Reid Spokesman: "We Are Just Going To Have To Disagree" With Specter About Minn. Senate Race
Harry Reid spokesman Jim Manley gives us a comment about Sen. Arlen Specter's (D-PA) apparent desire for Norm Coleman to win the disputed Minnesota Senate race.
"Well, on that one we are just going to have to disagree," Manley writes, "because as far as Senator Reid and the people of Minnesota are concerned, Al Franken is going to be the next Senator from Minnesota."
Advertisement
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Lieberman, the sequel.
May 5, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Eric, has anyone checked to see if Specter has changed is voter registration? Or asked him if he plans to switch it?
May 5, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric got played by Halperin.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Specter-to-Minnesota-courts-Elect-Norm-Coleman-44391112.html
Specter was JOKING (unless he really thinks it's so important to have Jewish Republicans in the Senate that he's willing to overturn the will of the Minnesota electorate). I was initially as mad as everybody else about this until I realized the source was Mark Fricking Halperin.
May 5, 2009 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
The "justice" part is what is most bothersome. What exactly did he mean by that, joke or not?
May 5, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can certainly imagine myself speaking the exact same words that Specter said in a way that everybody listening will understand is ironic and not meant to be taken seriously. Yes, even with the "justice" bit. It may even be that he went so far over the top in order to make it clear that he was joking. Unfortunately, Specter underestimated Halperin's powers of "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
May 5, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think he's joking... I could understand that as a joke from someone who's never met Coleman and dislikes him generally, but both Specter and Coleman were fairly moderate republicans in the senate. If that's a joke, it would be a pretty cheap shot at a guy you've probably been working closely with for the past 6 years.
May 5, 2009 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that Specter's statement looks like a joke in context. Jim Manley seems to be addressing it as serious in the quote above though. If you take the Specter statement as serious, the Reid response is pretty weak.
May 5, 2009 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
"the Reid response is pretty weak."
In other news, the sun rises in the east.
May 5, 2009 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uggh, Halperin. The very definition of failing upwards.
I really can't stand the guy becasue I can't think of a single instance of him committing journalism ahead of the curve. It seems everything he does he manages to screw up in some way or another. Even if he isn't getting things entirely backwards, you bet that by the time he's reporting news the only people who haven't already heard are the same people who will never understand it.
May 5, 2009 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
seriously TPM. did you guys even bother checking the actual quote before going apeshit over this?? you guys look like fools. is halperin's word really as good as gold to you??
May 5, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed. Realize of course this article was also posted by the same person who repeatedly posts polls without context (margin of error). There is no excuse for the failure to try to learn. Very, very weak "journalism".
May 5, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
josh, eric, david, and brian all posted on the quote. no reason to single eric out.
May 5, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, to toot my own horn, I predicted years ago that as TPM expanded this sort of headline grabbing sensationalism would increase.
May 5, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Huffington Post looks worse. They're all ready to draw and quarter Specter over there.
May 5, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The context doesn't change the answer. It doesn't sound like a joke answer to me. Reid responded to the "joke". There's been no clarification by Specter. He wants Coleman to win.
May 5, 2009 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do justice and seat Coleman?? What an insult to all of those who have worked and will continue to work to assure that TRUE JUSTICE will be served in Minnesota.
Specter should not ride into another term on Democratic coattails. Maybe he needs a good primary to clarify his thinking.
May 5, 2009 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time to write a letter Harry...
May 5, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
specter should be hung around reid's neck and let the two run around d.c.. This is another example of poor leadership coming from dems in the senate who seem more concerned patting each other on the back then doing their jobs. It's going to be a long 4 years unless dems pull their head out of their behind and elect some real leadership.
May 5, 2009 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reid laying down the law, minus the part about the law.
May 5, 2009 6:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it was a joke. If he said something like "Well, Coleman is still hanging on by a thread in Minnesota maybe the Supreme Court of Minnesota will ignore the law and give him the win" that might be a joke. But to say "There's still time for justice", that's not looking for a laugh.
The Senate is an old boys network, and Specter is among the oldest of the old boys and he thinks his seat is his right, and probably feels Coleman's seat is his right as well.
May 5, 2009 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Given the context and given our knowledge of Specter's sense of (attempted) humor, I believe he was wisecrackin'. Not very wise wisecracking, given that it was a print interview and we can't tell if he's smirking. I hope he quickly gives us a definitive clarification, so we can adjust our individual comfort/discomfort levels (with him) and move on.
May 5, 2009 7:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just curious, Harry. Is there anything we ACTUALLY AGREE WITH SPECTER on? Because he said he's not a loyal Democrat, and proved it with his first vote and his statements thereafter.
Why don't we just declare George Bush as the statesman for our party, Harry? Nevermind that he and Specter hold all that we believe in contempt.
I will donate to anyone who runs against Specter in the primary, and I live in Virginia.
Hear that, Barack?
May 5, 2009 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Definitely an attempt at humor but considering his last few statements, it was ill advised and unwelcome. The sense of entitlement these d-nozzles acquire is astonishing. Reid should send the man from Spectre one of Senator Franken's books. Just so he'll know what humor looks like on our side of the isle. Halpern, what a tool.
May 5, 2009 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink