Sestak: Union Reaction To Specter Shows They Worry He's A 'Flight Risk'
Over the weekend, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) broke some news when, in response to the heckles of some frustrated union organizers, he suggested very strongly that he'd ultimately vote for a compromise version of the Employee Free Choice Act.
"I believe you'll be satisfied with my vote on this issue," Specter said.
Well, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) was also on hand that day. He's a cosponsor of EFCA in the House, and in a statement to TPMDC, he said that the welcome Specter received is telling. "The reaction by many people at the rally to Arlen's speech was simply one demonstration that Pennsylvanians want to be represented by someone they can trust to approach their work in a consistent and accountable way," Sestak said.
The leaders of the Democratic political establishment have not confirmed to this point that Arlen will not be a 'flight risk' after the election. This is a concern that many people attending last weekend's events in Pittsburgh expressed to me, including when I spoke at the rally.I am a cosponsor of EFCA, and cosponsored and voted for it last year, because very unfair labor practices are being done in America. I would also be in agreement with a compromise that labor supports and that addresses their concerns.
Yesterday, we posted video footage of Specter's speech, including the key moment quoted above. You can see Sestak's speech below, courtesy of the folks over at pa2010.com.
Josh
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Brian
What difference does it make whether the Dem leadership extracts some kind of mythical 'confirmation' from Specter about whether he'll bolt?
It should be quite clear by now that Specter will do whatever he needs to do to stay in the Senate and have the most power. Period, paragraph.
June 9, 2009 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I still don't know why Sestak is running. Assuming specter votes for Sotomayor, healthcare reform (w/ public option), and efca compromise bill; all of which are items for this year along w/ possibly climate change, exactly what is Sestak running on? An anti-Specter campaign? Sorry that's not good enough. He needs to wait to see what Specter actually does (or doesn't do) this year, before he even considers running.
June 9, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he could run on the premise that this is still a democracy and people have the right to choose their own candidates for office and not have them dictated by party bosses. I'd vote for that if I lived in PA.
June 9, 2009 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, one should note that Sestak was considering running for that Senate seat before Spectre switched. Whether he had a well articulated message (reason) for the race still isn't answered, and one would hope that he wouldn't let it devolve into an anti-Spectre themed campaign. He won't win that way.
What Sestak has going for him is the "outsider" card. With the Democratic machine clearing the way for Specter, he could easily get an us vs. them thing going. A populous message in a labor state would sell pretty good...and Spectre's blatant political and ideological flip-flopping are a great foil for Sestak to use.
"The guys in WASHINGTON want this guy. A guy who's shown a willingness to stab anyone he needs to in the back to keep his job. Is this the type of guy you want representing you? Is this the type of guy you want Washington ANOITING to be your Senator? Do you think he'll be there when the chips are down - or do you think he'll disappear the second things get tough and he has to stand on principal?"
etc. etc. etc. It's the outsider mentality of Obama/Edwards, buttressed with an almost 4 decade career in the Navy. It's a good story to sell, that's for sure.
June 9, 2009 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Specter is only talking about voting the right way because Sestak is running. Without the challenge from Sestak, Specter would not vote the right way.
For Specter to win the primary, he'll have to act like a Democrat. Without such a constraint, he'll do whatever he wants, and "whatever he wants" is well to the right of what Pennsylvania Democrats would want.
Specter's been very open about the fact that his own reelection is his most important consideration.
June 9, 2009 7:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Calchala -- The only reason Spectre has changed his positions on EFCA, healthcare reform, etc., is because Sestak has said that he will challenge Spectre in the primary if Spectre doesn't vote like a good Democrat. Frankly,even is Spectre votes correctly Sestak should challenge Spectre since we have enough DINO's in the Senate already.
June 9, 2009 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink