Representative Joe Sestak worked hard on behalf of Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania. Could this be why he's being snubbed in favor of faux "fair weather" Dem Specter?
Today Democratic voters were presented with a choice in the Democratic Primary for the 2010 Senatorial race. I for one am ecstatic that this choice now exists. That choice is between “new” faux Democrat Arlen Specter and *real* Democrat, Joe Sestak, Congressional Representative from Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.
The Wayne (Pa.) Independent has posted a brief tease of an interview with Rep. Joe Sestak, in which the congressman declares unambiguously that he’ll challenge Sen. Arlen Specter in the 2010 Democratic primary:
In an interview with The Wayne Independent Wednesday morning, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa.,confirmed his intention to run against Specter, a longtime Republican who switched to the Democratic party earlier this year.
“I am going to get into the race against Arlen Specter … for senator,” Sestak said in his first media interview as part of a three-week tour through all of the commonwealth’s 67 counties.
When Arlen Specter announced that he was switching to the Democratic Party I have to admit, I had feelings of ambivalence. While I’ve almost exclusively voted Democrat, Arlen Specter was one of the few Republicans who has received my vote on more than one occasion. Why? Because he’s never been a ultra conservative and has done some good things for our state. Plus, it’s been quite a while since Arlen has had a legitimate contender in the Senatorial race. In any event, I certainly preferred Specter to the nutjob the Republican party was planning to back — Pat Toomey. So when Specter’s independent streak got him in trouble with his own party when he voted for the Stimulus bill and he switched to the Democratic Party, I quickly weighed the options. If it was a race between Specter and Toomey, surely the weight of the Democratic electorate along with those who’ve respected his independence would ensure that Specter saved Pennsylvania from the devastation that would accompany a Toomey win.
But then I heard…
Joe Sestak was making noise that he was interested in running. Joe Sestak has been a tireless progressive working on behalf of the middle class. His labor voting record is 96%. This guy would be a GREAT senator for our state, and Specter, well…clearly his motivation was political and not driven by concern for the people of Pennsylvania. In fact, he was heard to say before switching that the republicans should back him because if they didn’t (gasp!) they would lose that seat to a Democrat! OMG! We can’t have that!
Arlen Specter freely acknowledges that his switch from Republican to Democrat was driven by politics as much as principles. “I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate,” he declared upon his defection.
So lo and behold, Specter changes to Democrat! Presto chango and having two democratic senators in Pennsylvania was not such a bad idea after all. Sure…it didn’t have anything to do at all with his own party abandoning him.
But to the real point. Specter’s announcement was almost immediately followed by an open arms routine from Obama, Biden, and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. You would’ve thought they found the goose that laid the golden egg. Everyone move aside…let the king through. Uh…But what about Representative Sestak? You know, the *real* Democrat? Surely the Democratic establishment will kick their new friend to the curb to make sure we have a good liberal candidate to vote for. Any minute now and the endorsement will come I thought…any minute…tap tap tap…
Word out of Washington is that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the political wise-guys from the Obama administration plan on “visiting with” Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Joe Sestak. Their objective? A clear message: Get off of the stage and out of a possible primary race against “incumbent” Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter.
Whoa! The administration gave him the big “get the eff outta the race! routine??? WTF??? Would Joe step aside and be a good little soldier? Not if his strong support of Hillary Clinton through out the primaries was any indication of his strength and integrity. Joe responded to the O’ministration’s backing of Specter over him by proclaiming rightfully that “There aren’t any kingmakers in the Democratic Party.”
We all know what this is really about don’t we? It’s certainly not because the Democratic Party has extracted any promises of support for critical legislation from Arlen Specter. In fact, Obama apparently welcomes Specter’s dissenting opinions:
“I don’t expect Arlen to be a rubber stamp,” Obama said. “In fact, I’d like to think that Arlen’s decision reflects recognition that this administration is open to many different ideas and many different points of view.”
Since there doesn’t seem to be any demonstrable “up-front” benefit for liberals, the only plausible explanation is that Joe is being punished for his support of Hillary Clinton during the primaries. Thankfully, that hasn’t deterred Joe.
I for one will proudly support Joe Sestak. He’s the real deal and in it for the people of Pennsylvania. But will the Pennsylvania Democrats keep drinking the kool-aid and vote for whoever teh precious endorses or against the (gasp!) Hillary Clinton supporter. (just ask Harrisburg mayor Reed about the CDS that crushed his lengthy career, or the great Terry McAuliff who was castigated by his primary opponent for supporting the vajayjay against teh One).
I think Joe Sestak himself, in questioning the benefit of Specter’s Democratic candidacy, said it best:
What’s in it for Pennsylvanian’s in the long term?
Filed under: General
Great. The thing I will be watching for is if Bill Clinton campaigns for or has a fund raiser for Sestak.
If Bill does we know the war is on within the Democratic Party.
I have already removed my protective gear from the back of the closet in anticipation (hope) of needing it for the upcoming battle.
Go Bill. Go Hil.
Yes,.. that presents a big conundrum for Bill and Hill. Ed Rendell is an even bigger Clinton supporter and he’s behind Specter.
Not a good situation.
Why is it not a good situation?
Specter is not a Democrat, not a liberal, not a progressive. Why would we want him? The no primary for Specter thing is just Reid, Biden and Obama playing macho man. It is not to advance Democratic policy.
I guess I don’t really care what Ed does – I just want a real Democrat in the Senate.
No, not a good situation that Bill and Hill are in. They should do the right thing…but Eddie’s been really good to them. ‘
I also want the “REAL” Dem. I’m just not sure that Bill and Hill won’t stay neutral.
In my original post I did say – Go Bill. Go Hil. But, I am really only talking about Bill. Hillary won’t do anything – can’t do anything. Its up to Bill.
And could Ed change his mind now that an actual Democrat is in the race?
Not from what I’m hearing. Ed has been trying to get Specter in the party for years. His commitment is probably solid. And you’re right. Hillary couldn’t do anything even if she wanted. My bet is that Bill stays neutral.
I really like Ed, but i feel like he’s been slipping this last year… didn’t he say chris matthews would make a good senator? i’ll see if i can find a link.
here
http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2008/12/ed-rendell-loses-his-mind-endorses.html
Yes and he looks awful…he’s aged alot. It can’t be easy to be an actual Dem these days
IIRC there were threats to recruit primary challengers for elected Democrats who weren’t singing Obama’s praises enthusiastically enough.
Yes I remember that. Poor Stephanie Tubbs Jones also received some of those threats.
Once again, there’s no better time to do the right thing by liberals and this administration is taking the right-hand turn.
That statement about being unwilling to be judged by the electorate is absolutely incredible. He should run, lose, and then just form the “Pennsylvania for Specter” party.
Yes…what a piece of shit comment
It’s like they’re so arrogant they’ve forgotten how this whole thing works. “Who are these peons to judge ME?” Well, we call them voters, and they can get in the way of your divinely inspired right to rule over them
They have no fear of the people that “Supposedly” vote them into office. They have been gaming the system for many many years. They don’t answer to us, so why should they fear any reprisal’s from their electorate?
Take a page out of Joe Lieberman’s handbook?
Interesting stuff, SOD.
Could Sestak lead a revolt?
I will definitely be there for him. Sestak is a good guy — he’s got the right interests at heart.
Dang, I’m going to have to re-register as a Democrat in order to vote for Joe in the primary now. Was quite happy with the “no affiliation” on my voter card.
Maybe we should “Bus” onto the state and “Help” Sestak out. Why not? It worked for Obama…snark
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised about Obama and the Democratic leadership gaming the system for their own benefit.
The last thing they want is for the voters to decide elections.
This has become the most interesting aspect of the Obama worship. Its practically schizo. I still lock horns with Obama supporters over at Digby (gotta stop goin there). They were insulting PUMA over there big time in the comments and Clinton in particular. But at the same time, they are gonna support Sestak over Obama’s wishes, or ay least some are. This is gonna present a conundrum and finally they may get a clue about what is going on with the Obama Administration. They still think he is above the politics of the office. They are fixing to witness a very foolish decision from the man himself. Who will they choose to follow is anyone’s guess. I’m betting on the real Democrat in this race even if he doesn’t get the nod from the DNC/Obama coalition. That is unless the ACORN machine is unleashed again.
I was just over at Hullaballoo – there are two PDS posts, one from Digby and another by Tristero.
Palin is a mainstream politician – she just paddles her canoe along the opposite bank from us.
Thay didn’t hate Bush this much.
It isn’t hate. It’s fear.
In lots of these PDS posts, you can almost smell their flop sweat. She scares them shitless for some reason.
This is a really good article by Doug MacKinnon, who defended Bill Clinton against a VF slur, defending Palin. He also explains a bit about what he thinks is goin on and why.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/douglas-mackinnon/palin-vanity-fair-envy-an_b_224632.html
I will not support palin,because she does not support other women. She supports an initative that requires a minor to have a parent consent for an abortion and must prove she was abused by a judge. What if a 16 year gets pregnant by rape or by her boyfriend and does not want to tell her parents,because her parents may throw her out or won’t accept abortion. What does that girl do?
Link: http:www.elections.alaska.gov/petitions/09PIMA.pdf
Paraphrasing: the unemancipted minor female can get a notrized statement of the abuse by getting confirmation from a 21 year old,sibling,social worker(who has already investigated,grandparent or step parent.
The female that is anticipating real abuse after the notification happens is sure out of luck.
Go to palin’s twitter page where she tweets “sign me up:LG’s office certified the Parent notification initiative.I’m ready to be 1st in line to sign petition suppoering AK’s families”.
http://initiatives.alaska.gov
http:www.juneauempire.com/stories/070209/sta_458205028.shtml
That’s your problem. Parental consent laws are already in effect where I live so that would mean no change.
If you’re one of those women who feel you’re only a support system for a uterus, you’re making a viable decision.
That is my problem. That is why the democrats in Alaska are trying to stop it.
My concern is that minor who gets abused or raped by a family member and has to wait until child services investigates to prove she can get an abortion and how long do you think the investigation will last. Then a judge has to approve of the abortion.
Sorry to me it does not seem right. Maybe I am wrong, I probably am.
I disagree with the bill, but it’s not accurate to say that the young woman would have to prove abuse. I read it, and it gives another reason the judge could grant the okay:
(4) an allegation of either or both of the following:
(A) that the complainant is sufficiently mature and well enough
informed to decide intelligently whether to have an abortion without notice to or the consent of a parent, guardian, or custodian; or
(B) that one or both of the minor’s parents or the minor’s
guardian or custodian was engaged in physical abuse, sexual abuse, or a
pattern of emotional abuse against the minor, or that the consent of a parent,
guardian, or custodian otherwise is not in the minor’s best interest;
So according to this, even if there is no abuse, the girl would be granted the right if she sufficiently demonstrated that she was adult enough to decide, and knew what she was doing.
Again, I disagree with this (though I do think there is a cutoff point where some adult input is needed in that decision. I don’t think a 17 year old needs to be considered a minor in this, but I also don’t think a 12-year-old is capable of making an informed decision to abort. SOMEONE – a parent, a social worker, a judge, needs to be involved in that case.) But if you are going to oppose it, at least know what you are opposing, and be accurate in what it says.
But if a girl is compentent to have sex and it was not rape why would she have to prove she is compentent to a judge or a social worker. It is her body. It does not make sense to me. To me this is not supporting women and issues like this is why I won’t or can’t defend or suppoet her.
If a 12 year old is raped I hope she does get the morning after pill or something, instead of having to wait. How can a 12 year old rape/abuse victim prove she is mental stable to have an abortion?
The reason I even posted was because to prove I am not scared of her or jealous because she is so beautiful. I don’t like her policies or where she stands on issues that I care about. I judge her on her actions not on her looks or personality, but on her policies and actions. The same way I judged hillary,bill, and obama. That is why I voted for hill and bill and did not support or vote for obama,mcain,or palin.
I made it clear that I do not support this bill, and no one here is promoting voting for Palin, who by the way is not even running for anything, so I’m not sure why you are making this a big deal. All we’ve said is that the attacks on her are nasty, sexist, and personal, and we find that wrong, and are opposed to sexism no matter who it is aimed at.
You are arguing with a figment of your imagination, and objecting to things that no one here has said.
With all due respect, children (anyone under the age of 18) shouldn’t be considered “competent” to have sex.
Do children(anyone under 18) have sex? Yes. Should they be considered “competent” for making that decision? Uh,no. I’d argue that just because you can have sex doesn’t mean you are competent enough to understand the consequences of the act itself.
While I disagree with forcing a victim of rape or incest to jump through hoops in order to obtain an abortion, I do think that a parent or adult should be involved in the process of obtaining one. The procedure is not without risks and an adult should be able to monitor the minor for complications.
I have not read the bill but I will straight up say that I have just as many “problems” with the actions of Democrats as I would with this one “action” of Palin. Therefore I would not consider this enough to deter me from voting for her should she choose to run against Obama in 2012.
That’s my personal opinion and I spoak for myself, of course, not the site.
Cwaltz
Vote for whoever you want,not my business or concern. I write, email, and call to so-called democrats and voice my opinion makes no differnce. But I will hold them accountable by not working for them,donating,or voting for them.
Believe me this is not the only issue or reason why I won’t vote for palin or why I will work against her of she runs for re-election or for president. If by some miracle hillary is in the 2012 president’s race. She has my full support before I would work against palin.
Bush should get a nostalgia wave from our friends. He wasn’t exactly on the front lines like Messiah, but he did his part to keep the Oval all male for 8 years, that’s got to be worth something. And his policies couldn’t have been bad if Our Lord’s adopting them all, albeit in a hopier changier fashion.
Well the Obama supporters *better* vote for Sestak after all the screaming and crying they did about real democrats would never vote for a republican. Morons.
It will be!
In in for Sestak and Maloney.
Do we have an actblue page for sestak? I know I have a couple of extra bucks in paypal I can give him.
I haven’t been able to locate a campaign site for him yet. He did just make it official today.
As far as why Obama is backing specter, it’s most likely that he promised him backing if he backed Obama on a couple of big bills. It’ll be interesting to see how he votes on Pelosi/Reid’s cap and trade and healthcare. Baby’s milk money says yay on both.
Cap and trade is very like DOA since the house vote was so close.
As for healthcare…all he has to do is vote for cloture. Any Dem that filibusters healthcare should be GONE next election.
If it’s not a good bill someone should filibuster it. Bernie Sanders may do it.
The senate bill has been released and it includes 1) a public option; 2) an employer mandate; and 3) no tax on benefits.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlMpJGn28kqCcgU-aGcYE_ZHW-ywD99612R00
Maybe, we’ll see what gets voted on though. Fool me once …
true that…I haven’t heard that fat lady singing yet
That’s the HELP Cmte bill, not the Senate bill. Even then the public option is not well defined yet.
Let me know when they put this together with whatever the Finance Cmte spews forth.
yes, that’s why I didn’t even bother to do a post. Who knows what the final product will be.
hey i like this guy of course he should run its up to the people to chose who they want to represent them . not BO or any on else if i lived id probably campaign for him
Myiq, Glad you went over there to catch those pieces. I was called insane at one point. Seems the Obama folks just can’t resist calling people names and attacking personally. Thats all they got. I’d like to give a shout-out to Bud White if I may also. Saw him there too givin em some hell. They sure like to hate on the PUMAs over there alot while Digby sits quietly. I also notice everytime they do a Palin hit piece, they always hit Clinton too. They are afraid of girlz.
“They are afraid of girlz” yes they are these to girls scare the CR** out of them
If Sestak loses it will be at the hands of the failbots that will do what they did to Terry McAuliff and call him a raycist for not supporting Obama in the primary. The fact that that occurred is not in dispute. Plus, Specter is making the rounds touting his endorsement from their celebrity leader, Biden, and Rendell.
It will take the true liberals to pull this off. Of course the failbots will never chastise Obama for supporting Specter over Sestak.
If Sestak loses, it may very well be due to the fact that he isn’t the only primary challenger against Spector. The lay of the land right now is a vote for Spector and a vote against Spector. Split the “against” vote and Spector wins.
Until the “followers” of teh One hold his feet to the fire and demand that he endorse and support the REAL dem, they are nothing but hypocrites.
I wish I did but I doubt that will ever happen in a big way. There’s too much emotional investment in the guy. It actually seems to be happening around my town among the “person on the street” types, but the more elite are quite insulated.
Yeah, but they put a moral gloss on being hypocrites. They’re the first ones to piously cry about party loyalty when it suits them, but when it doesn’t they have no shame at all about slinging the opposite line about bipartisanship. They have no moral center so they feel no embarassment at all about constantly twisting themselves into pretzels of hypocrisy.
“You will defer to the Almighty Party in all things, which includes being bi-partisan only on command, if WE deem it an area where we wish you to be bi-partisan.”
I actually heard Bill Press (obot leftie radio talk show) interviewing Specter today and asked if the party was going to ask Sestak to step aside in the interest of “party unity.” I couldn’t believe they were trotting out the unity pony already.
They should get Ted “I Challenged A Sitting President of My Own Party” Kennedy out there spreading this message.
Correction, must prove she was abused to a judge and a judge has to believe her. Sorry about the mistake.
re. your post above, I don’t remember anyone hear asking anyone to vote for Palin. Most people here don’t agree with here political views.
That being said, it seems we’d all be ahead of the game if we treated one another with a bit of respect. The PDS on display is grotesque!
See my reply above. That is not technically true.
I’m not in favor of parental consent laws at all, but again, this differs from the position of most Democratic politicians how? All we ever hear from them is that this is a reasonable compromise, a way to find common ground, and if we don’t agree we’re inflexible extremists who need to shut up. Once again I don’t see why I’m supposed to give all the Democrats a free pass on this same position and vote for them, yet hold it against Palin as a dealbreaker.
Once again I don’t see why I’m supposed to give all the Democrats a free pass on this same position and vote for them, yet hold it against Palin as a dealbreaker.
Oops, hit enter too soon. Meant to add: Bingo.
I do hold her accountable like I do all the other democrats or I like to call them chickenshits when it comes to issues like this. I email,write, and call they listen to us as much as obama listens to hillary.
I don’t have PDS. Many due but many more don’t and judge her on her policies and actions. Just because we don’t defend or support her doesn’t mean she scares the cr*p out of us or because she is the hottest grandma.
I don’t have the time or energy to judge a politican on anything other than where they stand on the issues. That is why I will never understand the obots who judged hillary on everything but where she stood on the issues.
wow. you found one issue you disagree with her on. Hell, I disagreed with Bill Clinton on several issues but he was the greatest president of our generation.
It’s where their interests lie…is it the corporatocracy or the American citizen?
No there are many things I disagree with her on like the alaska pipeline, energy, ethics,abortion and rural issues. Especially emmonak issues like tweeting that 50 percent of the residents met their subsistence needs and the other 50 percent will and saying she got this from emmonak resident nick tucker when it was a lie according to tucker.
http://www.mudflats.net/2009/06/30/the-fisher-story-gets-fisher/
http://www.adn.com/rural/western/story/849358.html
http://www.themudflats.net/2009/06/the-hell-with-sarah-palin-an-update-from-emmonak
So according to you palin is the greatest gov ever do you live in alaska.
Palin’s interest are not the citizens just look at the intiative and yes others (dem or repub)who support this are not looking out for their citizens either.
She never said anything like that. You’re great at making up arguments to argue against, you should move to DC.
I think Specter became a Democrat because he thought, hey if BO can pull it off, so can I.
Sestak needs to get his name out there. Specter is like a Pennsylvania institution here he’s been in so long.
I like Sestak. I may send him a few bucks.
Since I kept my registration Democrat, I’ll be voting for Joe. In the general I’ll vote for the nut job republican, who ever that is.
What is happening with Hill? She is sidelined for the Russia and Italy trip. IT is looking like she and Impotus may have some deep differences on foreign policy. With the economy still quaking deeply, Obama’s #s may start to really fracture. I hope Putin and Medvedev make an ass out of him and Hill will be in the clear. But I think something is going on—not like Hill to be sidelined with a broken bone—-she is such a steel magnolia. Any thoughts or info out there?
The rumors are the Obama is trying to completely marginalize her and move a lot of State Dept business over to the WH under Axlerod.
Are you talking about palin or stateofdisbelief. Palin did say that stuff check her twitter page and the links given.
I’m talking about StateofDisbelief.
Okay, I was not sure.
Axelrod as SOS. Now there is a real change. Even Bush had a real SOS and not a political hack for foreign policy. I can not see Hill laying down for that rollover.
Yep, that’s the other part of the rumor, that he’s trying to make her quit with these shanananigans so her political career will be over. Typical Obama, who wants competence when he can play petty political games. The other rumor is that Hill is trying to fight back by hiring Blumenthal and leaking rumors about Obama’s disrespect to let him know she won’t go quietly.
I don’t believe it – Obama isn’t that stupid.
Will Hillary as his SoS Obama is in a no lose situation. If our foreign policy is successful then Obama gets the credit.
If it is deemed a failure then he has Hillary to put the blame on – and the media and the party establishment hate Hillary so they will play along.
Obama can continue to scapegoat Hillary 3 years after she’s gone, and the media and political establishment will continue to play along. It’s not like he hasn’t raised CDS and passing the buck to artforms.
As long as she is his SoS she won’t be out campaigning for the 2012 nomination
Don’t tease me, I would give anything to watch the frothing, spittle flecked rage that would inspire.
Oh, if only she would wake up one day and just go eff this, I’m going out there and telling all of you exactly what I think of you, no holes barred.
Remember bill said she is a sticker,she sticks to the things and people she loves and cares about. We all know she loves and cares for America and Americans and she loves working for the state department. He would have to do something so stupid or dangerous to her or America for her to leave. She works with whatever she has around her and makes the best of it and her best is a hell of a lot better than obama’s best.
This is the best explanation I’ve ever seen for progressive PDS:
“Nobody boos a nobody”
She scares the shit out of the Failbots. If they really thought she was as bad as they claim she is they wouldn’t waste time talking about her.
It really, really bothers them that no matter how many times they tell her to know her place, they can’t make her go away.
They won’t let her go away.
It’s not the wingnuts who are obsessing over her, it’s the lefty bloggers and the media. The main reason she is in the news is because they keep talking about her.
They’re trying to make money off it. Nothing will send upperclass twits out to buy overpriced magazine like another hit piece on the u—– hick b—-. They’re responding to the hate as much as driving it.
Since Joe Sestak, is a supporter of Hill’s , I hope he learned the inner party lesson of her campaign : Keep fighting. There is NOTHING to gain from stepping aside for these people . Look at the political road kill who did….Kerry, Richardson , Edwards ( though he was set to blow up anyway) etc. Hillary is the only one who got anything
By next fall the discontent could be such that Mr. Sestak, could benefit from it greatly. He needs to at least keep that door open.