why would a democrat vote for arlen specter

[spanone]

since his 'switch' he has continued to vote 'like' a republican.

so we're basically getting a republican senator with a 'd' next to his name.

[OmahaBlueDog]

1. I can think of a couple of reasons

1. to avoid a younger, more strident, Santorum-like alternative
2. at Specter's age, you have to consider he may not finish his term, and, in the near term, Rendell would nominate the replacement

[spanone]

3. if that were my reasons, i'd vote for a younger non-santorum-like democrat in the primary

[OmahaBlueDog]

8. I suspect many will

.. but I suspect the DNC is going to back Specter

[spanone]

9. yep, President Obama already said he will stump for him...

[thunder rising]

5. So, we cannot lose by primarying him...Joe Sestak's up. I just donated $100

google him and let's get this party started.

[OmahaBlueDog]

15. Sorry, as a non-Pennsylvanian, there are other non-Nebraska elections in which I'd rather invest

1) Trying to win Mel Martinez' seat in Florida, Kit Bond's seat in Missouri, Judd Gregg's seat in NH, or George Voinovich's seat in Ohio

2) The rumored defense of Barbara Boxer's seat against the Governator

3) Trying to keep Roland Burris's seat from falling to the GOP

On edit: If I were a Pennsylanian, I'd probably be on board with a primary challenge. As it stands, I look at the defection as a windfall that allows us to gain seats elsewhere.

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. Unless Sestak loses the primary and his House seat goes GOP

He won the seat in 2006 largely because the GOP incumbent had corruption allegation, not over policy differences.

[Kingofalldems]

31. Can you prove he won because of corruption?

:shrug:

[pnwmom]

2. It would depend on who his primary opponents were and how well they would

be estimated to do against the likely Rethug opponent.

If there is a strong, well financed and organized Democrat opposing him, great. We shall see.

[mmonk]

4. The D word. People think it makes a difference instead of the

actual opinions of the person or candidate.

[thunder rising]

6. So, if the Wingers put up Toomey ... we can put up a real Democrat ... I think we win.

[spanone]

7. i would hope so, but i don't know pennsylvania politics very well

[Fire1]

10. Diversity and the 'big' tent.

[Iggo]

11. Why would a Democrat vote for Lieberman?

And just so you don't feel like I'm Pennsylvania-bashing or Connecticut-bashing, I'll throw me and my fellow Californians under the bus, too: Why would more than half of the voters vote Yes on Prop 8?

And when you answer those questions, what have we gained?

[spanone]

13. at least lieberman is an independent....i certainly wouldn't vote for him

[Vinca]

12. I'm listening to him right now on Meet the Press and all I can say

is I hope Joe Sestak can beat him in the primary.

[stray cat]

14. Independents and moderate dems and those who support medical research

[JackRiddler]

16. Indeed. And why do voters tolerate 7 terms for such obviously corrupt establishment barons?

It would be a consolation of sorts if a victorious challenger in the DEMOCRATIC primary unseated this gerontocratic mediocrity:

- whose 30 years in the Senate are distinguished by exactly no positive accomplishments and loyal service to money and to the political party most responsible for destroying this country (and the world);
- who now hops off the Titanic that he helped sink to see if nice suites are available on the other cruiser;
- who became a made man by helping to devise the absurd and insulting cover story for the murder of the president and the coup d'etat of November 1963.

Why do we tolerate these old, old men who have proven beyond any doubt what stuff they're made of?

[leftofthedial]

17. Same reason we vote for most of the "democrats" in politics.

He'll have a "D" beside his name. The other guy will have an "R."

He could vote like Attila the Hun and you'd still have half of DU supporting him so that "we" will win.

[Red Knight]

18. He sucked on MTP

He won't support a public healthcare alternative to compete with private healthcare. His whole approach seems to be investment in the NIH and prevention to lower costs. yeah--that's a piece but it doesn't come close to giving the country what it needs.

No thanks.

Every time he opens his mouth it sounds like it's a wink-wink to the Republicans. He's like a mole being planted.

I want him challenged.

Nothing should be handed to him. Period.

And if Obama helps him and campaigns for him--he deserves what he gets from Specter. I assume it won't be much unless there's a solid deal in the works. Why wouldn't Obama use his political might to help a real Democrat win the election? If this is only payback for the stimulus vote it sucks. That isn't nearly enough.

[JVS]

19. I never voted for him before and I have no intention of starting now unless I see some changes

[hileeopnyn8d]

20. I don't know

but in Pennsylvania they've been doing it since 1980. That 1980 election is the closest a Democrat has come to defeating Specter.

[jody]

21. Perhaps the same reason 52% of Independents & 9% of Republicans voted for Obama, they like his

platform better than his opponent, that's how politics works.

That's also why 10% of Democrats voted for McCain.

[spanone]

22. but will democrats like specter's platform?

[jody]

23. I don't know, I just responded to your OP question, "why would a democrat vote for arlen specter".

[TreasonousBastard]

24. Because the other guy will be a Republican-- Duh! And...

that other guy will be a wingnut Republican who will get great support in that part of Pennsylvania that isn't Philadelphia.

Part of the deal with Specter is that Sestak's future may be in something besides politics if he mounts a primary challenge. It being a deathmatch now, you won't hear anything from Sestak until he talks to all the PA party leaders and sees if he has any local support. Just a guess, but I don't think he'll get much, with both Obama and Rendell behind Specter.

But, there is always the slim possibility of a major backstabbing when they get what they need from Specter and he outlives his usefulness. We don't know what Rendell is promising Sestak to get him to go away for now.

Treasonous the Backyard Pundit

[spanone]

25. yes, but if specter offers nothing new, he's basically still a republican with democrats backing him

[TreasonousBastard]

27. So what? He caucuses with us and votes with us more than...

some other Democrats. Life ain't fair or easy-- he's what we got and I'll take the half loaf.

If I did live in PA, I doubt I'd support a primary challenge and risk that other asshole calling Sestak a flaming liberal and winning by a hair. Anything to avoid a debacle like Connecticut where half the Democrats tossed Lieberman just to have him come back slugging in the general. No, Specter probably wouldn't run as an independfant and screw things up, but I still live in respect of the Law of Unintended
Consequences.

Treasonous the Unheroic

[NorthCarolina]

26. Why would a Democrat vote for ANY

of these folks?

Bright, Bobby (D-AL-2),
Griffith, Parker (D-AL-5)
Davis, Artur (D-AL-7)
Ross, Mike (D-AR-4)
Donnelly, Joe (D-IN-2)
Ellsworth, Brad (D-IN-8)
Melancon, Charles (D-LA-3)
Peterson, Collin (D-MN-7)
Childers, Travis (D-MS-1)
Taylor, Gene (D-MS-4)
Shuler, Heath (D-NC-11)
Boren, Dan (D-OK-2)
Carney, Christopher (D-PA-10)
Davis, Lincoln (D-TN-4)
Gordon, Barton (D-TN-6)
Tanner, John (D-TN-8)

This is the list of *Dems* who stood with the GOP in opposition to H.R 1913. I repeat, why would any Democrat vote for any of them?

[emulatorloo]

28. Conservative Pennsylvania Democrats like him, that's why. EOM

[Honeycombe8]

29. Don't you think the Dem Party made a deal with Specter?

It was Biden, a close friend of Specter's, who convinced him to make the change. And Obama blessed it, endorsed it.

I'm thinking....they've made a quid pro quo with Specter. He can't win the Repub Primary. If he switches, the Dems will support him, incl. the popular Obama-Biden team. In exchange...?????? There's always something in exchange.

I'm thinking...a vote on Obama's golden vision. The thing he ran on. The thing he envisions will be his legacy and will make a big change for the better for the average American. Healthcare reform. The Golden Goose.

That's what I think.