Reply #2: Just remember he's a Republican....Cancer or not his views will be

[KoKo]

always more to the right than most of us here. He may do a "half hearted attempt" at something because his conscience is niggling him as he goes through his chemo...but they always "take care of their own."

Specter was very good on Women's Rights issues through the years but he always answered the "Siren's Call" as the Repugs consolidated around their Fundie/Evangelical base...he accomodated them, because he had issues with Israel being strong which superceded anything else.

I think the RW'ers will use him and while what he says sounds good, given what we are faced with it might be only something that distracts from the major interests of Prisoner/Detainee Rights that we Democrats would support. If he with "some" good intentions is bringing this up now it may be only to co-opt the issue and turn it to Repug intervention thereby keeping the Dems out (the few who would be SO LEFT as to challenge him, that is). Most Dems will see this as a wonderful new opportunity for "dialog."