a lot less likely to be primaried out, he has a better chance at the general election, plus Obama and others are supporting him. All that is for a vote they don’t really need in the first place. Basically they’re giving up a a shot at getting a more reliable Democratic vote in the hope of preventing a moderate from losing to a more conservative challenger, in Toomey, who might not have the ability to win a statewide election anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/6 "2009-05-06T12:49:40Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Several Democratic senators were peeved that they’d get passed over for committee assignments they’d waited a long while for. So I guess it makes sense. Still, I’d like to think that _something_ was worked out since I assume seniority was a talking point when Reid was luring Specter over. From the surface, it kind of looks like they fucked him over (he can’t go back Republican and now he lost a lot of power as a senator for Pennsylvania) which, regardless of how you feel about Specter, doesn’t look good for the next time there’s a potential defection. Yes, Reid supposedly assured Specter this wouldn’t happen. Still more evidence that Reid is the most toothless lame Senate majority leader EVER, as a followup to his career as the most toothless lame Senate minority leader ever. OTOH, are the Dems supposed to just ignore the Specter has been going around proclaiming he’s NOT a loyal Democrat? Excuse me, committe chairmen damn well better be loyal. And maybe the Coleman comment was a last straw kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/7 "2009-05-06T13:28:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Specter’s already getting a lot out of this deal: he’s a lot less likely to be primaried out, he has a better chance at the general election, plus Obama and others are supporting him. But a worse chance than he did when he could wave his seniority credentials around in an election. I don’t know how much worse but it’s got to be harder to say “Re-elect me so I can do great things” when your committee power has been reduced by 90%. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Joe_Meager)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/8 "2009-05-06T13:40:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Specter’s already getting a lot out of this deal: he’s a lot less likely to be primaried out, he has a better chance at the general election, plus Obama and others are supporting him. All that is for a vote they don’t really need in the first place. Basically they’re giving up a a shot at getting a more reliable Democratic vote in the hope of preventing a moderate from losing to a more conservative challenger, in Toomey, who might not have the ability to win a statewide election anyhow. This is what makes me cry at night. Many (most?) politicians are only in the game to preserve their own job, not do what’s right for their constituents and the country as a whole. And what about those constituents who voted him in as a Republican? “Thanks, but you can kiss my butt. I’m going to be a Democrat now.” ---
**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, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/9 "2009-05-06T13:47:19Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > But a worse chance than he did when he could wave his seniority credentials around in an election. He’s been in the Senate for 30 years already. If he doesn’t know how to get anything done without seniority on the judiciary committee, he deserves to lose. And arguably he deserves to lose anyway. > [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#): > > And what about those constituents who voted him in as a Republican? “Thanks, but you can kiss my butt. I’m going to be a Democrat now.” The constituents who are not interested in voting for him now and nearly dumped him five years ago? Their preferences are obvious. The national party has been going after him as a RINO for years. Anyway the Pennsylvania electorate knows who he is regardless of his party identification. If they have a preferable alternative, they can get rid of him. It’s kind of unusual for a politician to be so naked about why he’s changing sides, but it’s also true that even if he’d made up some other excuse, we know what the polls say. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/10 "2009-05-06T13:47:30Z")
Personally, I hope Specter get his ass kicked in the Democratic primary. And I think what the Dems are telling him is he better toe the line, or he’s gonna be toast. He’s going to have to prove himself to PA Democrats before a general election, which he seems to have forgotten. ---
**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, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/11 "2009-05-06T14:13:06Z")
Politics has been defined as the business of being re elected. Specter surely proves that. Abandoning his party to improve his re election chances . He admitted that was the reason too. The dems made a mistake . ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/12 "2009-05-06T14:22:47Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Politics has been defined as the business of being re elected. Specter surely proves that. Abandoning his party to improve his re election chances . He admitted that was the reason too. The dems made a mistake . In what sense? If his voting pattern remains unchanged, he’s still a net benefit to the Republicans. The only way the Dems lose is if he (or the Dem that defeats him in the primary) is defeated in the next general election by a more conservative Republican. ---
**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, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/13 "2009-05-06T14:43:40Z")
What could be really interesting is, what happens if one of Specter’s Democratic primary challengers does stay in the race and makes a real challenge? How hard is Obama going to push when he might end up diluting his own political strength? The same question could emerge if Specter wins if there’s some reason to believe Pennsylvanians are really tired of him. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/14 "2009-05-06T14:44:46Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > And I wonder if it might be related to Specter’s [expressed desire to see Republican Norm Coleman get seated in the senate.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=516592&highlight=Specter) I think that whole thing is just a line. Specter doesn’t really think Coleman won, will win, or deserves to win. But he has to act like he has _no idea_ that he could be responsible for a filibuster-proof majority. When that comes to pass, I’m sure you could knock Arlen Specter over with a feather. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/15 "2009-05-06T14:45:30Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > …The same question could emerge if Specter wins if there’s some reason to believe Pennsylvanians are really tired of him. I don’t understand what you’re trying to say here. ---
**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, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/16 "2009-05-06T14:47:52Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I don’t understand what you’re trying to say here. I’m wondering how hard Obama will fight for Specter if it is obvious he is going to lose, considering he’s barely any kind of Democrat. But better him than Toomey - maybe he would really make an effort. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/17 "2009-05-06T14:51:35Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I think that whole thing is just a line. Specter doesn’t really think Coleman won, will win, or deserves to win. But he has to act like he has _no idea_ that he could be responsible for a filibuster-proof majority. > > When that comes to pass, I’m sure you could knock Arlen Specter over with a feather. If so, it was an extremely poor choice of lines. He explicitly stated a preference for Coleman to win, which is a really good way to get your new Demcratic colleagues to decide you can’t be trusted with a committee chairmanship. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/18 "2009-05-06T14:54:59Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m wondering how hard Obama will fight for Specter if it is obvious he is going to lose, considering he’s barely any kind of Democrat. But better him than Toomey - maybe he would really make an effort. Oh, yeah, if Specter makes it through the primary, Obama and the Dems will do all in their power to help him win. But I agree that it’s a real interesting question how much support Specter will get from the national party if a more progressive Democrat mounts a respectable challenge in the primary. My guess would be, not a whole lot. ---
**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, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/19 "2009-05-06T15:13:35Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#): > > And what about those constituents who voted him in as a Republican? “Thanks, but you can kiss my butt. I’m going to be a Democrat now.” Him and 200,000 other Pennsylvania Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530/20 "2009-05-06T15:31:52Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He’s been in the Senate for 30 years already. If he doesn’t know how to get anything done without seniority on the judiciary committee, he deserves to lose. And arguably he deserves to lose anyway. I suppose, but getting back to my main point, I’m less worried about Specter himself so much as how this would look to any other potential fence jumpers. I don’t even mean Snowe or Collins but just a general sense of “Join us and we’ll dick you over once its too late to do anything about it”. That’s my concern. Specter himself can go cram walnuts for all I care. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-strip-arlen-specter-of-his-seniority/495530.md?page=2)