The Sestak/Specter debate - Based on this, I'm voting for Specter.

[old mark]

Sestak revealed himself to be pro-war in Afghanistan, in favor of continuing the idiotic "assault weapons" ban, and generally not the guy I want in the Senate for PA.
Link to the story on the debate:
http://cbs3.com/local/Arlen.Specter.Joe.2.1669010.html

I'm voting for Specter.
Even with 32 years as a Republican he is a better candidate and a better Democrat than Sestak, IMO.

mark

[ebbie15644]

1. not me

I'm voting for Sestek.

[ebbie15644]

5. I'm old enough

to remember the Anita Hill hearings and will NEVER vote for spector

[MH1]

6. another Sestak vote here

I remember Specter's 30 year history as a republican. So does Project Vote-Smart, unfortunately for him.

Specter supports a flat tax, and eliminating the estate tax. He has a middling to poor environmental record, while Sestak has an excellent environmental record. Specter voted for DOMA and supports the ban on so-called 'partial-birth' abortions. NOW vigorously endorsed Sestak.

Sestak authored legislation to set a deadline for withdrawal of troops from Iraq, as one of his first acts in Congress, just as he promised in his campaign. But also as he promised me personally Sestak did not abandon my nephews in Iraq by refusing to fund the troops when withdrawal was defeated. Some so-called 'progressives' WANTED MY NEPHEWS TO DIE. Keep that in mind when they claim Sestak is somehow 'less progressive' than Specter because he funded the troops.

Specter does not support EFCA. Oh wait did he change his mind on that, too? I can't keep up. Trust me, whatever 'progressive' positions Specter might be claiming for now until May 18, will gradually become more 'nuanced' until they nuance right away by November. Specter is what he has been for 30 years, not what he's been for just a few months. He is a 'moderate' conservative.

[old mark]

2. Well, then we need another vote for a tie breaker.....nt

[Yellow Horse]

3. Specter Vote HERE. We need to keep his leadership and experience working for PA.

Even when he was a Republican Specter did a lot of good for our state.

Sestak's dismal, glassy-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights performance in the debate sealed the deal for me. I'm voting Specter.

[PADEMJES12]

4. obviously im voting for specter too

the funny thing is these people calling sestak a progressive. its not funny... its absurd.

[MH1]

7. Specter will be back to center right after the primary, if he wins

Sestak will continue to be a trustworthy Democratic vote.

Even if so-called progressives WANTED MY NEPHEWS TO DIE IN IRAQ WITHOUT EQUIPMENT. Doesn't change that Sestak has a far better Democratic voting record than Specter ever will. Go check project vote-smart FOR THE FACTS.

I thought Sestak did better in the debate than Specter - Specter was just a one note whiny smear merchant. But I did notice Sestak was a bit nervous, and could have done better. You should go to a rally or conference where he is speaking. Yesterday in Philly he was fired up and gave a great speech, for example.

[wisteria]

9. And Sestak has what kind of voting record? Conservative from what I hear.

I would rather have Specter who you can count on when he is needed to do the right thing.

[MH1]

10. Easy to check, don't have to go by 'what I hear'

http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=58333

I will admit that environment is BY FAR my most important issue area. See LCV scores here:

http://capwiz.com/lcv/dbq/vote_info/?command=results&sort=Last&state=PA&submit.x=6&submit.y=18&submit=go

and that is 2009. Look at Specter's lifetime LCV record:
http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=497&congress=1112&lvl=C

vs. Sestak's:
http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=51425&congress=1112&lvl=C

something else: I have discussed environmental issues with Joe several times, he has always been attentive and he has helped with major legislation. Penn Environment loves him. (I don't know if they endorse in primaries, I suspect not ... especially this one since they don't need to piss off Rendell ... but I know from conversations with the head of Penn Environment, David Masur.)

Conservative? Specter supports a flat tax and elimination of the estate tax. (http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=53340#544 ) On those two issues alone, it will be hard to swallow voting for Specter in November if I have to ... but Toomey is much worse and of course if it comes to it I will.

[Number9Dream]

13. Sestak is much more supportive of Democratic issues than Instant Liberal Specter

Joe Sestak has voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues 97.2% of the time.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/s001169/

Only PA Congressman to have 100 % rating from the League of Conservation Voters, PennEnvironment, and has been endorsed by the Sierra Club.

http://joesestak.com

His legislative efforts resulted in Majority Leader Steny Hoyer naming him the most productive freshman member of Congress.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/pa07_sestak/pr_080310forum.shtml

Sestak, who had served as a three-star Admiral and who spent thirty-one years in the Navy is one of seventeen veterans in Congress who are co-sponsors of legislation to lift the ban on openly gay service.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS144555+05-May-2008+PRN20080505

Sestak supports Healthcare Coverage for all Americans:
"While affordable and accessible preventive care is so essential to reducing the overall costs of healthcare, we must also provide healthcare to all Americans through a system that is cost effective for families, businesses and providers."

http://joesestak.com/issues/health-security


Instant Liberal Arlen's DISMAL voting record:

Specter scores 32% by The League of Conservation Voters on environmental issues, indicating generally anti-environment votes.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Arlen_Specter_Environment.htm

Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore.

Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Arlen_Specter_Corporations.htm

Voted FOR telecom immunity.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/12/politics/politico/thecrypt/main3821504.shtml

Voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
Voted NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months. (Dec 2007)
Voted NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Arlen_Specter.htm

Specter created a chart which helped derail Clinton health care reforms.

http://mediamatters.org/research/200709180008

snip> "Republican Sen. Arlen Specter's office created the chart, and press reports at the time cited experts or administration officials saying that the chart distorted the Clinton proposal and ignored the greater complexity of Republican proposals and of the existing system."

[Cosmocat]

19. As of 8 pm next Tuesday ....

Specter will be worthless as a dem ...

Sorry, it is prototype republican debating to create a strawman and argue against it - this "I love how people are making Sestak out to be a liberal lion" stuff ... I see him for what he is, a Webb type democrat, and that is fine ... The Democratic party isn't the republican party where every stinking member votes as one ...

I hate Joe Lieberman, and I can't find any level of intellectual honesty in supporting Specter when he pulled a Lieberman ...

As others have noted, Sestak's voting record is better than Specter, and Specter is now matched only by John McCain as a desperate, say or do anything to keep his job political hack at this point ...

[wisteria]

8. Wasn't Sestak awful? I think Specter should put some of this in a commerical.

And, this is just a preview to come if Sestak happens to win. He does not have enough experience to take on Toomey. If Sestak wins I call it for Toomey and I am not going to waste my time as a Democrat push Sestak. I think he is just an awful candidate with little experience and he can't run on being the only Democrat in the general election and his Navy career is only going to go so far.
He is a loser-pure and simple.

[MH1]

11. Since that debate, Sestak's numbers are doing quite well

so apparently voters don't go much by debates, or they thought Sestak was better than what you thought.

I thought Arlen was kind of whiny, myself. I do think Joe could have done better. Not sure what was going on that day but he will have a lot of help to do better. (Also Sestak has debated Toomey a couple time already. Maybe we should look those up on You Tube)

[PADEMJES12]

12. you're correct sestaks a loser

you can only use your military service as a prop for so long. you know... you have to talk about
the issues and what you are going to do for Pennsylvania. There's only 1 candidate doing that.


Arlen Specter.

[MrMickeysMom]

14. I take it you watched the same debate I did... ??

So, I don't know how you can conclude Sestek revealed himself to be pro-Afghanistan war. Although I don't think I would see eye to eye with him on much, there's still all those years of what has gone on, especially the last 8 under Bush ... all the money to support an illegal war, and most of all, the manner in which the SCOTUS was picked. Do you believe that Santorum bought the last two votes from Specter? I know how he voted, is all I know. I recall hearing Specter say, "I should have paid attention to early indicators" of the economy. Hey, I thought he was a product of the Roosevelt household.

Maybe Sestak's affect seems a bit breathless, but other than that, I think he's the better choice in not having voted to de-regulate Wall Street, and FOR GOD'S SAKE, what planet would a person be on to think Specter was a "John Kennedy Democrat"? Is he SERIOUS??? For Christ's sake, he was the one who badgered credible witnesses and pushed the single bullet theory - a theory that has been discredited by the House Select Committee for the Assassination of Kennedy.

No, it's okay to push an outright lie about who assassinated Kennedy, then spit on his memory by saying you were a "John Kennedy Democrat".

[wisteria]

15. I am with you. n/t

[Hersheygirl]

16. Thank you

for helping me make up my mind on Sestak, I was sitting on the fence. After reading the link you provided I'm now fully for Sestak. You see, I fully support the continuence of the "idiotic assault weapons ban". I sincerely thank you.

[Township75]

17. Sestak supports the assualt weapons bill?

If that's true, he lost my vote. Gun control is a loser, and shouldn't be supported by those that can have 24h police escorts unlike the rest of us.

Despite how much the left and right partisians despise Spectre, I think the swing voters dont mind him, and they will vote for him and allow him to retain the seat. I don't think Sestak can do that.

[AllentownJake]

18. Voting Specter

Not a fan of Joe, and am amazed he's being played off as this progressive hero these days. I guess being closer to his district, I know Sestak is not some liberal lion.