# Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) to become a Democrat **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 28, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627 "2009-04-28T16:09:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/41 "2009-04-28T17:25:44Z")
Yay! More Democrats, especially in the Senate, is always a good thing IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/42 "2009-04-28T17:29:31Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > I don’t really think that he could have done much to avoid these outcomes, but he’s the guy in charge. Hard to tell as an outsider looking in, but I’d say Steele deserves at least some of the blame, even beyond the fact that he’s the “guy in charge”. He should’ve been sending fruit baskets to Spector everyday, and begging Tomney(sp?) to stay out of it. Instead he publicaly mused whether kicking Spector out was a good idea, and I think that must have at least factored into Spector’s decision, especially given that he obviously would’ve prefered to stay in the GOP. Doubt it will lead to Steele being removed. He’s at least arguably doing what his party wants him to do, but if I were a Republican, I’d sure as hell want him gone. Most people thought the GOP had basically hit bottom after '08, but between this and NY-20, they seem to be getting weaker even before the next election cycle. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/43 "2009-04-28T17:32:17Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Uh huh. So Republicans and Pennsylvanians for years have had to contend with a surly, self-entitled, power hungry jerk with few principles save self preservation. He is widely seen as an asshole even by Senate standards, which sets the bar low. I knew someone who spent a year on his staff - she called him the Antichrist. > > Now, frankly I wanted him to remain a Republican. Our tent can accommodate all, even the likes of him. But all of you that are chortling like it’s Christmas will now have to feed the pony you just got. > > And take him for rides. And clean up his poop. > > And while I too am disappointed, like **Bricker** , I just hope all of you are happy with your smelly new pet. I am glad you took it so well. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/44 "2009-04-28T17:35:31Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > This has to be the end for Steele, doesn’t it? He drew a line in the sand with NY-20 and lost that, and this with Specter has to fall at his feet. I don’t really think that he could have done much to avoid these outcomes, but he’s the guy in charge. I agree. This has got to speak horribly about Michael Steele’s job security. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/45 "2009-04-28T17:35:42Z")
Quoth **Mr. Moto** : > [@](#): > > Uh huh. So Republicans and Pennsylvanians for years have had to contend with a surly, self-entitled, power hungry jerk with few principles save self preservation. “Have had to contend with”? They’re the ones (or at least, more than half of them are) who voted him in. If Republicans or Pennsylvanians as a whole thought that he was so unpalatable, they would have voted him out. ---
**Author:** ![TooSchoolforCool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tooschoolforcool/32/19621_2.png) [@TooSchoolforCool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TooSchoolforCool)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/46 "2009-04-28T17:36:57Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Give this man a cookie. Most of labor doesn’t want EFCA as it stands, the AFL-CIO notwithstanding. As someone very involved with union organizing, I hope Specter continues to oppose EFCA Actually, being an unemployed former operative in DC, I really WANT a cookie. I’ll even chew with my mouth closed! But so far, no dice… ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/47 "2009-04-28T17:39:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele ripped Specter, calling him a Republican in name only who was out of step with the rest of the party because of his “left-wing voting record.” > > “Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not,” Steele said in a written statement. “Let’s be honest --Sen. Specter didn’t leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record.” > **[Longtime GOP Sen. Arlen Specter becomes Democrat - CNN.com](https://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/28/specter.party.switch/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail)** > > Veteran Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party on Tuesday, saying he has found himself increasingly "at odds with the Republican philosophy." ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/48 "2009-04-28T17:47:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The question is what to do first with our bulletproof majority. Personally, I’m in favor of pressing right ahead with War On God… Won’t that conflict with our plans for making this a Muslim nation and imposing Sharia law? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/49 "2009-04-28T17:50:30Z")
I don’t know much about him other than what I’ve gathered from his appearances on the Howard Stern show over the years, but he seems a pretty decent guy with a good sense of humor. And it takes balls to switch political parties this late in a career, so, cool. I wish him well. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/50 "2009-04-28T17:55:05Z")
I’m surprised Sarah Palin hasn’t issued a press release on this yet. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/51 "2009-04-28T18:00:29Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Won’t that conflict with our plans for making this a Muslim nation and imposing Sharia law? Sorry, **42fish** , but I heard this post in my head in Pinky’s voice, preceded by “I think so, Brain, but…” ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/52 "2009-04-28T18:10:15Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > I’m surprised Sarah Palin hasn’t issued a press release on this yet. I think it’s, like, 6 a.m. in Alaska now, so cut Sarah some slack, O.K.? Once she finishes field dressing that moose and gets some breakfast in her, I’m sure she’ll crank out an erudite press release. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/53 "2009-04-28T18:11:01Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I don’t know much about him other than what I’ve gathered from his appearances on the Howard Stern show over the years, but he seems a pretty decent guy with a good sense of humor. And it takes balls to switch political parties this late in a career, so, cool. I wish him well. This move didn’t really take balls. He only barely survived the primary attempt in 2004, when every Republican politician who had any sway in PA was trying to help him, and after the 2008 primary, the remaining PA Republican base moved more than a little to the right. Specter could not have gotten elected as a Republican in 2010, and I doubt he can get elected as a Democrat either, but in that case, at least, he has a chance. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/54 "2009-04-28T18:12:18Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > I think it’s, like, 6 a.m. in Alaska now, so cut Sarah some slack, O.K.? > > Once she finishes field dressing that moose and gets some breakfast in her, I’m sure she’ll crank out an erudite press release. “I’ll write some up and I’ll bring 'em to ya…” ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/55 "2009-04-28T18:20:14Z")
I didn’t think it was possible, but at least for now it pushed the Mexican Plague off the screen. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/56 "2009-04-28T18:53:29Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > I think it’s, like, 6 a.m. in Alaska now, so cut Sarah some slack, O.K.? > > Once she finishes field dressing that moose and gets some breakfast in her, I’m sure she’ll crank out an erudite press release. Maybe he pals around with terrorists too. I can’t wait to find out. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/57 "2009-04-28T18:58:02Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I didn’t think it was possible, but at least for now it pushed the Mexican Plague off the screen. What were you watching, Lou Dobbs? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/58 "2009-04-28T18:59:17Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Maybe he pals around with terrorists too. I can’t wait to find out. [That one’s easy.](http://www.middleeastopinion.com/history-&-policy/sites/default/files/images/us-policy/280specter_asadREUTERS.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/59 "2009-04-28T19:06:21Z")
Why, he and [Donald Rumsfled](http://tallteacher.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/rumsfeld-hussein.jpg)out to be pilloried! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627/60 "2009-04-28T19:14:55Z")
Oh, my…[looks like Specter got a little added incentive to switch, courtesy of our beloved governor, Fast Eddie](http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/labor/pa-gov-rendell-promised-specter-hed-be-unopposed-in-dem-primary/). Sorry, Ed. Believe it, if Specter remains opposed to EFCA, he WILL have a labor-backed primary opponent. You’re a lame duck, remember? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627.md?page=4)