Submit a Story!

Specter makes history

 

Published 4/28/2009 by CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney at CNN Political Ticker

(CNN) – Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter didn't only shock the political world with his decision to leave the Republican Party Tuesday, he made history. Specter is the first senator elected as a Republican to switch directly to the Democratic Party. Overall, Specter is the 13th senator since the direct election of U.S. Senators was established in 1913 [...] (link)

Tags:

Related Content
Specter switches to Democratic Party
dailykos.com 4/28/2009 — He'll likely be a Lieberdem, but still, a 60th seat would be quite the 100-day present for Barack Obama . Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, according to sources informed on the decision.  ...
Snowe: GOP Has Abandoned Principles; Specter Switch "Devastating"
huffingtonpost.com 4/28/2009 — Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, one of the few remaining moderate Republicans in the Senate, said Tuesday that Arlen Specter's abandonment of the GOP is "devastating," both "personally and I think for the party." "I've always been deeply concerned ...
Specter Joins Conservative Democratic Bloc On Climate And Energy
wonkroom.thinkprogress.org 4/28/2009 — Pennsylvania’s Sen. Arlen Specter, who announced his switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party today, will remain a key swing vote in a Senate locked by GOP filibusters on green economy legislation like cap and trade, renewable energy ...
The RNC responds
dailykos.com 4/28/2009 — Not a bad response from RNC Chairman Michael Steele: Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not. Let’s be honest-Senator Specter didn’t leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal ...
He’ll Give It Back — If Asked
cqpolitics.com 4/28/2009 — CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS April 28, 2009 – 1:56 p.m. He’ll Give It Back — If Asked By Alex Knott, CQ Staff It won’t amount to a run on the bank, but you can bet that Sen. Arlen Specter ’s campaign committee will soon be busy refunding a lot of money to ...
Specter Stops Pretending He's a Conservative — Tammy Bruce
Kaine welcomes Specter to the party — Daily Kos
Graham: GOP must grow, not shrink — News
Menendez On Specter: 'I Look Forward To Supporting Him' And Keeping Seat Democratic In 2010 — TPM Election Central
For the Benefit of Mr. Specter, Lieberman “Independently” Describes Pennsylvania’s Sore Loser Law — Firedoglake
Live-Blogging Sen. Specter’s News Conference — WSJ.com: Washington Wire 4/28/2009
T.W. Farnam reports on politics. Sen. Arlen Spector is giving a press conference after announcing this morning that he will switch to the Democratic Party, giving President Barack Obama 59 seats in the Senate. The five-term senator from ...
Specter calls switch a 'painful decision' (AP) — Yahoo! News: Politics News 4/28/2009
AP - Veteran Sen. Arlen Specter says his switch to the Democratic Party was a "painful decision," but he found himself increasingly at odds with a Republican Party that has moved to the right.
Quotes on Specter's switch to the Democratic Party (AP) — Yahoo! News: Politics News 4/28/2009
AP - Reaction to Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter plans to switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party:
Newsweek: Dems welcome Specter to the fold — msnbc.com: Politics 4/28/2009
Arlen Specter has never won popularity contests on Capitol Hill. Yet today Dems are letting bygones be bygones and heartily embracing their new colleague.
Specter Joins Democrats; Senate Count May Reach 60 — NYT > Politics 4/29/2009
The decision by Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to switch parties potentially presents Democrats with a 60th vote and the power to break Senate filibusters.