Politics does indeed make for strange bedfellows. On the national stage, we saw JFK take his enemy Lyndon Johnson as his running mate (keep your friends close and your enemies closer). We saw Ronald Reagan first turn to Gerry Ford (the man he challenged as a sitting president in 1976) and then to George H. W. Bush as his running mate. Not only had Bush run a hard race against Reagan but he had labeled Reagan’s policy as “voodoo economics.” In today’s environment where anyone who disagrees with Barack Obama is a racist, could you imagine the furor if you labeled his plans “voodoo economics?”
That brings me to the Keystone State. We of course are a state where we once had a pro-life Democrat take on a pro-choice Republican for governor. Casey and Hafer really messed up the lobbying groups with that one.
In 2004, a young, bright congressman with solid business and conservative credentials ran for the united States Senate against another Republican who is (was) Republican in Name Only and was proudly a member of the moderate swing vote group at a time when the Senate was evenly divided. So, of course, the sitting president, George W. Bush through his support in the Republican primary to the man whose views mirrored his and who would be a solid Republican vote going forward. That, my children, is how Pat Toomey was elected Senator in 2004. What? He didn’t win? No, you see, his opponent in tat primary was Arlen Specter and Specter, while at risk always in the primary, was easily electable in the general election. If you wanted to keep the seat in GOP hands and at least have Specter’s vote in the caucus, the best bet was to back Specter.
So, W betrayed Toomey and sold his support to Specter for Specter’s promise to stay in the Republican caucus. A defection from Vermont had changed the landscape and we didn’t want that again! Toomey barely lost and Specter breezed to re-election.
As a Republican, Specter started to favor things like the stimulus, health care takeover, and now it seems even card check. As the Democrats came within 1 vote of the magical 60 mark in the Senate (to defeat filibusters and override vetoes), attention turned to Specter and the two ladies from Maine. (No jokes about which of the three has the least male genitalia).
As Specter turned more and more Democrat, the pressure mounted from his Republican party. Stay in line or else you’ll lose in the primary, he was told. Pat Toomey, widely rumored to be running for governor, started being mentioned again to run against Specter. It would not even be close in the primary in 2010. Toomey would win. That was pretty clear.
So, Specter jumped to the Democrats. Since he votes the way he feels anyway, this is most important for caucus purposes and the infamous 60 votes. It is also important for primary election purposes. You’d have thought that Specter, who was more desirable than a supermodel to those craving 60 votes, would have cut a deal in switching parties that he would get the Democratic nomination. But, he didn’t.
So Specter is now a Democrat and he is running for re-election as a Democrat. Congressman Joe Sestak, who is a military veteran (career), pro-union, pro-choice, pro-health care, as Obama as Obama, was already running. Sestak did not drop out. In fact, he is running as if he was the Democratic standard-bearer. Much like Toomey in 2004, Sestak (Toomey) is telling Democrats (Republicans) to vote for him and not for that too conservative (liberal) Specter who is really a Republican (Democrat). The symmetry is as good as the movie “Mirrors.”
So, yesterday with the free world wondering what would happen as to trade with China, health care, cap-and-trade, card check, the deficit, next year’s Dancing with the Stars line-up and other weighty matters, and with Jimmy Carter telling us we are all racist is we oppose the president (since he is half black and half white, what race are we against?), and with the House chastising Joe Wilson for yelling “liar” in a crowded room, the Senate took a day off so the President could campaign in Pennsylvania in the Democratic primary.
So, did the president throw his support to Joe Sestak, a real Democrat, a part of the Democratic revival in 2004 and a darling of the groups that elected Obama? Of course not, like W, Barry decided to back the horse that had the best shot of winning in November. As much as Sestak is a better Democratic candidate than Specter, Specter is the more electable in November. Sestak would suffer greatly in name recognition against Toomey, who has 2004 behind him. Specter has no such issues. Everyone knows Arlen.
So, history repeats as a President asks voters in his own party to vote for the man who less reflects their ideals but has a better chance of being elected.
Election 2010 will be great in Pennsylvania. Tradition says we will elect a GOP governor, but all eyes will be on the Senate. The primary will be anything but ho-hum. Specter-Sestak will be a battle. We will see another battle between ideology and pragmatism. Which will win? Who knows?
Comments
Sestak is not a real Democrat, and certainly not an Obama Democrat. Sestak has fooled a lot on the Left into thinking he's a progressive liberal, but he isn't even close. Specter is more liberal than Sestak.
Sestak does vote pro-union because he needs their support, but he runs his offices (staff and campaign) like a sweatshop. Sestak's the sort of employer that Unions were formed to stop.
Rick Santorum backed Specter over Toomey. (Toomey is even to the Right of Santorum.) Toomey is unelectable, as he is too conservative. But Sestak is weak enough even for Toomey to beat. However, that very weakness will prevent Sestak from beating Specter in the first place.
Wow,Dave D. once fought long and hard for Sestak,treating him like he was the second coming.It must be pretty sad for him to find out the truth about his man.
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