If Specter doesn't support Union card check, what good does he do?

[brentspeak]

[tekisui]

1. Cloture.

Time will tell.

[DefenseLawyer]

2. Procedure, my friend, procedure

It rarely matters what any one Senator's vote is on any particular bill. The Democrats have the votes to pass just about anything by simple majority vote. They have the luxury of letting particular Senators cast an opposing vote for local or personal reasons, those kinds of horse trades happen all the time. The republicans can't stop legislation from passing by a simple majority, however, they can filibuster (or threaten it in this day and age) to stop a bill from getting a vote. So long as Specter won't support a Republican filibuster, they are done. Then it doesn't matter how he ultimately votes on the legislation itself.

[dbackjon]

3. If Obama doesn't support Gay Marriage, what good does he do?

No Democrat supports every issue we want them to support. Having Specter as a D is better than as an R, even if there are areas he is to the right of what you may want.

Hell, even at a Progressive site like DU, there are many against equality for all Americans. There are many against unions.

[Ian David]

4. Stop calling it "card check." That's the Repuke framing. It's Employee Free Choice Act. n/t

[pnwmom]

5. He's pro-choice and he's pro-investment in medical research

and concerned about the uninsured.

As a Democrat, he won't have the pressure to vote against his conscience in those areas.