Eleanor Clift is by no stretch a conservative apologist, but her reporting in Newsweek on the Specter switch exposes an angle that the broadcast networks are omitting: the Machiavellian maneuvers behind-the-scenes to coax Specter to jump the GOP ship.
Of particular interest is Clift's revelation that Gov. Ed Rendell's motive for pushing Specter to become a Democrat was to shut down a potential Democratic rival for the U.S. Senate, Rep. Joe Sestak (Pa.) [emphasis mine].:
Those who know Rendell say he really wants the seat that Specter holds but would not run against his friend. The scenario that was unfolding had Specter losing in the Republican primary to Club for Growth President Pat Toomy, the favorite of Pennsylvania's conservative Republican base, and then had Toomy losing to a Democrat in November 2010. The Democrat suiting up for that task was Rep. Joe Sestak, a retired Navy admiral in his second term, eager to move up, and at 57 years of age, young enough to stake a claim on the seat.
A Sestak candidacy would derail Rendell's future plans. Keeping Specter in the seat at his age, which is 79, makes it far more likely that the seat would open up in the kind of timetable Rendell would hope for.
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Whatever Rendell did to get Specter to this point, their political futures are now inextricably bound together. And if there's any politician you want on your side in a knife fight, it's Rendell. He is the closest thing to a ward boss in Pennsylvania. He can clear the field for Specter, gin up the enthusiastic support and help raise the kind of money Specter will need. And then, in due time, it will be Rendell's turn.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Tunnel Vision
April 29, 2009 - 13:37 ET by JDWReid made a deal with Specter allowing him to retain senior status. Lib higher-ups are not comfortable being displaced by Specter. The war has just begun and apparently Eleanor is unable to realize it.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny. When government fears the people there is liberty.
Is Specter
April 29, 2009 - 14:53 ET by balboaIs Specter Judas?
http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=1159
Elections are obsolete
April 29, 2009 - 14:54 ET by freecitizenFunny how nowhere in this explanation is the will or wants of the people even considered. They game the system to place whoever they want wherever they want. Elections are like an afterthought. It's like they figured out that if they keep shuffling people around, elections aren't necessary. How many Governors, Senators, etc. are appointees these days. I saw somewhere recently where they mentioned Caroline Kennedy's "campaign". There was no election. It wasn't a campaign, but a PR/lobbying effort. The people don't matter to them, only the opinions of other politicians.
Liberal: remove all that's Right, and this is what's Left.
Uhmm correct me if I'm wrong
April 29, 2009 - 15:05 ET by mandrakeUhmm correct me if I'm wrong but Caroline Kennedy was not actaully elected to anything..so why are elections obsolete?
Mandrake
April 29, 2009 - 15:14 ET by BlondeSince you're Canadian, perhaps I can shed a little perspective on this for you?
The rules of the game are such that those in power, when they vacate their seats (particularly true in the Senate and House, but also true on a state level, say governors).... are in a position to influence, if not outright choose, who their successors are. And inasmuch as 95% of incumbents are re-elected....once an appointment has been made (but not voted on) an unfair advantage is gained.
Witness the Blago fiasco. Numerous governors have appointed themselves to vacant senate seats, wives of dead politicians appointed to their husbands seats, etc.
Then add in media created "scandals" .... think Mark Foley....and voters are disenfranchised. The media sat on the Foley scandal, until it was too late, according to Florida election laws, for a replacement on the ballot. Thousands of republican voters were thereby disenfranchised in Palm Beach/Martin County....as their choice was to vote for the disgraced Foley, the democrat, or cast no vote.
Hope this helps clarify the issue for you. (Elections are obsolete was sarcasm....but unfortunately, true in many cases).
As always....my best to my Canadian friends. You have a beautiful country.
I hope he fails, too.
Wow, you folks sure have a
April 29, 2009 - 15:21 ET by mandrakeWow, you folks sure have a confusing system of democracy down there. I sure hope you don't get socialized heath care..you could really mess that up ;)
Thanks. Good explanation
April 29, 2009 - 15:26 ET by freecitizenThanks. Good explanation of what I was thinking of. I was in generalizing ranting mode so my post was more emotional than factual.
And Kennedy may not have gotten the appointment herself, but someone was still appointed, not elected, to that position nonetheless.
Liberal: remove all that's Right, and this is what's Left.
Rants are Good!
April 29, 2009 - 15:32 ET by BlondeGood for the soul....and always a good conversation starter here.
What I didn't mention, and I'm sure you had in mind, though (for the benefit of my friend Mandrake)....was the political calculus of many of these appointments. In the end, Caroline Kennedy wasn't appointed to Hillary's seat, because the political calculus didn't add up for Patterson. No help at all. The be all and end all for these politicians (hello Benedict Arlen!!!) is to maintain or enhance their positions of power.
Never forget it. Arlen hasn't....he now thinks he has BHO to campaign for him (and to George Bush, I must say....how could you have, sir?).
Run off the RINOs, one and all!
I hope he fails, too.
Rendell the Butt-inski
April 29, 2009 - 15:13 ET by motherbeltI'm from PA and in the car just now heard on the news that Gov. Rendell is calling on the other candidate in the Democrat primary (I forget his name) to withdraw to clear the way for Specter!!
And there I was, in the car, without my duct tape! Then I remembered that I did this a couple of weeks ago.
So I pulled over, whipped it out and wrapped up so that I could drive home!
PS: the other candidate told Rendell hell, no!
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Any possibility you can
April 29, 2009 - 15:20 ET by BuffNBoneAny possibility you can reregister as a (D) for the primary and vote for the other candidate? That would be too cool.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
OMO, Duchess
April 29, 2009 - 15:26 ET by BlondeYou must have been a girl scout! Be Prepared. I'm glad you made it home okay.
Keep us apprised of the "local" take on the Specter situation.....too funny, really.
I sincerely hope he gets trounced in the Democrat primary....that would be too rich for words....I looked it up yesterday, Rasmussen had Toomey up 51% to 30% as of last Friday.
I hope he fails, too.
mb... ...and would that
April 29, 2009 - 17:42 ET by bigtimermb...
...and would that other candidate be Sestak, who I posted about yesterday before he even spoke about how he must be seething about all of this news with Rendell, Biden and Walks on Water supporting him?
Mark on Finkelblog has a post about this too I noticed this morning.
It's going to be interesting.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Sounds like Rendell.
April 29, 2009 - 16:52 ET by Radical1979Sounds like Rendell. Pennsylvania politics is so crooked it's hard to take, but I keep voting anyway. We're in for a tough time if Rendell does get to the senate.
For once, Clift may be right . . .
April 29, 2009 - 17:25 ET by Galvanic"A Sestak candidacy would derail Rendell's future plans. Keeping Specter in the seat at his age, which is 79, makes it far more likely that the seat would open up in the kind of timetable Rendell would hope for." - Clift
Not only is Specter 79 years-old, but he's had cancer at least once. The crafty Rendell knows the odds.
And should Specter have to step down, what better scenario for Rendell than to have the ailing Specter endorse Rendell to take his seat. How could Gov. Rendell resist appointing himself to fulfill the wish of a dying man?
The deal apparently included assurances from Obama that he will campaign for Specter. If the Pennsylvania GOP were clever, they would covertly finance a young black Democrat to challenge Specter in the Democratic primary.
Joey Pluggs Made Him a Deal-
April 30, 2009 - 08:59 ET by Reaganite RepublicanThis cynical, self-serving move had absolutely nothing to do with values, policy, or any high-minded thinking of any kind- though President Obama surely would like for you to think that.
Everybody knows he did it because he was down 21% in the polls leading-up to the GOP primary for his seat- and Joey Pluggs made a deal with him, he already admitted as such. The sad truth is that this hack has spent three decades in the Senate, while accomplishing little.
And Barack and him have a lot in common- as unprincipled political opportunists, I’m sure they’ll get along just great. Just a little over a month ago, the Senator said in an interview that he wouldn’t switch parties due to the importance of checks and balances.
And back in 2001, Sen. Arlen Specter, then a Republican, proposed a rule forbidding party switches… he was upset when Vt Sen. Jim Jeffords’ left the GOP to become an independent.
Who knows what the truth is with this guy, you’ll never get it from him.
With all due respect, Senator- don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out. Nobody on our side’s going to miss you.
http://reaganiterepu...
Specter's breach
April 30, 2009 - 19:31 ET by ghblogI had a different take on Specter leaving the GOP. If you contributed to the Republican Senator Specter who then switched parties could you request or sue to get your contribution returned since you would not have supported a Democrat?
Read more of my post on Specter at:
http://www.framingthedialogue.com/archives/arlens-breach/