Breaking news: Arlen Specter acts like a conservative for once…BUT
Americans for Tax Reform sent out a breaking e-mail alert this afternoon announcing that GOP Sen. Arlen Specter will oppose Big Labor’s Card Check bill. This is a huge relief. Democrats are one short of the 60 needed to move it forward.
But it’s no time to do cartwheels over Specter.
He handed the Generational Theft Act to the Democrats. He voted to kill the D.C. school choice program. He supported AG Eric Holder. And that’s just this year.
If he thinks one right vote will mitigate the mountain of all the wrong one, he is mistaken.
***
2:31pm Eastern. Specter just announced his decision on Senate floor and denied that he cut some sort of deal. Says he would be willing to reconsider Card Check when economy improves and his requests to amend the National Labor Relations Act are approved.
***
4:20pm Eastern. Pat Toomey picks up on the fine print…
Statement from Pat Toomey on Specter’s Conditional Reversal
“When Senator Specter does a flip flop, it’s worth checking the fine print. On the senate floor today he said: “I would be willing to reconsider Employees’ Free Choice legislation when the economy returns to normalcy.” In other words, if he thinks his political fortunes have improved, he will deny workers a secret ballot after all.” – Former Congressman Pat Toomey
***
Here’s Specter’s full floor statement.
***
Peter Kirsanow is right: The battle is far from over…
Although this is a significant blow to labor’s agenda, the battle is far from over. Specter noted that EFCA was the most heavily lobbied bill he’d ever seen. EFCA proponents aren’t going away. There are several compromises that have been floated over the last several weeks (especially keep a sharp eye on “equal access” proposals). One or more will become the new focus of lobbying efforts.
Since EFCA supporters are certain to change their legislative strategy, opponents must also. They’ll be making a big mistake if they relax their efforts — the horse-trading may be just beginning in earnest.
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Trackbacks
- Card Check is Tyranny! And also a war against the free market and specifically Wal-Mart « Jim Blazsik
- Handpicked Headlines (03-24-09) :: Daily Uprising
- 10 questions for Obama (That won’t be asked or answered tonight) « Peace and Freedom Global Future
- Elephant Owners » Blog Archive » Specter Feels the Toomey Pressure
- Arlen Specter will Vote against Card Check | Citizen-Right
- Arlen Specter acts like a conservative - or not? |
- “Third Way” Progressive lawyer Lanny Davis leads effort to “level the playing field” for union access; frightened corporations ready to sign up « Danishova
- CWA-NJ Conservatives with Attitude! » Blog Archive » Revisiting “Benedict Arlen”
- Michelle Malkin » Specter, card check, and the final betrayal
- Obama Fully Supports Ending Secret Ballot For All Employees–Are Voters Next?–Employee Free Choice Act a.k.a. Card Check is Ballot Check Next? « Pronk Palisades
- Trouble on Dem ‘Fantasy Island’: Specter Is Freaking Everyone Out | UPDATE on Specter’s Shady Fundraising Website « Frugal Café Blog Zone
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I’d agree he is NOT to be trusted…although this is good…
The Sun shines on an old dog’s a$$ every once in a while. Time to play that lottery number.
He is just cya because the vote for the bailout and he is doing so bad in his home state for his re-election bid. Once a rino, always a rino!
L
Was this before or after he called for open primaries in the hope that the Dems will help the RINO keep his “job”?
If you can, please vote for Toomey.
he must be up for reelection this time and gotten booed at his hometown meeting of the gop. pennsylvanians, please vote against this dirtbag, and if he is the gop nominee, stay home. show your good sense. we don’t need this jerk sabotageing our party. better to have the dems do their fine normal job and be blamed for it next time. conservative or nothing.
Thanks, Arlen!
DLTDHYOTWO
Arlen Specter Who?
Is this guy aware that he has the very same name as a spineless, unprincipaled RINO Senator from Pennsylvania?
No, the good people of Pennsylvania will remember all of Specter’s turncoat decisions instead, and defeat him in ‘10.
I’m sure he won’t let it happen again!
Dude must have uncorked one of Ted Kennedy’s bottles…
Why couldn’t Specter have done something incredible last week when I was in Vegas?
What a waste of Good JuJu…..
The sight of the noose tends to focus the mind.
He’s still a RINO and still needs to go.
Did he read the bill?
If he’s still willing to reconsider it he still has no principles. Bye Bye Benedict Arlen. See you in the unemployment like next year.
Well, that killed it for me for sure. What’s there to reconsider? That big labor liberal thuggery is OK?
Specter the liberal leopard cannot change his spots. He’s simply holding out for a better deal (from the Democarats)…for himself!
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Specter is a boil and not to be trusted. I hope that this term is his last.
*He is still a traitor to the constitution and cannot be trusted one iota; RINO’s like him are even more dangerous than Dems like Nazi Pelosi because, while you know she is unprincipled, he is an even lower life form; The RNC needs to primary this rat bastard out; I’ve got some money for the right candidate; Are you up to speed yet Michael Steele?
Please, MM – correlation is NOT causation. If a politician’s ends happen to be associated with a legislative decision that is conservative, that politician is not conservative.
I don’t care if he acts like a conservative – he is not one. Not even close. And headlines that make it seem like has made a conservative decision instead of one to save and/or feather his own nest just irritate me.
In Arlen Spector’s mind? Yes, thuggery is A-ok.
“I’ll change my vote when you give me what I want.” Isn’t that what he’s saying?
Sticking to
Principles
Enough to
Coddle
The
Embezzling
Radicals
George McGovern is opposed to the card check bill. I don’t imagine anyone thinking that man is conservative.
Jimmy Hoffa is unavailable for comment
Get this RINO outta there so a more conservative Republican can get clobbered worse than Rick Santorum!
Spector is doing what he has done for eons…that is run conservative when he’s up for re-election, and then veer democrat the rest of the time.
He has been a thorn in the side for conservatives long enough -throw him out!
Somewhere, pigs are flying…
George McGovern became a born-again capitalist when he saw how difficult it was for him to set up a bed-and-breakfast that he wanted to do after he retired from the
Senate. (this does not mean he became a social conservative on other matters)
Santorum was a casualty of Bush. Bush is gone now.
more proof that the end is near…
Since it seems the DHems are 1 vote shy… I am assuming that both Arkansas Senators, (Both Democraps) Pryor and Lincoln are on board with this Wal-mart destruction Bill.
Wal-mart is not going to be too happy with them…and I believe Lincoln is up for re-election in 2 years. That is going to be a big problem for her!!!!
Sorry, but I wouldn’t trust Specter any further than I could throw him.
And with my bad knee, I shouldn’t be throwing anybody….
Too little, too late. Goodbye Arlen!
Specter has been a disappointment for so long that I have a hard time mustering any amount of respect for his actions when he remembers that he is supposed to be a republican.
Three just did a fly-by outside of my office window.
We shall take it and run with it.
I love the ironic names that the Democrats give to bills like these to demonize those who don’t vote for them. Why not just call it “We Love Blue Collar Workers and Anyone Who Doesn’t Vote For This Hates Them” Act and just be done with it?
well, ‘thuggery’ does rhyme with ‘buggery’.
There ya go.
Sphincter has obviously been hitting the sauce.
I am at a loss when trying to find a reason why voters re-elect people like Arlen Specter, and Joe Biden. Both have had medical problems with their brains. Is it possible there are lingering problems for these two? They haven’t released medical records, so we don’t know.
Brain trauma…injury to the brain…I don’t care what doctors may say, I believe anyone who has suffered brain trauma has a questionable ability to think coherently, and it is easily covered up.
Can anyone explain why a lifelong Republican suddenly starts making contrary decisions after 1993? And, don’t make a stupid comment like “He finally sees the light!” (Specter’s brain tumors occurred in 1993 & again in 1996.)
And Joe Biden? People try to play off all his faux pas’ as “just Joe being Joe.” I don’t buy that, either. (Biden had brain aneurysms in 1988.) Aside from being a Northeast liberal, there has to be a better reason he goes to “Loonsville” with such frequency.
I think the most logical explanation for their actions are that they are as a result of their ages or mental deficiencies. The problem is their thoughtless actions by elected officials affect us all. Fortunately for them, however, thoughtlessness seems to be en vogue in Washington, nowadays.
Did you know that they found him? …. in the Yellow Pages …. under ‘Cement’.
If the election were held today, Specter wouldn’t make it to the general election. His poll numbers in PA are horrible. Specter is 79 years old, has a history of cancer and is trying to retain a seat when many in the state are still seeking “CHANGE”.
If this bill does pass, you are going to see the worst inflation, a further errosion of jobs fleeing overseas/along with corporate offices leaving the country and just what we don’t need right now – less tax dollars flowing into D.C.. The genius that keeps pushing all these programs either flunked economics 101 or it was never offered in law school. Has ‘Bambi ever balanced a checkbook?
As far as Specter, I’m grateful for this one vote of sanity but hold a deep grudge where he’s voted for so many other bills that hurt the country. Can’t trust him.
Response to #38, Right On…Specter is not a life-long Republican. He started his political career in Philadelphia as a Democrat.
A broken clock is right twice a day.
The fact that he has stated he would reconsider the “Card check” initiative tells me he’s still a piece of garbage. I remember him when I was at Penn State in the 70’s, he was a Democrat. I have no trust…. he and Murtha must go… and Pennsylvania?, I fought for you in Vietnam and bled…. what are you worth?… I now live in MN, and still must fight….. I’m getting tired.
I don’t see how a change in the economy justifies denying a secret ballot…
Now I sort of understand Michelle Obama. For the first time in my life, I’m proud of Arlen Specter.
I guess all this means is that he isn’t so abysmally thick that he doesn’t realize when his feet are being held to the fire. That really is a lot compared to most people in D.C.
Of course, he also promises that if we let up on him, he’ll turn around and push the dagger right into our backs yet again. So, I still see this as a point for the pressure of the conservative movement, not for Specter.
Sorry Arlen, but you’ve proven that the threat of a primary is the only thing that can make you even pretend to listen. DLTDHY and all that… Toomey ‘10.
This is a bit OT.
The IndyMedia cowards are back on my blog defending the indefensible. Unlike them, I don’t delete their comments, preferring to let others see their stupidity at work.
Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. IndyMedia is Anti-1st Amendment! The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST!!!!
ECS
A broken clock is still right twice a day.
But still wrong every other time.
Look for the RINO label,
When voting for a sleaze or a louse.
Remember somewhere our country’s failing,
Our taxes paying for someone else’s house.
Though we work hard they’re still complaining,
Thanks to the RINOS we’re paying more each day.
So, always look for the RINO label,
it says we’re able to fake it in the U.S.A.
(gotta have have fun once in while ..)
what real conservative gives a hoot what Arlen Specter does after his liberal sell out. The man has shown he is a backstabbing left-wing loon and no amount
of false do the right thingism can change that.
Even a broken clock tells the time correctly twice a day.
So, what the strength of the economy have to do with a foundation of democracy, the secret ballot?
He has been a snake oil salesman since he cooked up the debunked single bullitt theory from the Kennedy assassination.That’s what got him his senate seat anyway.Dirty deeds.
Sorry, but I just gotta mention this. I was looking at that smiling picture of Odumbo on the front page of Drudge. You know,…if you were to put an orange wig on him, a red nose and paint his mouth white, why, he’d look just like a black Bozo the clown…just sayin.
Political language for “Who ever gives my campaign funds the most money”
Specter = a Traitor RINO SOB.
PA voters need to send him packing.
Michelle, your many commenters, and the many great authors, bloggers and commenters throughout the conservative blogesphere.
God Bless You All
I am over 70 years old and I have never seen our basic governmental and moral fundamentals under attack from so many directions at once. From labor, from the education establishment, finance and business, internal and external criminal sources, illegal immigrants, and members of our own government including our President, key administrative members, our bureaucracies, and a host of members of our congress.
The Power Play Opera being orchestrated from ??? is beyond comprehension. That is why it is so very vital that these forums along with talk radio and such as Fox News do their thing to make this morass reasonably understandable.
To all of you . Keep up the good work
PC is Thought Control
LEE
Like I said….
Maybe we need to pull one of those Democratic tricks and everyone temporarily move to Pennsylvania just in time to vote Spector out of office.
Take it while you can get it America…then PA can kick his arse in the primaries.
As I will NOT contribute to the RNC or the Senate and House Republican Committees this cycle I am waiting for individual candidates to support-ABA
Anybody But Arlen.
If Toomey does run I will send a check.
ABA–Main is a lost cause–they need a tsunami to wash across the land and score the chaff.
Make certain somebody brings along a really precise GPS to be certain we stay inbounds of his outrageously gerrymandered districtt
I’d like to weigh in here but I can’t. My thoughts on Arlen Specter can not legally be expressed.
More than likely he made this announcement in an effort to get Der Fuhrer to up any offers he has been making to sway his vote.
I would LOVE to see the list of things he has received from Der Fuhrer for all his votes just the last 2 months. Can you just imagine what he received in return for his yes vote on the Stimulus Package alone?
So just what will they need to offer him to push this thing through? Is he just going to keep to the Dems offers? Or is he going to accept them from the Big Union Lobby as well?
Don’t count him as a “no” vote until it is all finished.
That’s RAAAAAAACIST!!!!!*
*(follow the link)
But that’s a 0.138% accuracy rate.
#62 – I apologize. I hit alt-tab too many times and got confused between Specter and Murtha threads.
Being a PA voter who upbraided Specter for his past treachery, I got a long, dithering email from him explaining his position on this issue, along with a transcript of his floor speech. I hit fairly quickly. God, I hope Pat Toomey gives it another go in 2010!
It is sad to see the damage done by liberal socialism in the state of Pennsylvania. What is needed is a complete turnover of every elected politician regardless of party. Yes, there are some good people there, but the seeds of national decay are everywhere in Washington and the house cleaning must be done.
Also, let’s not forget that there are a number of useless bureaucracies that are actually counterproductive. Departments of Education, Commerce and Labor come to mind, but even NASA has become a bureaucratic stumbling block to innovation.