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openleft.com - 6/26/2009
I Got The "Make Them Do It" Blues
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In a validation of the progressive primary challenge strategy, Arlen Specter today reversed his position on a public health care option. Here was Arlen Specter on May 3rd when he was up by 40 points in his primary campaign against Joe Sestak: MR. GREGORY:  Let me--I just want to turn, ...
tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com - 6/25/2009
Specter: Schumer Has It Right On The Public Option
— tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com — Speaking moments ago to a large crowd of union organizers and health reform advocates in a brewing... house just North of the Capitol, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) said he supports a public insurance option. "Schumer has it right about having a public ... (more) Specter: Schumer Has It Right On The Public Option

Comments vote down Talking Points Memo found this 6/25/2009found this
Special Interest Money Means Longer Odds for Public Option
fivethirtyeight.com - 6/22/2009
Special Interest Money Means Longer Odds for Public Option
— fivethirtyeight.com — As I lamented yesterday, health care is one of those areas where both popular opinion and sound... public policy seem to take a backseat to protecting those stakeholders who benefit from the status quo. But can we actually see -- statistically -- the ... (more) Special Interest Money Means Longer Odds for Public Option

Comments vote down The Monkey Cage found this 6/22/2009found this
wayneindependent.com - 7/1/2009
Congressman tells TWI he will run against Specter
— wayneindependent.com — A congressman from the Philadelphia suburbs will challenge U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democratic Senate primary.... (more) Congressman tells TWI he will run against Specter

Comments vote down Politics Daily found this 7/1/2009found this

Blog Reactions

Newshoggers.com:  Flip flops, flexibility and pressure politics

Blogometer:  6/26: A Heated Debate

TalkLeft:  From The Pols Are Pols File

Comments
Blog Reactions

Flip flops, flexibility and pressure politics
Newshoggers.com — By Fester: I don't think the political world is made up of people who have single minded and immovable convictions on most or all moderately to highly salient political issues of the day. In fact, I am quite glad that the world is made up of people who are willing to engage in trade-offs and concentrate on a few issues that really are important to ...

6/26: A Heated Debate
Blogometer — The bloggers are Firedoglake continue to urge members of Congress to vote against any health care bill that does not include a strong public option. Meanwhile, liberal bloggers ( Marshall , Benen ) were impressed by Sen. Jay Rockefeller 's (D-WV) strong endorsement of a public plan. Liberal bloggers ( Yglesias , Bowers ) are pleased that Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) reversed his position on a public option, saying that he now supports it. Lefty bloggers attribute Specter's switch to Rep. Joe Sestak 's (D-PA) primary challenge. ...

From The Pols Are Pols File
TalkLeft — Chris Bowers celebrates Arlen Specter's "conversion" to support for the public option (Byron Dorgan also now supports it and Jay Rockefeller made a great statement in support of the public option) but then frets: The concept of making Democrats vote for more progressive legislation through primary challenges is predicted on the notion that we are dealing with people who are fundamentally self-centered, power hungry, and morally flexible. We believe primaries can pressure certain members of Congress into changing their minds on important ...

Related Content
Since Primary Challenge, Specter Voting with Dems 97% of the Time
fivethirtyeight.com 7/25/2009 — Back in May, we introduced something which I like to call the Specterometer. This is simply the percentage of the time that Arlen Specter is voting with the Democrats on what I refer to as Contentious Votes -- anything that comes up for a floor vote ...
The promises of primary pressure
washingtonmonthly.com 6/30/2009 — THE PROMISES OF PRIMARY PRESSURE.... Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, up until fairly recently, opposed including a public option in health care reform. This week, he reversed course. I wonder why that is. Speaking [on Thursday] to a large and...
Sestak To Enter Campaign Against Specter With $4.2 Million On Hand
tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com 7/13/2009 — This spring, TPMDC broke the news that Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) was raising money from supporters ahead of an intended Senate candidacy. Now, with the fiscal quarter over, we know how well that effort worked. "Many have doubted that we would be able ...
Specter Embraces Public Option
yglesias.thinkprogress.org 6/26/2009 — Learning to love big government. Brian Beutler reports that at yesterday’s health care rally, Arlen Specter (D-PA) embraced the public plan that he’d opposed just a few months ago: Speaking moments ago to a large and animated crowd ...
Obama, Biden to raise money for Specter
thehill.com 8/17/2009 — Sen. Arlen Specter (D) will welcome President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to Pennsylvania in the coming months as he looks to build his financial lead in his race for reelection. The president will attend a Sept. 15 fundraiser for ...
4/29: Party-Hopping
blogometer.nationaljournal.com 4/29/2009 — If you thought the netroots would rejoice over PA Sen. Arlen Specter's decision to join the Dem party, then you don't know the netroots. To be sure, liberal bloggers love the "political optics" of Specter's switch -- especially his statement...
Specter's Slow Move To The Left Begins?
tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com 5/18/2009 — When Arlen Specter became a Democrat nearly three weeks ago, everyone in Washington was extremely "surprised," but nobody was really all that surprised . Specter had been taking a beating from the right for, among other things, supporting the ...
Complete Specter-Sestak Polling Memo
openleft.com 6/9/2009 — Sign up to volunteer for Joe Sestak today! I have obtained a complete copy of the GQP polling memo, commissioned by a labor-funded 527, on the potential Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary. You can read the entire memo here . (15 page PDF). The ...
Specter ends speech with odd fundraising plea
briefingroom.thehill.com 6/4/2009 — It's no secret that cash rules political campaigns and that candidates spend a lot of their time trying to pry checks out of voters, businesses and interest groups and just about whoever. It's usually done discreetly at fundraisers held in places like ...
Is A Primary Against Specter Viable?
openleft.com 4/29/2009 — There is conflicting information indicating whether a primary challenge to Arlen Specter is viable in Pennsylvania. Here are the pros and cons: Pro Back in December, a Daily Kos / Research 2000 poll of Pennsylvania found Arlen Specter getting ...
Specter’s Poll Numbers Take a Dive — WSJ.com: Washington Wire 6/25/2009
Susan Davis reports on politics. Sen. Arlen Specter ’s recent switch to the Democratic Party has not done much to bolster his standing with Keystone State residents, according to the latest polling from Franklin and Marshall College. Just ...
Poll: Specter's approval rating plunges — CNN Political Ticker 6/25/2009
Specter's approval ratings have taken a hit in recent months, according to a new poll. (CNN) – A new poll of Pennsylvania voters suggests that Sen. Arlen Specter's job approval rating has nose-dived over the past few months. Thirty-four ...
Club for Growth aims to drain Specter — POLITICO.com: Congress 6/25/2009
Wants donors to request a refund.
Doctor Defends V.A. Hospital Work — NYT > Politics 6/30/2009
Dr. Gary D. Kao, accused of mishandling treatment for prostate cancer, spoke before a Congressional panel.
Former opponent endorses Specter — CNN Political Ticker 6/30/2009
Sen. Arlen Specter has received the endorsement of a former opponent. WASHINGTON (CNN) — Joe Torsella, a former candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania, endorsed one-time Sen. Arlen Specter Tuesday for the Democratic nomination. Torsella, who ...