Specter To Reid: I Forgot What Team I Was On
Earlier this afternoon, Wolf Blitzer asked Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid about Sen. Arlen Specter's defection, and all the various complications it's caused for the Democratic party. One of those complications surfaced yesterday when the New York Times reported (and then re-confirmed) that Specter said he still hopes Republican Norm Coleman prevails in the courts over Al Franken--the winner of the Minnesota Senate race--and retains his seat.
Specter walked back his statement after Reid confronted him about it, but the interaction seemingly left Reid speechless. Watch:
Last night I came to him and I said "Arlen what's all this about?" And he said "I forgot what team I was on."
That's not actually all that surprising. Specter started his career in politics as a Democrat, then, for almost 30 years, he was a Republican, then, last week, he became a Democrat again, but since that time has been voting and otherwise behaving like a Republican. Confusing.
Perhaps things will smooth out in the days and weeks ahead. In the mean time, though, labor organizations and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), his potential primary rival, are telling him he better figure out which team he's on, and quickly, too.
| TOPICS: Al Franken, Arlen Specter, Democrats, Harry Reid, MN-SEN, Norm Coleman, Senate
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Senescence? Or McSame-like undiagnosed PTSD?
May 6, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brain fog from the chemotherapy regimens.
Seriously.
May 6, 2009 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. His behavior is not rational, even accounting for his opportunism and lack of principles. It raises questions which should be answered.
May 6, 2009 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Harry Reid has got to be the most ineffectual, pathetic majority leader in ages.
May 6, 2009 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's frustrating, but OTOH he's presided over a renmarkable turnaround -- Democratic fortunes are better now than in decades. Perhaps he's actually smarter than he seems.
May 7, 2009 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm afraid the bitter truth is that there is only one team.
Bombing the hell out of civilians - women and children included? Check.
Bailouts for billionaires? Check.
Single payer off the table? Check.
EFCA no more a priority? Check.
No prosecution for torture? Check.
Bailout for Chrysler, 8 American factories closing, Mexican factory opening? Check.
May 6, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Just wow. I thought Specter was making a joke. But Specter IS the joke.
Specter aside, Reid's response is freaking funny. His new player just intercepted the ball and ran the wrong way. So now, Specter's going to lose playing time?
May 6, 2009 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it's even that - Did Specter make statements publicly about the Coleman/Franken legal proceedings? Did he come out previously and say he believed Coleman should win/did win? If he did, then he was just re-stating what he said previously which he has to do. Now he should have been more cagey with his answer saying to the effect "The Minnesota Supreme Court will decide and I will accept and support their decision" and that he hasn't been able to follow the proceedings closely and while he had believed Coleman had won, the courts have after a meticulous trial found differently.
That would allow him to not flip flop on saying he thought Coleman won, but he walks it back by saying he hasn't followed closely and has complete confidence in the Minnesota court system.
May 6, 2009 6:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Arlen, you aren't on a team. There's your trouble.
May 6, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's trouble alright. And it may be only part of his trouble, I'm afraid.
May 6, 2009 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Specter will not get seniority in 2010 *IF* he is reelected. There are 58 Democrats with more seniority than him. Do you really think even half of them will vote to let Specter cut in line ahead of them? Not so much!
How do they explain to their constituents that they gave up their chance to bring home the bacon because they let an old fool leapfrog ahead?
They're not going to give up the trappings of seniority. Biden said his office ans Foreign Relations chair was bigger than his Veep office.
May 6, 2009 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Specter will not get seniority in 2010 *IF* he is reelected". Thanks for letting us know how the democrats will vote. I was worried for a while, but your inside knowledge about the party really convinced me.
May 6, 2009 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're welcome! You'd have this "inside knowledge" too if you noticed they voted exactly that way last night. Or if you used common sense.
Politicians are egomaniacs. They're not going to vote themselves a demotion for a Johnny Come Lately.
Now if you want to debate the merits of what I said, fine. If you want to continue with your idjit remarks -- fuck off, loser!
May 6, 2009 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
BREAKING NEWS! Tom Harkin says he has spoken with Specter and he will back EFCA.
May 6, 2009 7:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Link?
May 6, 2009 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
How in the world do you forget what team you are on, after making what is probably the most dramatice move in his political career? Just proof that his move is not heartfelt, just strategic for his own political gains.
May 7, 2009 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
They call it "a senior moment." Starts happening in your mid-forties to mid-fifties and keeps getting worse.
May 7, 2009 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alzheimer?????
May 7, 2009 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink