Who Can Actually Count On Arlen Specter In A Pinch?

Last night Ken talked about Rep. Joe Sestak's insistence on facing up to the dilemma of a homelessness epidemic for hundreds of thousands of children in danger of slipping through the cracks of the current foreclosure crisis and economic meltdown. Joe, a former admiral, is the congressman from a district west of Philly that takes in almost all of Delaware County and parts of Montgomery and Chester counties. In 2006 Blue America helped him defeat corrupt GOP hack Curt Weldon (56-44%) in this traditionally Republican Party stronghold, and two years later voters in the 7th liked Joe so much that he was re-elected 60-40%, helping Obama rack up a 56-43% win over McCain.

This past weekend Harrisburg hosted the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit, and despite his best efforts, Joe was unable to coax his primary adversary, ex-Republican Arlen Specter, into a debate at the event (although Specter later flipped out and rushed the stage while Joe was speaking). Because of Specter's fear to face his younger and more vital opponent, each man answered questions in seperate appearances on Saturday evening. This way Specter was able to lie with impunity about his overwhelmingly conservative record without being challenged. As The Real Arlen Specter, a truth tracker site Sestak's campaign publishes, pointed out, "When you've been in Washington for more than a quarter-century, you learn to do or say whatever it takes to get elected." They did a good job of comparing Specter's misleading statements on Saturday night to progressive activists with his actual public record as a U.S. Senator.

WHAT SPECTER SAID:

"In my career I've voted with Democrats more often than with Republicans."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

• Has voted with Republican presidents 85% of the time.

• Cast more than 2,000 votes with President George W. Bush [Washington Post Votes Database]. In the years Bush was in office, Arlen Specter voted with the Republican Party over 70% of the time in the 110th Congress, over 77% of the time in the 109th Congress, over 85% of the time in the 108th Congress, and over 76% of the time in the 107th Congress.

• Raised money for Republicans nationally and throughout the state, campaigning for George Bush, Dick Cheney, Rick Santorum and Sarah Palin.

• Said John McCain and Sarah Palin were "the better choice."


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

I supported a "robust public option" on health care.

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

Was dead-set against a public option before Joe Sestak entered the race:

NBC's Meet the Press, May 3, 2009:

David Gregory: Would you support health care reform that puts up a government-run public plan to complete with a private plan issued by a private insurance company?

SEN. SPECTER: No. ...

David Gregory: Let me -- I just want to turn, then, to the issue of health care. You would not support a public plan?

SEN. SPECTER: That's what I said … and that's what I meant.


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

"My labor record is pure as ivory snow … I have a 99.4 rating."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

• Has poor lifetime union ratings: AFL-CIO 61%, AFSCME 54%, IBEW 65%.

• Voted to deny collective bargaining rights to federal employees. [HR 5005, 9/26/02]

• Voted to restrict unions' access to the workplace, voting for a bill that would have made it harder for unions to distribute materials and solicit contributions from employees. [HR 3061, 11/1/01]


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

"I believe there ought to be labor law reform."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

• Totally opposed the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) before Joe Sestak got in the race:
"I think [EFCA] is a bad bill, and I am opposed to it." -- April 28, 2009
"I'm still against [EFCA]. Democrats are all for it, Republicans are all against it, and I'm the critical vote." -- May 3, 2009


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

"I believe that the status of people of the same sex to marry ought to be the same as for men and women."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

Voted with Rick Santorum for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). [HR 3396, 9/10/96, Record Vote 280].

In a letter to a constituent this September, Specter defended his support of DOMA and went on to say, "I appreciate the goal of the proposed amendment (to ban gay marriage)" and "I support traditional marriage as defined in DOMA."


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

Voted for Economic Stimulus Bill after Gov. Rendell said, "I'm in deep trouble."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

Cut approximately $1.5 billion in state aid to Pennsylvania -- enough to cut the state budget deficit in half.

Preferred John McCain's plan of mostly corporate tax breaks and NO stimulus investments or aid for Pennsylvania.


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

"I opposed the Bush administration on warrantless wiretapping."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

Worked with the Bush administration to write a bill that the Washington Post said was a "green light for domestic spying."


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

"The Clean Air Act is vital, and I support it."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

Supports George W. Bush's "Clean Air" Act -- the largest rollback of environmental protections in history. [HJRes2, 01/23/03, #28]


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

"Abstinence-only education has not worked. … I believe all the information ought to be available."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

Has earmarked nearly $10 million for abstinence-only education -- the only Member of Congress to do so -- in order to solidify his conservative base.


WHAT SPECTER SAID:

"Look how far out of touch Santorum was with the Pennsylvania electorate."

THE REAL ARLEN SPECTER:

Is proud of the strong support he's received from Rick Santorum:
"If I'm a good enough Republican for [President Bush], and I'm a good enough Republican for Rick Santorum, then I think I'm a good enough Republican for a majority of Pennsylvanians."

Specter hasn't been a dependable vote for progressive solutions to America's problems. According to the Progressive Punch crucial vote score since Obama became president, on close substantive roll calls when Democrats needed Specter most, he was down at the bottom of the pack-- 57th out of 60, worse than Blanche Lincoln, worse than Lieberman, worse than Mary Landrieu, worse than Max Baucus. Is being a better voter than Ben Nelson and Evan Bayh proof he should be re-elected? If you think Arlen Specter is the right man to face far right fringe Republican Pat Toomey in November-- offering progressive Pennsylvania voters no incentive to even bother going to the polls-- this ActBlue page is probably something you should just skip.