Specter: A “sizable” number of Senate Republicans secretly support the stimulus
posted at 2:12 pm on February 14, 2009 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
“When I came back to the cloak room after coming to the agreement a week ago today,” said Specter, “one of my colleagues said, ‘Arlen, I’m proud of you.’ My Republican colleague said, ‘Arlen, I’m proud of you.’ I said, ‘Are you going to vote with me?’ And he said, ‘No, I might have a primary.’ And I said, ‘Well, you know very well I’m going to have a primary.’”…
“I think there are a lot of people in the Republican caucus who are glad to see this action taken without their fingerprints, without their participation,” he said.
Specter was asked, How many of your colleagues?
“I think a sizable number,” he said. “I think a good part of the caucus agrees with the person I quoted, but I wouldn’t want to begin to speculate on numbers.”
Follow the link for audio. 48 percent of unaffiliated Pennsylvanians say they’re less likely to support him after this versus just 27 percent who say they’re more likely. Among Republicans, the less-likelies stand at 58 percent. Pat Toomey, call your office! Exit question: Who was the mystery colleague who congratulated Specter? Presumably it’s someone up for re-election in 2010. Voinovich and Mel Martinez would have been obvious guesses — except that they’re both retiring. Maverick is normally all for squishy bipartisan compromise, but he’s too vocal an opponent of this pork orgy to be a suspect. Chuck Grassley’s a possibility, but he’s popular at home and has been serving since 1981. Hard to believe he’d be worried about a primary challenge. How about Jim Bunning? The GOP’s been nudging him to retire, especially since he hasn’t raised much money for his next campaign yet. A yes vote on the stimulus might have given Cornyn and the NRSC a pretext to oppose him in the primary. The only problem: Bunning’s a “fiscal conservative hero.” How likely is it that he’d be hungry for a crap sandwich?
I’m stumped. Any guesses? Johnny Isakson? Richard Burr?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 Next »
And then Mrs. Specter said, “Arlen! Arlen! Wake up…the dog has to go potty and we need a gallon of milk.”
hoosiermama on February 14, 2009 at 3:16 PM
LMFAO
KSgop on February 14, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Who cares? If every one of them secretly harbors a great desire to embrace this bill but votes against it then who cares? Is he trying to say that republicans are hypocrites? Again who cares? Every person and most likely every animal on the planet not to mention Gaia already knows deep in their bones republicans are hypocrites. At least that is what we here day in and day out.
jmarcure on February 14, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Yeah, and a sizable number of Americans secretly support the idea of a revolution… and are ready to go!
Bye, bye, RINOs!
Scotsman on February 14, 2009 at 3:18 PM
I can’t guess who it is, but I believe it. These guys vote and give sound bites pursuant to their career interests above all. Fortunately, we don’t elect people because we think they are gods. It is time to hold legislators to account, but most people don’t even know who Pelosi is.
We’re kinda doomed.
PattyJ on February 14, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Message to the three sell-out scumbags:
The rest of the GOP caucus voted NO ass-wipe!
Keemo on February 14, 2009 at 3:19 PM
But of course. Look out for your colleagues before your constituents.
And last night, there were only 60, since Teddy went back to FL.
So Arlen was the 60th vote. You own it, Arlen. Can’t wait for the “But for his vote…” ads.
Wethal on February 14, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Clearly his vote had nothing to do with his centrist-y-ness.
Vizzini on February 14, 2009 at 3:21 PM
That statement doesn’t go far enough. I should have said, “The Republican’s that supported the first TARP haven’t transformed into capitalists all of a sudden.”
A large part of the reason that our “representatives” don’t represent us half of the time is because American’s political memories are so short. They realize that they can support TARP I, everybody will get mad, and then they can vote against TARP II and everybody will forget about TARP I and focus their anger on the TARP II supporters. Somewhere down the road there will be another bill, they can vote against it and all will be forgotten.
Unless he continues to screw over his constituents, Specter has a decent shot at getting reelected.
I’m not defending him, (I appose the bailouts), I’m only explaining that these three aren’t the only problem the Republican Party has.
FloatingRock on February 14, 2009 at 3:28 PM
My point exactly. Doesn’t matter what you think, hey were thinking. Look at the dad-gummed votes.
What a piker! Please retire so we can either get a real Republican or real Democrat in there. Having you in there Senator just makes my head hurt.
hawkdriver on February 14, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Senator Sphincter, I think all those people who told you to vote NO , will be saying NO to you in your next primary.
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on February 14, 2009 at 3:34 PM
If its such a good thing, why wouldnt they vote for it?
And you will lose it big time, Judas.
Elric66 on February 14, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Amen Hawk! May Karma dictate the rest of the three amigo’s lives… POS, everyone of them.
Keemo on February 14, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Kinda?
We are sooo doomed!
kakypat on February 14, 2009 at 3:39 PM
If, as a voter, I have a choice between a Senator who secretly wants to screw me over vs. one who is actually doing it in a way that’s as public and insulting as it can possibly be — I’ll settle for the closet RINO.
‘Course, that’s the same way I felt when John McCain got nominated. So apparently not every Republican is on the same page here.
logis on February 14, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Don’t believe Specter. He probably wants to convince himself that he was right.
jeanie on February 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Specter just lost his primary. He barely beat Toomey in 2004 and that was with both Santorum and Bush helping him out. I hope Steele now puts the full weight of the RNC behind his challenger.
cadams on February 14, 2009 at 3:55 PM
If there are mystery Sens…I submit my very own RINOs from GA
Saxby Chambliss
Johny “I am a CEO of a real estate company but that has nothing to do with the $15K tax credit for buying a house amendment I introduced, I’m only thinking of the people” Isakson
angryed on February 14, 2009 at 3:57 PM
At least specter has someplace to watch the Super Bowl the next three years.
oakpack on February 14, 2009 at 3:57 PM
I call bullshit. Specter is just trying to save his own ass by dragging a ghost into his grave with him.
Let the bastard hang, and any idiot that votes to put his sorry ass back in office next go-around.
Spiritk9 on February 14, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Exactly.
Specter, quit looking for cover. The only thing any of us sees at this point is the vote. And the vote says only Collins and Snowe joined you. What a phony piece of crap.
In fact, I encourage everyone to read Strassel’s WSJ article that ran through the headlines today. The Three Amigos actually gave cover to some Democrats in Red States.
BuckeyeSam on February 14, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Here’s a list of the Senators up for re-election next year. Most I would say most are in a pretty safe position looking at the States they represent except Blanche Lincoln, Byron Dorgan and possibly Harry Reid. I think Specter just made that up to cover his own arse and he is the only turncoat up in ‘10.
goat on February 14, 2009 at 4:09 PM
We should have gotten rid of him when we had the chance!
Moaneeca on February 14, 2009 at 4:10 PM
I think he made the whole thing up.
malan89 on February 14, 2009 at 4:10 PM
angryed on February 14, 2009 at 3:57 PM
That Isakson amendment was actually a good one that could help turn the housing market around.
goat on February 14, 2009 at 4:12 PM
If Specter is telling the truth, and we do have to keep in mind he’s not that far mentally from Robert Byrd land, then there is some serious education that needs to be done about economics. Perhaps Steele could hold a meeting for Senate Republicans and invite an economist to explain how capitalism works to the Republican senators, and I’d see nothing wrong with inviting whatever Dems may see fit to come to the economist’s presentation.
We need to keep in mind that this is not an ideological debate with legitimate differences of opinion like abortion or minimal amounts of welfare or number of national parks. We know that governments do not create jobs or stimulate economies.
thuja on February 14, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Specter reminds me of the movie “Harvey” where there is a invisible rabbit. Perhaps the rabbit bore several Republican offspring?
Captain America on February 14, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Senator Specter, a streetwalker by any other name is still a streetwalker.
Sadly whenever I see another picture of the decrepit Senator Collins I think she could use some age-defying hints from Keith Richards. How the corruption has weathered her features.
viking01 on February 14, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Come to think of it, Specter may have some great medication that could get us all through the coming depression. Now that’s stimulus.
Captain America on February 14, 2009 at 4:15 PM
LIAR
bill30097 on February 14, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Lying sack-o-shit.
surrounded on February 14, 2009 at 4:20 PM
If yer not with us yer agin’ us. No excuses.
jeanie on February 14, 2009 at 4:20 PM
I bet it was Mickey Mouse. You know Mickey gets votes in every election. Perhaps he was serving in the Senate and we were not aware.
Oh! It could have been Nancy Pelosi’s mouse talking in Senator Specter’s ear.
kcarpenter on February 14, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Mmm hm. Sure they did.
Rae on February 14, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Specter: “…and holding to the high standards of the United States Senate, I will not be naming any names…”
brtex on February 14, 2009 at 4:28 PM
flush these damn RINOS down the congressional toilet, with YOU leading the way, Arlen
rtsidedragon on February 14, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Delusional or a liar? Don’t know, but I don’t believe a word.
DrStock on February 14, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Didn’t Specter have a pool buddy who tells him “things”? Same guy I’d bet. Or it’s one of the other two traitors who voted with him on it already.
csdeven on February 14, 2009 at 4:35 PM
If you can pass a pop quiz on the contents of the stimulus, then we will believe you. Until then, you remain a silly old man with a rich imagination.
sherry on February 14, 2009 at 4:43 PM
You may be right, I’m not so sure. But, I do believe that some of them are seeing the prospect of a loss next time they come up for election.
Jvette on February 14, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Isakson wouldn’t surprise me. he’s a big Law of the Sea, Global Poverty Act, UN loving jerkoff. I believe he’s up for reelection in 2010 and after we forced Chambliss into a run-off he might be a little nervous.
Tom
marinetbryant on February 14, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Yeah, Arlen, sure. You keep telling yourself that other Republicans secretly supported that crap sandwich. You can repeat that line over and over, while you’re in the unemployment line next November. May Obama will find a job for you.
GarandFan on February 14, 2009 at 4:48 PM
no, please not richard burr. he’s my senator.
funsutton on February 14, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Why we need term limits. 2 terms for senators and 6 for representatives.
docdave on February 14, 2009 at 4:53 PM
And Vidkun Quisling defended his actions by claiming the people of Norway were behind him but to intimidated to say so in public. Specter is a rat bastard traitor.
highhopes on February 14, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Specter fears stampede of invisible RINOs, betrays GOP.
Yeah, right.
Maquis on February 14, 2009 at 5:01 PM
My guess is its Specter creating some CYA for himself…
crazywater on February 14, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Burr is mine too but it wouldn’t surprise me. NC is becoming Obama land. Helms is rolling over in his grave.
Fuquay Steve on February 14, 2009 at 5:07 PM
He’s a desperate little man concocting a fantasy (a lie) to rationalize his failure… classic.
D2Boston on February 14, 2009 at 5:09 PM
I am going to say the Spector is full of Pelosi*!
He is just trying to throw up some cover for his ego and future!
*Pelosi – a term to used to replace the no longer strong enough term of bullsh*t or BS
azcop on February 14, 2009 at 5:18 PM
As an attorney, Specter ought to be ashamed of using hearsay remarks as evidence.
Furthermore, if a Republican concerned about reelection made these remarks–and I don’t believe that such a person exists– he was obviously aware that voting approval for the bill was against the feedback from his constituents.
onlineanalyst on February 14, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Arlen was miquoted. What he really said was that the president of Caterpillar is going to start hiring as soon as The One signs the bill next week.
JonRoss on February 14, 2009 at 5:36 PM
Sure Arlen, rationalize it. That helps you feel better, doesn’t it.
I know many Republicans support some sort of stimulus, just not a mess like this one. What part of that don’t you get Arlen? You had the chance to really make a better bill, one that would be better for the country. Rememeber when it was said when the parties are forced to compete on ideas and policy you end up with a better result. Bill Clinton needed his Newt Gingrich–strangely enough it was symbiotic.
Go ask Al Gore what it means.
Mr. Joe on February 14, 2009 at 5:37 PM
It doesn’t get any better than this. This is a riot! Senator you’ve missed a great career on SNL!
Mason on February 14, 2009 at 5:37 PM
And what the heck is wrong with his jowls. I have never seen jowls like that.
JonRoss on February 14, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Or maybe Specter is lying through his teeth.
irishspy on February 14, 2009 at 5:39 PM
“Fine, Mr. Specter. Tell us who these other senators are so we can hate them too”
anniekc on February 14, 2009 at 5:41 PM
-
F that A*hole… I didn’t know his connection to that story. What a POS.
RalphyBoy on February 14, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Bull. F*cking. Shit.
thebronze on February 14, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Marinebryant: That is exactly Specter’s mindset. He places mmore credence with the opinions of the World Court, too.
onlineanalyst on February 14, 2009 at 6:03 PM
I don’t give a dmmm what ANY other SENATOR thinks or says.
You, Senator Spector, should be concerned with what the American TAX PAYERS are saying.
stenwin77 on February 14, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Believe me, he wasn’t taking phone calls from his constituents.
onlineanalyst on February 14, 2009 at 6:07 PM
The number of GOP who secretly supported it is probably more than matched by Democrats secretly horrified by it. Surely, some on that side of the aisle are capable of basic match and understand a little of economic history.
michaelo on February 14, 2009 at 6:24 PM
He loves Roe v. Wade. It’s “super, duper precedent.”
Wethal on February 14, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Specter, Snowe, and Collins should be ousted from the Republican Party for being nothing less than card-carrying RINOs. This way, when they are up for re-election next time around, they can fund their own INDEPENDENT elections, meaning they won’t stand a snowball chance in Hell of being re-elected.
The damage these three numbskulls did is beyond belief and is going to affect generations to come.
pilamaye on February 14, 2009 at 6:46 PM
So he’s trying to make himself out to be the “sacrificial lamb” here?
RNC, listen closely: NOT. ONE. PENNY TO THIS JACKASS!
SuperCool on February 14, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Specter is full of crap! I don’t believe a word of it. It’s just his rationalization of betraying the voters of Pennsylvania and the people of America.
MCPO Airdale on February 14, 2009 at 6:57 PM
I don’t give a damn. You don’t sign something you haven’t read. These people are lawyers for gawd sakes and should know better. Now we sit and watch our market drop more and in three months tops, they’ll be another one of these, another tril.
johnnyU on February 14, 2009 at 7:14 PM
I don’t have a guess. I have a statement. He’s lying out his ass.
Glynn on February 14, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Arlen, Arlen, Jim Jeffords isn’t a Senator any more, remember?
Deanna on February 14, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Sure Arlen, we believe that happened.
Helloyawl on February 14, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Arlen is such a pest, especially when you have to deal with that invisible white rabbit that follows him around….
I’m beginning to think the only thing that will save is is to broom all 100 current senators (not to mention the 435 representatives), and make it illegal for them to so much as enter the District of Columbia again. Yes, even the handful who are “good.”
There is simply too much of a collegial, “these are my friends” attitude that turns even sensible people into free-spending loons.
We need a complete new congress, along with a new president. When you hang around moldy vegetables long enough, mold grows on you, too.
But Arlen’s gotta go first.
MrScribbler on February 14, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Should be save US, of course….
MrScribbler on February 14, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Arlen is full of balony. What a complete line of crap to cover his saggy old butt. A sizeable number huh…? It’s code speak for age or belt size.
Who’s the fattest or oldest Rep. Senator presently serving who’s up for re-election, fiscally liberal, and has stones the size of a field mouse?
katy on February 14, 2009 at 8:00 PM
It’s not about Arlen, but it might as well be.
From RedState:
They’re So Not Into You
The Dems have this attitude at their peril. That congressman will be up for reelection next year and this is a bill that will be remembered.
I hope it’ll be a reprise on steroids of 1994.
INC on February 14, 2009 at 8:13 PM
It’s all BS. His Deep Throat was hit by the magic bullet.
EMD on February 14, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Arlen is not only a traitor he is making the Republicnas look like cowards. With friends like this……
Herb on February 14, 2009 at 8:28 PM
I don’t find it that hard to believe that there are other Senators in the GOP that secretly support it. I find it hard to believe that there were only 3. I lost $50 bucks to a buddy over this. I figured Backdoor John McCain and Lindsay Grahamnesty would be at the front of the GOP support for this. Then I realized why they weren’t..no illegal alien bailout. There will be plenty of other opportunities for our party to screw us over. Give Specter some credit; at least he stood up. The rest of them are just biding their time.
Four years from now we won’t remember this and we’ll nominate Specter for the Presidency because he’s a maverick and he can reach across the aisle. What’s our saying in the GOP? ‘We don’t throw away our garbage. We eat it.’ Specter 2012.
austinnelly on February 14, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Specter is just trying to justify the unjustifiable. If there were republicans secretly wanting the bill to pass you can bet there were more democrats hoping it would go away. That the dems could pass this without a single “no” vote from a democratic senator is hard to believe.
duff65 on February 14, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Would it be three senator?
davo on February 14, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Hey Specter! Schumer, Dodd, Durbin, Kerry, Leahy, Levin, Menendez, Nelson, Reed, and Reid should be proud of you now that you came out of the closet. You were in the cloak room for the Dems where you belong, not the republican cloak room.
Idiot.
JeffinOrlando on February 14, 2009 at 9:38 PM
3 – me, myself and I. Sphincter is a laughingstock along with Reid, Bela Pelosi, Dodd, Frank and all the rest. How can they believe what they are doing is right?
Right is wrong and wrong is right? The bible predicted this very thing a thousand years ago.
dthorny on February 14, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Spectre was standing in a cloak room?
I’ll bet it had two mirrors on opposite walls, and he could see all those strangely similar-looking faces congratulating him on his courage. And then Susan Collins walked in…
bains on February 14, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Spectard must be sharing an IV w/ Teddy “We’ll drive off that bridge when we come to it” Kennedy.
BHO Jonestown on February 14, 2009 at 10:58 PM
LOL. Count me in publicly. Arlen Specter is either lying, senile, or both.
stevelockridge on February 15, 2009 at 1:29 AM
I’m stumped. Any guesses? Johnny Isakson? Richard Burr?
How about Specter is a lying sack o’ sh*t.
Don Carne on February 15, 2009 at 3:03 AM
So the sell out story line is going to be “I’m the brave Senator with the courage of my convictions?”
Just watch the SEIU TV ads they are now running asking people to call Specter and thank him for his vote.
Done That on February 15, 2009 at 6:53 AM
Voinovich of Ohio was waiting in the wings.
tgillian on February 15, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Or specter is a lying sack. That’s the choice I’d bet money on. The guy flat out said to Megyn Kelly that he made a promise to harry reid and that was more important then his duty to his constituents and the American people. The republican party better not give 1 penny to this creep to get reelected. He should be treated like an independent and not receive any resources from the people he has stabbed in the back.
peacenprosperity on February 15, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Jim Bunning shouldn’t even be close to being suspect. In fact, I’m actually offended that you would even mention Bunning being anywhere close to the likeness of betrayal of Specter.
Perhaps before mentioning a name you should look up the voting record, Allah. Bunning’s been on the right side of every single vote for quite a while.
leetpriest on February 15, 2009 at 8:47 AM
Speaking of traitors, NY Post Page 6 has the following on ubertraitor Jane Fonda:
AN old skeleton has emerged from Jane Fonda’s closet to remind us of her traitorous embrace of the North Vietnamese, which got her dubbed “Hanoi Jane.” Docudrama Films is re leasing on DVD a long-suppressed documentary called “FTA,” a k a “[Bleep] the Army,” which chronicles the anti-war shows Fonda staged in front of GIs. The flick opened in theaters in 1972 the same week she flew to Hanoi and encouraged the Vietnamese com munists to fight “American impe rialists.” It was yanked days later and withdrawn from circulation, and the late director Francine Parker blamed pressure from the Nixon White House.
eaglewingz08 on February 15, 2009 at 8:50 AM
No, it was a bad amendment. What needs to turn the housing market around is lower prices. Lower prices = more affordability. More affordability = more people buying.
Why is this simple concept of supply and demand so hard to understand?
Why is this any different than Obama promising to pay people’s mortgages? Isakson gives you $15K as a “tax credit”. Obama gives you $15K via 15 $1000 mortgage payments. Both are bad ideas that need to stop.
angryed on February 15, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Hey Specter, I have never been arrested for the things floating around in my brain; it’s all about the “action” fool.
Keemo on February 15, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Arelen Specter’s ‘colleagues’ are the same ones John Kerry spoke to.
Proof positive the House of Lords lives in a fantasy world.
SeniorD on February 15, 2009 at 10:46 AM
On this one i dont doubt it..
This is why the republicans got their asses handed to them,..
They didnt do their JOB…
They sat there and just watched as madoll and fould and these other creeps RAPED WALL STREET stealing americans money in the trillions ….
SO thi sis why the republicans will not return to power..
not even in 4 years..
they didnt have the BALLS to say NO to obama and the porculus bill…
I will NOT vote for any republican again..
Our entire family is now sitting out the voting process..
because both sides are corrupt
our next votes will come during the
NEW Revolutionary WAR II
jcila on February 15, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Now this is something I really and truly don’t care about. If I had my way, every incumbent congressman would be put on the political chopping block the next time they’re up for re-election, so they’d know what it’s like to live in the private sector again.
Down with career politicians!
gryphon202 on February 16, 2009 at 1:16 AM
Mel Martinez, I’d bet on it.
Allah, I don’t think you’re taking into account the sliminess factor of politicians. Specter could easily say that he (Martinez) “said” he was up for primary, but that could have occurred in another conversation or might have just been common knowledge, something to give weight to anything Specter did (ex. “That Senator was too afraid to vote on the Spendulus Bill, but I’m not and I’m up for re-election in 2010 too! See how brave I am?”).
Exit question: Can I secede from the Republic?
Geministorm on February 16, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 Next »