Specter 'fuming' over homosexual snub

[Tab]

Republican Senator Arlen Specter is said to be "fuming" over the endorsement of his Democratic opponent in the recent U.S. Senate race by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), according to the New York Blade, a homosexual newspaper.

HRC, the nation's largest homosexual lobbying group, endorsed Democrat Congressman Joseph Hoeffel this August. Specter had narrowly won his Republican primary against conservative Rep. Patrick Toomey and was hoping for support from HRC.

It was Specter's vote in July to send the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Senate floor that nixed the homosexual group's endorsement, even though Specter publicly clarified that he would have voted against it if it had come up for a floor vote.

Cheryl Jacques, executive director of HRC, said she had "no regrets" over snubbing Specter. "You don’t get to play Monday morning quarterback. We stand by a solid commitment to records and equality. Those who support discrimination into the Constitution don’t deserve our support. I expect that if Sen. Specter becomes the chair of the Judiciary Committee we will work with him. I hope he is focused on a fair-minded judiciary and policy for this country and I hope that he comes to regret his vote."
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_I...

[gratuitous]

1. Gee Arlen, you vote in favor of bigotry

And a human rights group chooses not to endorse you for it. And let me get this right: You're mad about it?!

I take it there's no IQ test required to be a U.S. Senator.

[Maat]

2. Cheryl Jacques is so articulate! Such a good framer!

I support the HRC. They must stand up for fundamental rights ... or they become meaningless. I'm a member. I want an effective lobbying group that stands by their principles! So says this member!

[Tab]

3. If I remember right...

Didn't Specter had some interesting opinions on the woman (I can't think of her name offhand) who confronted Clarence Thomas? I believe he led the charge against her.

[maddezmom]

4. Anita Hill

Nation & World
Clubhouse catfight
Specter's struggle with conservatives has ominous overtones—even for the president
By Terence Samuel

For 40 years, Arlen Specter, the son of a junkyard owner from Russell, Kan., has emerged from the political shadows at poignant moments to leave some indelible mark on the historical record: the single-bullet theory in the Kennedy assassination; his role in defeating the contentious Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork in 1987; his harsh 1991 questioning of Anita Hill that helped put Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court; and his vote of "not proven" on the impeachment of Bill Clinton, which Specter explained by citing Scottish law.



As George W. Bush prepares to begin his second term, another Specter moment is upon us. At 74, the senior Republican senator from Pennsylvania finds himself in the cross hairs of Christian conservatives who have received substantial credit for the president's re-election.

Big stakes. Tradition says Specter, just elected to his fifth term, will be the next chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee--but those angry conservatives mean to stop him. The face-off provides a telling preview of battles ahead. The administration must find a way to reach out to moderates, like Specter, whom it will need to advance its agenda, while keeping faith with those conservatives who helped put Bush over the top. It's not going to be easy.

Specter, who is pro-abortion rights, set off a firestorm after the election when he said he believed that judges who wanted to overturn the legality of abortions would have a difficult time getting confirmed by the Senate. "When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think that is unlikely," Specter said. And while he has claimed repeatedly since then that his words were not meant as a warning to the White House, conservatives are out to get him.

`snip~
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/041122/usnews/22spec...

[Tab]

5. That's the name I wanted to use

Yes, that's the name I wanted to use except I kept thinking, no - that's the one down in Florida (who was Anita Bryant). I figured someone who had a full night's sleep would know for sure.

Anyway, wasn't he pretty demeaning to Anita Hill? I seem to recall coming away from that thinking he was pretty accusatory.

[JusticeForAll]

6. Colonel Sanders Fuming over Allied Chicken Union snub

He voted for it but would later vote against it...jeez when did I hear that logic last?

Oh whatever, get over it you repub jerk.

[demokatgurrl]

9. The biggest ass-kisser in the Senate.

[Lefty48197]

7. Arlen, you voted for Frist and Lott. Which part don't you understand?

You can't pretend to be a moderate until you have to vote for Senate leadership, and then suddenly vote like a born-again Gingrichite. Face it dude, you're a sell out.

[demokatgurrl]

8. Trying to have it both ways- bigotry and "moderatness"?---

"It was Specter's vote in July to send the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Senate floor that nixed the homosexual group's endorsement, even though Specter publicly clarified that he would have voted against it if it had come up for a floor vote."

Is that what is known in repuke circies as a "flip-flop"?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. Huh

why WOULD the HRC endorse Specter?

Good for the HRC. I love them.

[jdj]

11. Everyone is missing the point. This is pure spin from worldnetdaily.

They are crucifying him. Why is this source posted here?

One thing the right always does to try to ruin someone is to associate them with homosexuality. Jerry Falwell ruined Jim Bakker among the right this way.

Specter knew he wouldn't get the HRC endorsement against a dem, that's why there is no quote, WND says he "is said to be fuming".

Baloney. This is a hit job. And we are helping it happen, disseminating spin to get this "moderate" repuke out of the way so they can move a fascist in behind him. There is nothing quite like democrats helping republicans help themselves.

[jdj]

13. this paragraph from the usnews link posted above shows their motive

"As George W. Bush prepares to begin his second term, another Specter moment is upon us. At 74, the senior Republican senator from Pennsylvania finds himself IN THE CROSS-HAIRS OF CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES who have received substantial credit for the president's re-election."

These are not people I particularly want to give aid and comfort to. If they are trying to castrate him politically, then they've got someone worse in the wings.

here's another paragraph from another thread:

"Already, Focus on the Family can claim responsibility in helping pressure the Senate Republican caucus to reconsider handing the judiciary post to Specter, who should be a shoo-in because of his seniority."
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~11676~25342...

[BlueManDude]

14. I want Specter out of the way

If you think he's gonna be our saviour in the Senate you're delusional. I want whatever "moderates" there are in the GOP to be further marginalized. I can't think of a better way for people like Linc Chafee to realized that isn't his father's GOP and he has no place in it. Right now the best thing we've got going for us is THEIR extremism.

[jdj]

15. Well, that's one way of seeing it

I am under no delusions, however I don't want us to fall into the trap of doing the right's work for them.

Cheryl Jacques should have been alot smarter than this.

Yes, marginalization of moderates could split the party, unless they are on the take, and bought and sold, which most of them are, so they will in the end probably shut up and play nice.

We need to question the motive and content of any story that comes out of such an extreme right co. like World Net Daily.

[BlueManDude]

16. Specter is useless now

in fact he will help the GOP because they will always say "even the moderate, pro-choice Sen Specter supports so and so." I hope the fundies scalp him. As for the article, typical RW "journalism" meant not to inform the public but push some inner Beltway agenda.

[jdj]

17. tell me something I don't already know.

tell me something I don't already know.

edit: oh, and I think you have missed my point entirely.

"typical right wing journalism" is almost never posted here, and certainly not in LBN, that is why folks missed the link source

[VegasWolf]

12. With the fundie repukes in charge, Spector should be grateful

for a job cleaning toilets in the senate. No room
here for moderates.