Posted on 04/28/2009 9:26:22 AM PDT by pillut48
Statement by Senator Arlen Specter
I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the Party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my Party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.
Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. 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.
Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate.
I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.
I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election.
I deeply regret that I will be disappointing many friends and supporters. I can understand their disappointment. I am also disappointed that so many in the Party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
And I’ll bet the farm that the majority of republicans still are civil to this garbage.
Infected butt wart!
Specter is just taking a small minded revenge against the voters.
I’m glad he’s gone. The more honest the choice gets, the better off for America. Let’s get rid of Snowe, Collins, McCain, etc., too.
They are also liberals, not to be relied on when conservative issues are on the line.
Better to have your friends on your side and your enemies on the other. Specter has been an enemy of conservatism for decades.
I blame the dumb masses in Pennsylvania.
This entire statement is basically a whiny “I would lose if I stayed Republican, so I am leaving so I can go Dem and probably win again,” which the jerk probably will considering it’s Pennsylvania.
Dems now have a fillibuster-proof majority.
Crap.
I say we clean house. Take McCain,Snowe,S Collins, G Smith (ore), Lugar.
LOL..I like it!
I can agree with that sentiment. Unfortunately, too many politicians represent their party rather than the people. This is what Washington warned against.
The purge of the RINOs has begun!
Will Republicans remove Specter from his committee assignments? Do Democrats have enough slots to keep Specter on the committees he's currently on now?
-PJ
What a POS. Take thev other one’s with you will ya??!! We need an AMERICAN Party- now!
It will totally serve this POS right if the majority of those 200,000 registrations switched as part of Operation Chaos last year and that when they all switch back to Republican Arlen will be wandering the campaign trail asking “Hey! Where’d everybody go?”
And he might want to remember he’s from a COAL state and what the Democrats want to do to that industry.....
And man oh man, they really are dumb. As clueless and uniformed as they come.
“.....I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election...”
__________________________________________________________
He claims to take on all comers.....but he won’t want to take on Toomey in the primary.
This is all about HIM. Spector has got a HUGE LIBERAL EGO and he simply cannot stand to loose in a primary.
Spector typifies what is so wrong with politicians today. It is about THEM and THEM ONLY. America, its Constitution, and people be DAMNED!!!!!
That's the day he switched parties.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.