The Nation's John Nichols: A Liberal Democrat Returns to the Fold

[flpoljunkie]

A Liberal Democrat Returns to the Fold

posted by JOHN NICHOLS on 04/28/2009 @ 11:41am

Arlen Specter started his political life as a liberal Democrat.

And now the senior senator from Pennsylvania is returning to the fold.

Specter, who has served five terms in the Senate as the last of the old-school Rockefeller Republicans, has finally given up on his long, fruitless quest to revive the spirit of east-coast liberalism within what has become a hard-right party.

"Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right," the senator explained in a statement announcing his decision to leave the GOP fold. "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, is now U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, D-Pennsylvania.

The big news, of course, is that with Specter's move Democrats will have 59 members in their Senate caucus (57 Democrats and independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut). And the prospect that Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Al Franken will soon take the seat he won in last fall's Minnesota voting means that the Specter switch should give the Democrats the 60 seats they need to avert GPO filibusters of legislation and appointments.

For the Obama administration and the Democrats, Specter party switch is the most dramatic development since the election.

The senator's motivations for switching are no mystery.

more...

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/state_of_change/430835/a_liberal_democrat_returns_to_the_fold?rel=hpbox

[democrattotheend]

1. Interesting. I thought I remembered someone telling me that about Specter

That he started out as a Democrat, but ran in Philly as a Republican because it was too hard to win a Democratic primary and the Philly Democratic machine in those days was pretty corrupt.

[depakid]

2. Color me skeptical

Might be wise to wait and see how the votes line up on the issues before celebrating any sort of victory.

Specter was toast in 2010- and he knew it, so the case for some sort of ideological epiphany has yet to be made.

[flpoljunkie]

6. Did you read the entire post-particularly regarding EFCA? Intriguing.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/state_of_change/430835/a_liberal_democrat_returns_to_the_fold?rel=hpbox

Watch for the newest Democrat to be at the center of a move to tinker with the measure just enough to secure not just his vote but that of straying Democratic senators such as Arkansan Blanche Lincoln. (In fact, while Specter will need some cover for an EFCA switch, it will undoubtedly be easier to bring him over than Lincoln.)

And watch for Specter to start flying his liberal flag on a number of high-profile issues.

Specter was closely tied to Americans for Democratic Action, the liberal activist group, in his early campaigns as a Republican. The Philadelphia ADA backed his early campaigns on the Republican line.

Major unions, pro-choice, pro-gay rights and environmental groups, as well as supporters of scientific research have backed him over the years. It was not just that Specter voted right now and again, he maintained amiable relations with these groups, as well as with civil liberties organizatins such as the American Civil Liberties Union.

[depakid]

7. Yep- just not sure I buy the take

given Specter's history.

One thing for sure though, puts the pressure on regarding EFCA and a "no" vote raises "the Specter" of a challenger in the primary.

[Cha]

3. That's a hellava long

journey and one that needs to be monitored closely now.

[demokatgurrl]

4. I wouldn't go THAT far-

former Democrat, yes. Liberal? Nah.

[wyldwolf]

5. Liberal in the pre- '68 fashion perhaps

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. Was he claiming to be a "liberal democrat" when he covered up JFK's murder?

Seriously, The Nation's putting out this shit? :wtf: