General Discussion

LynneSin

(95,337 posts) Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:30 PM Oct 2012

I have to confess. Arlen Specter was one of the few Republicans I have ever voted for

Mind you it was back in 1986 before I was a full fledged 100% democrat only voter. But Arlen Specter was always a pretty decent guy even though, like all politicians, he had his flaws. Specter was one of those old-school republicans who knew how to work with the democrats across the aisle and he was moderate on many social issues including Pro-Choice, Pro-Environment, Pro-Union and a host of other issues that are more democrat causes than republicans.

In the end it got to be too difficult for Specter to be a republican and he finally switched to the Democratic Party. Unfortunately it didn't save Specter in the 2010 election when he ultimately lost to right-wing tea partier Pat Toomey.

Today we lost a good statesman with the passing of Arlen Specter

14 replies

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I have to confess. Arlen Specter was one of the few Republicans I have ever voted for (Original Post) LynneSin Oct 2012 OP

Even though a lot of folks here may diss him, he actually helped us in in Congress still_one Oct 2012 #1

Arlen was a Democrat from day one Cicada Oct 2012 #2

Me too. He was good for women, good for labor, and good for PA. MgtPA Oct 2012 #3

Hmmmm..... Tutonic Oct 2012 #9

The Anita Hill debacle was terrible, no question. MgtPA Oct 2012 #11

Arlen Spectors passing has made me sad today. Thank you for posting this thread. Melinda Oct 2012 #4

He didn't lose to Toomey Ruby the Liberal Oct 2012 #5

That's right - I stand corrected LynneSin Oct 2012 #7

He tried to promote stem cell projects along with Nancy and Ron Reagan. Thinkingabout Oct 2012 #6

Whereas I understand exactly where you're coming from PCIntern Oct 2012 #8

You know i have all the respect for what you are saying LynneSin Oct 2012 #13

He won my heart loyalsister Oct 2012 #10

I did once, too Sugarcoated Oct 2012 #12

If Mitt mentions "bipartisanship", Obama should mention Spector and how JoePhilly Oct 2012 #14

still_one

(92,216 posts)

1. Even though a lot of folks here may diss him, he actually helped us in in Congress

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:32 PM

Oct 2012

Cicada

(4,533 posts)

2. Arlen was a Democrat from day one

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:34 PM

Oct 2012

In Philadelphia Arlen was frozen out of politics by a corrupt Democratic machine - so he had to run as a Republican. But his sentiments were always more liberal.

MgtPA

(1,022 posts)

3. Me too. He was good for women, good for labor, and good for PA.

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:34 PM

Oct 2012

Bad for Bork, too...

Tutonic

(2,522 posts)

9. Hmmmm.....

Reply to MgtPA (Reply #3)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 11:04 PM

Oct 2012

Anita Hill?

MgtPA

(1,022 posts)

11. The Anita Hill debacle was terrible, no question.

Reply to Tutonic (Reply #9)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 09:51 AM

Oct 2012

Specter was solidly pro-choice for years, despite pressure from his own party as it lurched farther towards crazy town.

Melinda

(5,465 posts)

4. Arlen Spectors passing has made me sad today. Thank you for posting this thread.

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:36 PM

Oct 2012

Ruby the Liberal

(26,219 posts)

5. He didn't lose to Toomey

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:38 PM

Oct 2012

He was primaried out by Joe Sestak. IMO, he switched to D too close to the election. Should have done it years before.

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)

7. That's right - I stand corrected

Reply to Ruby the Liberal (Reply #5)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:54 PM

Oct 2012

I hope Sestak runs again - I like the guy!

Arlen should have retired at the end of his term. He knew he was in poor health and perhaps could have helped Sestak more.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)

6. He tried to promote stem cell projects along with Nancy and Ron Reagan.

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:52 PM

Oct 2012

I loved to hear him speak, made lots of sense. His removal from Congress was not good for the USA. Now the republicans are still staying behind the likes of Todd Akin.

PCIntern

(25,554 posts)

8. Whereas I understand exactly where you're coming from

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 09:56 PM

Oct 2012

See my post above/below...

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)

13. You know i have all the respect for what you are saying

Reply to PCIntern (Reply #8)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 10:17 AM

Oct 2012

I know there there was alot of bullshit with Specter's legacy but there was some good too.

loyalsister

(13,390 posts)

10. He won my heart

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 11:20 PM

Oct 2012

when I saw him speaking in a town hall meeting in favor of the public option. I was so sad to see him lose on 2010. RIP Senator

Sugarcoated

(7,724 posts)

12. I did once, too

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 10:13 AM

Oct 2012

but I was young and didn't know what I was doing. The name looked familiar to me. I did, however, vote for Clinton. Then I saw Specter at the Anita Hill hearings and realized what I had done.

He was the first, and last R I ever voted for.

JoePhilly

(27,787 posts)

14. If Mitt mentions "bipartisanship", Obama should mention Spector and how

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 10:21 AM

Oct 2012

Specter had to leave the TP-GOP. And then pivot to Lugar, with whom Obama had found common ground, and how the new TP-GOP threw him out too.

Compromise is now a dirty word for the entire GOP.

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