Specter seeks re-election as Democrat
By Phil Ray, pray@altoonamirror.comState Rep. Rick Geist, R-Altoona, said Tuesday that U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter met a month ago with the Republican Caucus in Harrisburg and said "no matter what" he would not switch from the Republican to Democratic party.
That promise went by the wayside Tuesday when Specter, R-Pa., reeling in the wake of polls that show his re-election bid 21 points behind his probable Republican opponent, Pat Toomey, announced he would run as a Democrat in 2010.
Toomey is a former congressman from the Lehigh Valley.
"When I supported the stimulus package, I knew it would not be popular with the Republican party. But I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing," Specter said in making his announcement and in addressing one of his votes that rankled many conservative Republicans.
The local reaction to Specter's announcement was varied, with U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-9th District, in Washington calling the move "disappointing." Blair County Republican Chairman A.C. Stickel vowed that after the 2010 election, Specter will be "going home." Blair County Republican committeeman Bill Fink of Tyrone said that Specter's move was an "act of cowardice."
Fink said Specter made a decision to vote for the stimulus package, and now he's taking flak.
"When you hit flak, you fight or you run," he said.
Frank Rosenhoover, chairman of the Blair County Democratic Party, pointed out that Specter, in his 29th year in the U.S. Senate, has not always voted with the Republicans.
"There have been times we welcomed his vote," Rosenhoover said.
He said Specter picked the right time to switch parties, giving himself a year prior to the Democratic primary in 2010 to gain the support of Democrats, "to win over the hearts and minds of the skeptics."
There is no assurance that Specter won't have competition. Two Democrats known statewide - Dan Onorato, the chief executive of Allegheny County, and Jack Wagner, the Pennsylvania auditor general - are both in the picture for a statewide race for either governor or senator, he pointed out.
Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr., R-Blair, said he was in a Senate Committee meeting Tuesday when the news of Specter's party switch was sent to him.
He said a recent poll showed Specter to be trailing Toomey by 21 points, this after Specter ran a series of advertisements against Toomey.
"He feels he has to get out to preserve his place [in the Senate]. A lot of people feel it is a pretty selfish thing," Eichelberger said. "At this point, he is on the ropes and he knows it."
Specter's defection may not be a bad thing, Eichelberger pointed out. "A lot of people are glad to see him go," he said.
His departure will also clear the field, allowing Republicans to take a look at Toomey, who on many issues is the antithesis of Specter.
As for Specter, Eichelberger said, "I think he is taking a risk. I don't think he'll be welcomed by all Democratic leaders."
State Republican Committeeman Wade Kagarise, a Blair County deputy district attorney, said Specter "made the decision to be a Democrat because he can't win the Republican primary."
He said Specter was not someone the Republicans could count on, noting he's not pro-life and not fiscally conservative.
"This is just a calculated political move for his own self-interest," Kagarise said.
Pennsylvania Republican Chairman Rob Gleason of Johnstown said Specter decided to act in his own self-interest and put his political ambitions first.
"The Republican party has room for conservatives and moderates because we are the party of ideas," he said.
U.S. Senate candidate Peg Luksik of Johnstown, a Republican, said, "It was clear months ago that Sen. Specter had lost support from his Republican base, and could not succeed in next year's Republican primary. This move has now taken away all the ambiguity from the upcoming U.S. Senate race."
Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.
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theadvocate
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05-04-09 10:58 AM
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CharlieVarrick: C'mon now wake up....we were talking about conspiracy theory, remember??? I don't know from under which rock you crawled, but I do know that I do not always agree with my party or yours. I just do not believe in these crazy conspiracies you talk about. I am sorry for your condition, but I really do think you need some type of help. Conspiracy to Supreme court....try to at least address the subject I was speaking about. Sorry Charlie, your reasoning is just not.....
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CharlieVarrick
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05-04-09 8:58 AM
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Advocate I hope you realize you're a hypocrite and most likely feel comfortable as a liberal and democrat. It's your side and probably you who railed against Bush's supreme court nominations in Roberts and Alito. Judges that legislate behind the bench like over turning California's one time vote on gay marriage is just one example of many that stands as proof of my statement. Supreme court judges aren't elected so they can interpret the law anyway they want without fear of being thrown out of office. Tell me Stevens, Ginsburg, Breyer and Souter aren't left wing godless punks. These types fear Christianity and their rulings are proof enough for me. obama will nominate left wing stooges, watch and see. The only thing someone like you advocates is the new Stalinism called liberalism today with its extreme government control over every facet of our life. Only intelligent and well informed people will understand this, the rest are too busy watching American Idol to see it.
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theadvocate
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05-04-09 7:38 AM
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(Therefore, obama's goal is out to destroy our Christian roots through the people he puts in place to help run the government and you'll see the judges he will nominate up and down the court will be very left wing and view Christians as pure evil) And you say you have no conspiracy theory Charlie, kool aid is left to anyone who would believe these crazy thoughts
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CharlieVarrick
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05-03-09 9:10 AM
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Was 9-11 a conspiracy? I rest my case. Who would have ever thought islamic terrorists would have the skill and knowledge to learn to fly jets, get on four of them and commit the heinous crimes they did. Now compare that to Iran developing nukes and seeking to destroy Israel which is their intention. Conspiracy? Yep, big time. But then liberals like you probably think Bush and Cheney designed and implemented 9-11...and you call me nuts...lol on that one. Keep drinking the kool-aid...what is your favorite flavor?
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lambs1
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05-02-09 6:28 PM
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Conspiracy = Reality... You choose.
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theadvocate
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05-02-09 2:59 PM
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Ya know charlie, I think they made a movie about people who think like you......Julia Roberts and Mel Gibson.....its coming to me.... oh come on I know what it is......ahhhhh yea Conspiracy Theory! The whole world is a conspiracy and you are the only one who can figure it out. Get a life man!
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lambs1
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05-02-09 11:00 AM
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No ads, I am not thick nor am I gullable.
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CharlieVarrick
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05-02-09 9:49 AM
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Therefore, obama's goal is out to destroy our Christian roots through the people he puts in place to help run the government and you'll see the judges he will nominate up and down the court will be very left wing and view Christians as pure evil. He is reshaping America to rid it of any type of faith based initiatives. Although I'm not an overtly religious man, I am a very spiritual Christian and I do believe in the next 25 years we will be a third world type of nation. I also do believe we're in the end days as Iran ratchets up its nuke program and Israel is left to fend for itself. It predicts it in the Bible. obama will not stand by Israel and at some point Syria, Iran and other islamic allies will make its move. If it does happen you can blame the very liberal left wing **** in this country who turned their back on the Israeli people. I pray that doesn't happen and I pray for Israel as much as I do America.
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CharlieVarrick
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05-02-09 9:42 AM
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Kilgore & Advocate you're a tad too sensitive. obama has already in one speech made sure the Christian Cross, the sacred of all representations of Christianity, covered up. That doesn't sound like a man in tune with his religion. His bowing to the Saudi prince is memorable because muslims do bow which is required in their faith. I don't care what religion he practices and when he dropped his Barry Soetoro name for Barack obama, that was his coming out as a muslim. He is a muslim and it wouldn't matter how many churches he would visit because that won't change anything. He is going after the Bush administration for what he sees as the wreaking of havoc on muslims worldwide. For Barry, it's all about payback now. Both of you feel I'm bigoted yet you lecture me in the same way you accuse me of doing to you. Don't hide behind hypocrisy. Do what you say and say what you mean. I mean to say obama is a muslim and no one will ever convince me otherwise.
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theadvocate
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05-02-09 9:21 AM
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Dear Heavenly Father will you please try to grasp the point here lamb? If he had a minister under attack, any minister, he would not be a muslim. He was attacked because his minister made racial remarks and now some fool says he is a muslim. Wow you are thick!
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lambs1
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05-01-09 4:18 PM
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If that's what you call a minister... Last I went to church my preacher was'nt preaching to hate the white man!
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theadvocate
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05-01-09 4:12 PM
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you misunderstand me, my point is not whether or not he stood by his minister, it was that he HAD a minister. Given that some say he was muslim, that sounds like a direct contradiction to me???
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lambs1
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05-01-09 2:07 PM
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He only attacked his minister after it became public.
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theadvocate
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05-01-09 1:26 PM
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Christioan;Christian demaen:demean
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theadvocate
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05-01-09 1:23 PM
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charlie boy you are a scary person. President Obama is a Christioan and even that bothers you. I stand in amazement at your ignorance. I do not blame our previous President for all our ills. I do not blame either party for all our issues. We have put ourselves in this mess together. It sickens me that you and your cohorts try to demaen a man, our President with lies, insinuations and innuendo. Your statements are fiction. President Obama is not now nor has he ever been a muslim.. do you forget you attacked his minister rightfully so for his remarks. You can't have everything you want. I get it you don't like the President. Use facts and stop writing your silly fiction. You are very wrong and very dangerous. If people disagree it is ok, if lies lead to violence and anger it is not ok and very, very wrong!
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kilgore
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05-01-09 1:21 PM
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CharlieVarrick is a muslim and not a Christian. CharlieVarrick is a cross dressing tranny CharlieVarrick beats his boyfriend after he gets drunk on apple wine do you see how it works CharlieVarrick? i bet ya don't
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RidgeRunner
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05-01-09 8:58 AM
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Maybe Specter was just tired of being affiliated with so many angry, intolerant, hypocritical red necks. Oh, and I forgot to add paranoid and delusional. See below, and probably above, for some great examples.
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CharlieVarrick
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05-01-09 7:43 AM
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Danyglas, obama is a muslim and not a Christian. I find nothing wrong with him following his father's religion. The sad thing is he masks himself as a Christian but in all reality is a muslim or muslim appearser. He has that Neville Chamberlain thing going for himself. He sees Chavez, Castro and Ahminanutjob as the true heroes in society and the Bush's as evil. Lets see three so called leaders who are dictators. obama should just come out and admit he's a muslim...it wouldn't bother me but his lying saying he's a Christian is what bothers me. All I want to know is whose side will he be on when Iran readies their nukes. Actually I'm excited for that showdown because we all know something is going to happen.
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CharlieVarrick
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05-01-09 7:39 AM
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Hey Ridge Runner we should all try to be as tolerant as you...why not live in the inner city with your tolerance? Anyhow go to You Tube and search for this video of a 2001 CSPAN Video of Sen. Specter calling for a rule to prohibit a Senator from changing parties during a session of Congress. He sure has the courage of his convictions!
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homerbeep
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05-01-09 3:56 AM
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166482: Are you capable of posting just once without using third-grade, potty-mouth language? Just curious.
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dannyglas
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04-30-09 10:25 PM
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That and the media is what got him elected. Sad to say that there are more Americans now than ever before that want the government involved in their lives - I don't! Next time you go to buy a book - get the book written by Marcus Luttrell title "Lone Survivor." A real hero that lost 3 of his SEAL team members all because they feared being prosecuted by our liberal media and sent to jail for murder. A real eye opener into the fanatics they (we) face in Afghanistan.
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lambs1
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04-30-09 8:07 PM
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If you were gay, lesbian, welfare, would'nt you want a Prez that supports your needs?
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lambs1
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04-30-09 8:05 PM
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Danny, the followers of BO are weak and need led. God Bless is a facad!
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dannyglas
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04-30-09 7:45 PM
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not all conservatives/republicans are church goers. I believe BeeHO is a church goer - he ends all speeches with "god bless america." How dare he!
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lambs1
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04-30-09 7:01 PM
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666 What may I ask classifies them as d ick su (you get the rest). If that is what you consider a R to be than you have Specter on your plate now! Let's face it all politians are a joke!
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