What Is The Difference?

Arlen Specter and Pat Toomey, what is the difference between the two? See the real Arlen Specter.

Now that the polls show that Joe Sestak is gaining on Specter, Arlen has a change of heart and supports a public option for health care.

There’s been a lot of flip-floppin’ with Arlen Specter over the years. I’m not sure where he really stands on issues. Is Arlen Specter only changing his position on issues so that he can get re-elected or does he really believe what he is now saying?

As someone that has been sexually harassed on the job, I’m still finding it difficult to get past Arlen Specter’s treatment of Anita Hill. It is not easy to come forward and report sexual harassment. Clarence Thomas is Supreme Court Justice because of Specter’s bashing of Anita Hill.

How can we trust Arlen Specter?

Specter Now Supports a Public Option

Senator Specter has been traveling the state of Pennsylvania these past few weeks.  He has taken the time to meet with his constituents.  This past weekend, he attended the Berks County Democratic Committee Meeting and spoke with precinct leaders from Berks County.  Yesterday, he met with a group of health reform advocates from Pennsylvania.  He now supports a public option.

Speaking moments ago to a large and animated crowd of union organizers and health reform advocates in a brewing house just North of the Capitol, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) said he supports a public insurance option.

“Schumer has it right about having a public component,” Specter said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has taken a lead role on negotiations over the public option in the Senate Finance Committee, and earlier this year proposed a compromise: the committee’s health care bill should include a public plan, he said, but one that competes on a level playing field with other insurers. Such an entity wouldn’t be able to use its sheer size to set prices the way Medicare does–but it could nonetheless incur savings in a host of other ways, and in so doing drive down the cost of health insurance in the private market.

Perhaps more importantly, though, the Schumer proposal is in line with the principles of the major reform campaign Health Care for America Now–and, as such, just about every major health care and labor organization in the country.

Sounds like Senator Specter may be listening to the voters of Pennsylvania.

“Health care is a right,” Specter said. “Your presence here has a big effect. You will get health care this year.”

I’ll still be watching his voting record.

Two Polls That Should Scare The Crap Out Of PA Dem’s

May 6, 2009

Public Opinion StrategiesPennsylvania

Favorable / Unfavorable
Sen. Arlen Specter (D): 50 / 40 (chart)
Pat Toomey (R): 29 / 13
Rom Ridge (R): 67 / 18
Peg Luksik (R): 5 / 3
Joe Sestak (D) 15 / 3

2010 Senate – Republican Primary
Ridge 51, Roomey 21, Luksik 2
Ridge 60, Toomey 23

2010 Senate – Democratic Primary
Specter 57, Sestak 20

2010 Senate – General Election
Specter 49, Toomey 40
Ridge 48, Specter 41

(source)

May 6, 2009

Susquehanna Polling & Research

Pennsylvania

2010 Senate – General Election
Specter 42, Toomey 36
Ridge 39, Specter 38

Specter and Limbaugh

Every Pennsylvanian should be made aware of Senator Specter’s feelings towards Rush Limbaugh. He likes Rush. Read the details here…

Some excepts from the article:

Howard Stern: Are you OK with Limbaugh? You like him?

Arlen Specter: Do I like Rush Limbaugh?

HS: Limbaugh, yeah

AS: Yeah, I like him

HS: You do…

AS: Yeah

HS: You met with him?

AS: Yes I have

(crosstalk)

HS: He’s a crackpot? He’s an enemy of the country.

AS: (laughing) Uh, no, he’s not. He’s expressing his opinion.

…

HS: Senator, wait a second. In all seriousness. He wants the president to do poorly? Listen, I never voted for Bush, but I always wanted to see him do well. I’m an American. I want my president to be successful. Who says ‘I don’t want my president to do well?’ That’s anti-American!

AS: Well I haven’t heard Rush Limbaugh say that. But there’s a lot of talk which is provocative.

HS: Yes

AS: There’s a lot of comment – you fellas, and I know this doesn’t apply to you Howard, probably doesn’t apply to Rush, but some of these talk show guys want to attract an audience. And the more provocative, the more audience, the more ratings, the more money.

What surprises me is that Senator Specter claims that he never heard Rush Limbaugh make the statement that he hopes that “Obama fails”. Rush has said this several times and most of the media has relayed this message to the public. Either Senator Specter is not paying attention to any of the media or he is a liar.