PA-Sen: Another Lurch Left For Specter, Another Call-Out For Sestak

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PA-Sen: Another Lurch Left For Specter, Another Call-Out For Sestak
By: David Dayen Tuesday October 27, 2009 8:30 am	Tweet

In what will be a familiar refrain in the Specter-Sestak primary, the challenger calls out the incumbent for his newfound statements that are at odds with his prior history.

Yesterday, Arlen Specter announced his support for repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a Twitter message:

Just as we were finally able to pass hate crimes legislation, it’s time to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Joe Sestak sent out a press release basically saying, “What do you mean ‘we,’ Senator?”

“As the long-time Republican Senator carries on his attempt to run away from his 30-year Republican record, this time on his vote to support the Defense of Marriage Act, he should be honest about his votes to oppose equal rights for LGBT Americans. He actually voted with Republican Senator Rick Santorum to deny equal benefits to legally married LGBT Americans in the first place. Without Joe Sestak’s leadership in supporting LGBT rights, the Senator would continue to deny married gay and lesbian couples their right to file joint tax returns, receive spouse benefits under social security, take an unpaid leave to take care of a sick or injured partner, or share retirement benefits like straight couples. Senator Specter’s willingness to reposition himself just to help himself politically should give pause to Pennsylvanians who are looking for a loyal Senator who will put principle over politics for the next generation. As Senator, Joe Sestak will continue to stand up for equal rights for all Americans – before, during, and after an election year.”

Indeed, Specter voted for DOMA, and actually defended his vote just one month ago. In fact, in 2002, Specter voted against adding the LGBT community to the definition of hate crimes, which is starkly at odds with the idea that “we were finally able to pass hate crimes legislation”.

There’s almost so much dissonance between Specter’s past record and his current record that Sestak will begin to sound like a broken record, constantly hitting Specter for changing his views when those new views are favorable to the Pennsylvania Democratic primary electorate, almost making it seem like Sestak doesn’t agree with them. The political mechanism may not do well with someone this shifty and unprincipled.

UPDATE: Sen. Specter has a blog up on The Huffington Post urging the repeal of DOMA and don’t ask don’t tell, and calling for a fully-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

2 Comments

2 Responses to “PA-Sen: Another Lurch Left For Specter, Another Call-Out For Sestak”

darr October 27th, 2009 at 9:21 am

There’s almost so much dissonance between Specter’s past record and his current record that Sestak will begin to sound like a broken record, constantly hitting Specter for changing his views when those new views are favorable to the Pennsylvania Democratic primary electorate, almost making it seem like Sestak doesn’t agree with them. The political mechanism may not do well with someone this shifty and unprincipled.

Exactly. You hit the nail squarely on the head. I live in this district of PA. I am a liberal democrat and have never voted for Specter. I do not trust him not to waffle. However, I’m not sure if Sestak is for real, meaning sincere. He came out of nowhere from another PA district talking smack. At first I thought he was refreshing and was impressed. But lately he seems only to be making pot shots at Specter and not telling us what he would do as our Senator. Also he is on national TV like every other day anymore. It makes me wonder who is minding his business as a member of congress. In the end I will most probably vote for Sestak. Specter is just too fickle and let’s face it, old. And there is no way in blue blazes I would vote for the repub Toomey.