Sestak: If Specter Doesn't Shift His Positions, I'll Run Against Him
Following up on the news that Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) met with SEIU President Andy Stern today, Greg Sargent gave the congressman a call. "I cannot see the unions across the board supporting Specter if he cannot support EFCA," Sestak told Sargent. "[Stern] let it be known that it's very much on the top of their agenda."
Sestak has become more and more forthright in recent days about his intent to challenge Specter for the 2010 Pennsylvania Senate nomination if Specter doesn't move left. Before Specter got in the race, Sestak said he had no intention of attempting a bid for the Senate. After Specter made his switch that all changed. First Sestak criticized Specter for lacking principles. Then said he'd wait to see what Specter stands for before making any decisions. Then Friday he said he was "thinking about getting in" to the race. Now he tells Greg "[i]f [Specter] doesn't demonstrate that he has shifted his position on a number of issues, I would not hesitate at all to get in."
Josh
Matt
Eric
I don't live in PA but I'll be donatin' to the guy if he runs against Specter.
Anyone who belongs to the 'whatever gets me elected party' is a leader we can live without.
May 4, 2009 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you, synchro. Also, I'm for booting the guy out who made a point of saying he wasn't a "loyal Democrat!" Although that was pretty obvious, I don't know what he was trying to accomplish by saying it.
I think he DID accomplish giving PA Dems a free conscience to vote for Sestak in the primary. Why in the world should they feel loyalty to Specter? He feels none of that towards them -- Arlen -- it is time to spend more time with your family.
May 4, 2009 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you--I'll donate some dollars for Sestak. We have our very own "whatever gets me elected" kinda Senator here in CT, and you don't want what we have. (Although he has been pretty quiet lately. . .)
And I'd like to see some polling wrt Sestak vs. Toomey and Sestak vs. Ridge.
May 4, 2009 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
WRT polling, I wonder how much of Specter's supposed 71 percent approval rating among PA dems has to do with his occasionally bucking the repugs as a republican.
As a dem, his positions look much less independent and far more DINO-like.
I'll bet his approval rating among dems already dropped because of his post-switch votes against the budget. It'll plummet well below 50 percent when he votes against EFCA.
May 5, 2009 8:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
hear hear
May 4, 2009 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Add me, too.
Specter's convenient party switch for such blatant careerist personal reasons followed by his "I'm not going to support the Democratic position." has really irritated me. Sort of reminds me of Joe Lieberman all over again.
We don't need him that badly. No matter that he occasionally might make Reid's job a little easier.
May 5, 2009 7:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good. Let's retire Arlen Narcissist and his "not a loyal" anything attitude.
Rep. Sestak - although I always want the most Progressive candidate we can get, so far your voting record isn't bad (except for that warrantless wiretapping one).
So as of right now - I support Rep. Sestak and will be happy to campaign for him all over PA.
May 4, 2009 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Go Joe! As soon as he declares he'll be able to raise plenty of money from people all over the country, including me. His blue-dogginess has been somewhat exaggerated by Nate Silver and others, but in any case he at least beats the crap out of Specter. And since he represents a swing district now, he may be able to move a bit closer to the Democratic mainstream if he's representing the whole state. In any case, EFCA all by itself is an important key to electing more progressive Congresses in the future.
May 4, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Arlen is a pathetic narcissist but I'm really more concerned with the political machine that is trying to deny the voters of Pennsylvania their democratic right to choose their own candidates. This big boss thuggery is out of control in both parties.
May 4, 2009 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is it about becoming a Senator that either seems to lead to Narcissism or to attract Narcissists? Or both?
That level of feeling privileged and entitled must not be good for them. They act like obese people working in a chocolate factory with free samples.
May 5, 2009 7:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is great long-view political gamesmanship. I suspect Obama's team has been quietly supporting Sestak, encouraging him to put pressure on Specter to move left by making him realize his positions and votes over the next 18 months are going to have real consequences. If the housetraining works, Sestak can count on support from Obama in a later cycle or position in the WH. If Specter continues to be a bad dog, no one of consequence will bat an eye if Obama withdraws his support for Specter or "is too busy" to actively campaign for him. Specter's switch may not be helping Obama yet, but it is certainly hurting the Rs. If Specter doesn't start pulling more weight, he can be dumped.
May 4, 2009 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Question: How is Sestak the answer if the answer if the problem is that Arlen is not liberal or loyal enough. Sestak has a more conservative voting record in the congress than Specter.
May 4, 2009 9:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Totally bogus. Sestak has a two year voting record so comparing it to a 30 year one is apples and oranges. Also, Sestak supports a public option for healthcare and EFCA. Right there, he's head a shoulders above Specter. And Sestak didn't become a democrat so he wouldn't lose a primary.
I'm gonna give a litle money to Sestak!
May 4, 2009 10:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is simply not true. Using ProgressivePunch, Senator Specter has a lifetime score of 36.92 (this session, it's 42.45). Representative Sestak has a lifetime score of 93.27 (this session, it's 92.98). Granted, Sestak's "Crucial Votes" score is highly disappointing, and I've called his office several times to express my disappointment, but at 72.27, it's still 45 points higher than Specter's 27.54.
Full disclosure: I live in the 7th District and worked indirectly to elect Rep. Sestak in 2006.
May 5, 2009 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
YEAAAAAAAAAA, exactly how I would like for this to turn out.
May 4, 2009 9:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Joe Sestak (D-PA). Sounds right, looks right.
May 4, 2009 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thread drift...
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/05/for_the_gop_a_sobering_trend.php
Anyone notice how insane of an outliner that Rasmussen is in recent weeks?
Similar to the election, where Rasmussen played a nifty trick of "widening" their polls in the last weekend to end up with one inline with the gap that the rest of the pollsters had.
I'm waiting for Eric to post those numbers on the front page screaming about Obama's popularity falling apart. ;)
John
May 5, 2009 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Spector should be toast in the Democratic primary.
His opponent only needs one commercial...a short clip of Arlen angrily saying he never said he'd be a loyal Democrat. I actually think I could beat him.
May 5, 2009 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Regardless of his party affliation, I do think that Specter's age could be a significant factor in the 2010 election --- he'll be 80 years old in Feb. 2010. Isn't it time for him to retire?
In addition to Sestack, I would think that there are other ambitious, capable Democrats who could win both a Democratic primary as well as the general election, whether or not they've held elective office before. Example- Franco Harris, - instant name recognition, successful businessman and generous to the community, and could be a credible candidate. I'm sure there are others as well.
The age and health factor is one that is at work regardless of party, and I don't think there's been enough consideration of how that could affect the race. Even previous supporters may vote for a younger, healthier candidate.
May 5, 2009 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Sestak runs. Specter is a Republican and has continued to vote like one. I prefer real Democrats like Sestak.
May 5, 2009 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink