Specter: “I don’t have any requirement to be here”
posted at 12:15 pm on August 11, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Things got a little heated at the townhall forum held by Senator Arlen Specter (R er, D-PA) this morning after a curious decision not to allow people to ask questions live from the floor. One constituent had to initially be restrained when he found out that he couldn’t ask a live question, but Specter handled the incident well by giving the man his say — and admitting that his office needed to do better in adopting a process that allowed for live interaction in his meetings. He then angered the crowd all over again by reminding them how lucky they are to be in his presence at all, as this video clip by The College Politico shows at the end:
SPECTER: I’m encouraging constitutional rights. I’m encouraging constitutional rights by coming to Lebanon to talk to my constituents. I could be somewhere else. I don’t get any extra pay — I don’t have any requirement to be here. But for somebody –
CROWD: [Angry murmuring] You work for us! You report to us!
SPECTER: Okay, okay, number — well, I am reporting to you …
Putting aside the risible notion that holding townhalls are required for “encouraging constitutional rights,” lecturing Pennsylvanians on their good fortune to have an audience with their lordly Senator seems to be right in line with the Democratic approach to democracy these days. Specter doesn’t get any “extra pay”? He makes $174,000 a year for a job that requires him to be at the office four days a week when Congress is in session, which is only about 2/3rds of the year. He has a gold-plated medical and dental package that Specter certainly won’t surrender for the ObamaCare system he’s pushing. Thanks to his 30 years in the Senate, he’s eligible for a pension that will pay 80% of that salary and keep his benefits package in place until he dies.
How many of his constituents have that kind of job? How many do you think will be impressed that Specter deigned to receive his subjects without getting a bonus payment to do it? What a great example of Beltway arrogance — and what a great opportunity for Pat Toomey.
Blowback
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Retirement time can’t arrive soon enough for this turd.
elduende on August 11, 2009 at 12:16 PM
..he’s exactly right. And one hopes the Pennsylvania voters see to it that he is removed.
VoyskaPVO on August 11, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Notice the union thug who stood up and pushed the guy away telling him to sit down and shut up?
I would have pressed charges for assault.
Enoxo on August 11, 2009 at 12:16 PM
You should be thankful to bask in the presence of Baron Specter, peasants.
Techie on August 11, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Most public employees in unions. That’s the main reason state budgets are so screwed up all over the country.
lorien1973 on August 11, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Voters: We don’t have any requirement to vote for you.
ICBM on August 11, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Really, Senator? Then perhaps we’ll just send Pat Toomey to replace you!
Steve Z on August 11, 2009 at 12:17 PM
I’m really quite thankful that he is a Democrat now.
myrenovations on August 11, 2009 at 12:18 PM
I love the delicious irony of the old geezer currently enjoying socialized medicine (Medicare) screaming about the perils of socialized medicine to Specter. More clips of Republicans showing their impeccable intellect, please!!
dcwvu on August 11, 2009 at 12:18 PM
specter was getting dished up at the deli counter today.
ted c on August 11, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Congress seriously needs to be stripped of their ability to vote themselves pay raises.
BadgerHawk on August 11, 2009 at 12:18 PM
what a humble servant of the people.
weewilly on August 11, 2009 at 12:19 PM
If Pat is smart, he should be creating some ads with this…
cmsinaz on August 11, 2009 at 12:19 PM
What was he trying to say there? “Okay, okay, number 27… I understand what you’re saying?”
I’m not a number… I’m a free man.
Skywise on August 11, 2009 at 12:19 PM
That town hall was a total joke and a waste of time. Specter did nothing but lie and offer worthless platitudes and claim that “I won’t support a bill that _____”. All that happened was that people got to express their issues, but there was no serious response, and it’s clear that Specter is going to just go back to Washington and vote for the socialization of America, anyway. The slimeball belongs in jail, for the rest of his miserable existence.
progressoverpeace on August 11, 2009 at 12:19 PM
The Democrats deserve this guy. No loss–
ted c on August 11, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Who says he’s enjoying it? Maybe he sees how much it sucks and doesn’t want it imposed on the rest of the country.
BadgerHawk on August 11, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I can’t WAIT to go to the Townhall today for Mark Begich!!!
He is going to cry… I hope.
upinak on August 11, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Arlen Specter already received his bonus from the porkulus he voted for. Now, he will dance for his master, who is sadly not the taxpayers of Pennsylvania.
alliebobbitt on August 11, 2009 at 12:21 PM
If Toomey is not elected into the senate- then the PA will get what they deserve and the rest of us outside get the crap that will roll down hill!.
Put Pat in the PA senate seat!!
God Bless
hawkman on August 11, 2009 at 12:21 PM
…and PA, and the rest of us in the other 56 states.
WashJeff on August 11, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I know what you mean by “now”, but… ya know.
LibTired on August 11, 2009 at 12:21 PM
it sure did sound like a deli counter
:-)
cmsinaz on August 11, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Good luck with that re-election campaign senator. You just gave your opponents a golden sound byte.
PackerBronco on August 11, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Is it as deliciously ironic as people who support Obamacare while the current “socialized medicine” we have (medicare, etal) is bankrupting the country with $60 trillion in unfunded liabilities?
lorien1973 on August 11, 2009 at 12:22 PM
My favorite line by Arlen in that whole exchange: “I’m not familiar with 3200″
These politicians are exposed again and again as tools and frauds
gatorboy on August 11, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Term limits…these arrogant twits have got to go.
d1carter on August 11, 2009 at 12:23 PM
We’re forced to pay for it through payroll deductions, then forced to go on it when we retire. That’s delicious?
Hose bag.
Akzed on August 11, 2009 at 12:23 PM
If a state elected official is not willing to openly discuss and promote converting state employees, including teachers, to defined contribution plans, that person is NOT serious about fixing a state’s budget issue.
WashJeff on August 11, 2009 at 12:24 PM
HMMM
WTF
I thought all thoes vacations Congress gives itself was so they could talk to their voters?????????????????
Rick007 on August 11, 2009 at 12:24 PM
“I don’t have any requirement to be here.”
Hmm. Try this–We don’t have any requirement to pay our taxes jackass.
ted c on August 11, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Oh, really?
This needs to be trumpeted all over the place. THIS guy just admitted what the whole lot of them (career politicians) believe.
God bless him for taking time out of his busy day to talk to us. Hubris, much?
Mommypundit on August 11, 2009 at 12:25 PM
How about they get paid based on satifactory performance?
TXMomof3 on August 11, 2009 at 12:25 PM
To think that young men die on the battlefield so this insufferable asshole can talk and talk and talk.
mr1216 on August 11, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Specter’s attitude is typical of these self serving, arrogant politicians. They’ve been feeding at the public trough so long that they think they own it.
rplat on August 11, 2009 at 12:26 PM
I gotta say, the month of August has turned into a “teachable moment.” Each and every one of these town halls show just how corrupted and corruptive Congress can be for the political class. We have John Conyers bragging that he doesn’t read the legislation he votes for, you’ve got fellow Michigander Dingell comparing dissent with the KKK while Pelosi/Hoyer calls such actions un-American. We’ve got that Georgia idiot (Scott?) screaming at opponents. The unions are beating people up for protesting against the healthcare plan…..
All of this is very instructive as to the real state of the Congress.
highhopes on August 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Really looking forward to 2010. These old-time politicians will be swept out of office. It will be shocking to see who gets swept away. No one is safe.
EMD on August 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Keep showing your contempt for the voters, libs.
Just keep it up. Please.
wildcat84 on August 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM
The one good thing coming from these townhalls and the entire Obama administration is that the Age of Arrogance is coming to an end. I do believe voters (those with a brain) will be looking for candidates who speak and act with honesty and integrity, rather than glib, well-dressed, pseudo-intellectuals.
sherry on August 11, 2009 at 12:28 PM
If you think Specter is full of arrogance and hubris, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Obama’s New Hampshire Townhall Meeting begins at 12 Noon Central Time.
kingsjester on August 11, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Prisoner 24601!
/miserable
Abby Adams on August 11, 2009 at 12:28 PM
My observation:
It was like S was opening in Vegas.
dyed, pampered and propped up.
I adored question “when you get back to d.c. will you put forth an amendment for term limits”……
nondhimmie on August 11, 2009 at 12:29 PM
The 1965 projection for Medicare’s expected 1990 cost: $9 billion. Actual cost? $67 billion.
But by all means, continue to provide everyone with a preview of how political debate will devolve as clientelism expands: “Well, you can’t complain about A taking B, since you take Z.”
DrSteve on August 11, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Throw all the bastards out. Time to shake Washington like a rotten tree and get the rats out.
spmat on August 11, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Specter is the poster boy for term limits.
RadClown on August 11, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Verbeugung vor dem König, Arlen “von” Specter.
Johan Klaus on August 11, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Suggested new law applying to house and senate:
Sponsor a bill requiring new spending and/or taxes.
Ascend gallows in house/senate well, insert head in noose.
If it passes? Take your seat.
If it fails? Trap door opens.
Akzed on August 11, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Translation?
TXMomof3 on August 11, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I hope some lib is stupid enough to get himself photographed protesting with a big sign that says: “SINGLE PAYER, 2011!”
Their transparent strategy is to jam this through until 2010, then take the next step as soon as they have breathing room.
jeff_from_mpls on August 11, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I didn’t know dinosaurs could talk.
fogw on August 11, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Never mind, it has something to do with him not being king.
TXMomof3 on August 11, 2009 at 12:31 PM
“{He makes $174,000 a year for a job that requires him to be at the office four days a week when Congress is in session, which is only about 2/3rds of the year. He has a gold-plated medical and dental package that Specter certainly won’t surrender for the ObamaCare system he’s pushing. Thanks to his 30 years in the Senate, he’s eligible for a pension that will pay 80% of that salary and keep his benefits package in place until he dies.”
This is not what the founding fathers had in mind, or what Americans today want. Today’s politicians have set themselves up as an aristocracy. They are like the pigs in “Animal Farm” that “more equal” than us. I don’t know how we go about it, but we need;
1) Term limits
2) A retraction of the excessive perks for congress. They should be on the same social security plan and health care options that everyday Americans have.
3) They do not deserve the pensions they are receiving. They should be eliminated.
4) Their salaries and raises should be approved by the American people, in elections, not voted on by the people in congress, themselves.
5) Tighter rules on ethics laws and corruption.
Star20 on August 11, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Senators weren’t originally suppose to report to The People. They represented The State which was made up of The People’s representatives that reported directly to them.
But the 17th Amendment flipped that on its head. Now The States have no check over the Federal government and we have our own House Of Lords. Lord Specter doesn’t exist without the 17th Amendment, neither does Lord Franken, or Porkulous, or any other product of the rapid consolidation of power in the Federal government that has occurred since 1913.
Well done populist movement, you really thought it through.
Sorax on August 11, 2009 at 12:33 PM
If the GOP had any smarts they’d be outraged and would have been running ads for the past week. Where’s the outrage at our citizens being called un-American, swastika toting any Klan like mobs? If they can’t come up with a response to show how delusional and arrogant these representatives are then they’re just as pathetic as they are.
scalleywag on August 11, 2009 at 12:33 PM
The dems are writing the GOP’s adds for them.
farright on August 11, 2009 at 12:34 PM
That’s true, Specter never has given a flip about what his constituents think.
MarkTheGreat on August 11, 2009 at 12:35 PM
The more he talks makes you wonder how this guy got elected and keeps getting elected. He is the poster boy for cluelessness.
major dad on August 11, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Cause a stink and make a debut on HA video ;)
LimeyGeek on August 11, 2009 at 12:35 PM
apparently you believe “old geezers” are not permitted to have a viewpoint…and the left accuses us of being Nazis and Klan Members. Hypocrisy at its finest.
HawaiiLwyr on August 11, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Spector: Hey I don’t need to come here and be abused you know. I can stay home and get that.
Rocks on August 11, 2009 at 12:35 PM
make that (
D, er,R, er, D-PA)MarkTheGreat on August 11, 2009 at 12:36 PM
What a self serving a$$!
farright on August 11, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Grow Fins on August 11, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Bow to the king.
Johan Klaus on August 11, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Too old to deserve HR3200 health-care provisions, Specter just couldn’t wait to lay the socialism on Americans. Thank goodness he’s officially democrat-corrupt instead of a ball-and-chain RINO.
Given the $5million from Soros and the $150 million from the pharmaceutical industry, I’m willing to bet that dirty bribed Democrats are planting evidence to frame their opposition with crimes.
Democrat Rep. Scott (who stupidly accosted his constituent, a physician, for “hijacking this Townhall”) had his office vandalized with a swastika to garner public sympathy.
It is reasonable to find that Gifford’s camp planted the “fallen gun” for public sympathy and outcry against those dissatisfied citizens unhappy with HR 3200.
Disgusting Democrat KKK Bogeymen, lobbyists and union thugs! As if Congress wasn’t unpopular enough prior to the POTUS election of 2008. Losers, taking America down with their own failures.
This is not what the American majority voted for in 2008.
GIVE US OUR TAX CUTS. Leave our jobs alone; quit penalizing work. Let us produce and conduct our own business without the Green Giant ogre and his mandates and ho-ho-ho czars strangling our prosperity, revising our Constitutional Government into a Marxist “One Voice” dictatorship.
No wonder Obama voters still have their divisive posters in their front yards, mimicking the blood of the lamb at Passover, entreating the destroyers to leave themselves, audacious democrats, alone.
maverick muse on August 11, 2009 at 12:37 PM
He clearly has sand in his vag!na
LimeyGeek on August 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Thanks for getting that in my head.
I’m even more glad that this guy switched parties now. Going from R to D and then acting like a total toolbag after you told the country that you didn’t like what Republicans were doing to this country. Awesome.
Sir Corky on August 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM
You get em’, girl! Make him crawl into the corner and fold himself into the fetal position, suckeling his thumb…..
HornetSting on August 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Please lets not repeat last year’s early strategy of bashing Hillary and allowing Obama to escape conservative criticism until it was too late.
We WANT Democrats to vote for Specter. Sestak will energize the Dims while Specter will make them stay home. Even if Specter wins, the man is so senile, he will probably forget he turned Democrat and go back to voting 50-60% with Republicans.
Yes I know it would be hilarious for Specter to lose a primary he changed parties to enter, but I’d rather have a Senate seat than a few laughs at an old guy’s expense.
Speedwagon82 on August 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM
What makes you think he is enjoying it?
MarkTheGreat on August 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM
There are times when great leaders have to do the unpopular thing. This isn’t one of those times. Specter is a microcosm of everything that is wrong with the Congress.
highhopes on August 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM
You’ve got something on your chin……
HornetSting on August 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Nice job making an irrelevant apples-oranges comparison.
-1
In the future, don’t let your ideology trump your ability to reason.
bluelightbrigade on August 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Great pun Mark!
InTheBellyoftheBeast on August 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM
along with Dingell
cmsinaz on August 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM
I picked up a few words on my trips to Germany. The only reason I figure it was king-related was my visits to Ludwig’s castles.
TXMomof3 on August 11, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Quotes the troll who has no viable solutions.
bluelightbrigade on August 11, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Pass the popcorn…..between Rush and this, I’ve got the popper working overtime!
HornetSting on August 11, 2009 at 12:40 PM
“I refuse to say anything without my lawyer.”–Specter
maverick muse on August 11, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Young men and women die in battle for this self serving creep to blather. And people wonder why I say…those planes hit the wrong buildings.
mr1216 on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
You do realize that people criticizing Medicare are criticizing it because IT – THE GOVERNMENT RUN OPTION ALREADY IN PLACE – IS TERRIBLE AND A FAILURE, right?
Of course, you think that it’s you, the all-feeling, all-caring liberal – who has had the divine mercy and human decency to MANDATE that this person be subject to your benevolent government program for his own good. Well, you got your way – he’s on socialized medicine and he says that IT SUCKS.
Not exactly an argument in favor of your proposal that I’d be augmenting in the debate, champ.
But no, in the Obamacrat mind, he’s merely a crypto-Nazi or a racist or a Klan member or a terrorist or is un-American now because he doesn’t just shut up and swallow what crap he’s given from his “betters” in government who have done nothing more than designed a set path for him to follow and created a quality of life they regarded as adequate for him. He’s an ingrate. He’s “against reform.” He’s “an agent of the insurance companies.” He needs to be “punched back at twice as hard.” He’s the enemy.
Welcome to Obama’s Amerika.
Good Lt on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
When did specter do that? Anything of importance and the rat bastard traitor was with the Democrats.
highhopes on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
You have to do whatever we wish you to do, you old fossil. Most of the people paying your six-figure salary only make a five-figure one. Sit down, shut up, and answer the questions your employer asks.
MadisonConservative on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
right now I am so GLAd spector switched parties. He is our greatest gift to the dems. A true trojan horse. thanks alren for giving the GOP the best chance in a lifetime to turn Pa red.
unseen on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
question for the (R)s in PA, did he every conduct a town hall mtg while he was a rino?
cmsinaz on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
State reps only have a few thousand constituents. If 200 people showed up at their state rep’s office to complaint about their US senator, it got their attention. “We want Specter recalled…” or, “Now that Arlen’s gone here are the candidates we want you to pick from when selecting his replacement.”
Now, 200 people out of 7,000,000,000 Pennsylvanians show up at Arlen’s office to bitch: meh.
Direct election of senators was a boon to corrupt senators and a bane to the Republic.
Akzed on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Which part of socialism do you not like?
Johan Klaus on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
I think we need to reverse the benefits incentive structure.
Give members of Congress full pay and benefits for life for serving their first full term. Reduce the retirement salary and benefits by 10% for every successive term they serve.
You would have a lot more people challenging incumbents, and less Senator for Life dead weight.
Stephen Macklin on August 11, 2009 at 12:42 PM
There were several great lines. But one thing I couldn’t get over is that one person asked about the Linda Douglass fishy-e-mail database–a concern that it might be used to create a database of political enemies. Specter hadn’t heard about it! Where’s he been for the past week or so? Sleeping? Or watching MSNBC?
BuckeyeSam on August 11, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Make sure we get video!
Oldnuke on August 11, 2009 at 12:42 PM
petrified microcosm
maverick muse on August 11, 2009 at 12:43 PM
If Pat Toomey can’t make hay with this, he is not the man for the job.
The outright arrogance, of not thinking that Arlen doesn’t have any requirement to speak to his constituents…remarkable how valuable this debate is becoming for conservatives.
All the talk of “caring” liberal is being exposed as a fraud.
right2bright on August 11, 2009 at 12:43 PM
I like this version better.
MarkTheGreat on August 11, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Great idea!
TXMomof3 on August 11, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Grow Fins on August 11, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Which part of socialism do you not like?
Johan Klaus on August 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
“the man paused, searching for an answer.”
artist on August 11, 2009 at 12:43 PM
If I was one of these congressmen/women I wouldn’t be caught dead at one of these townhalls. If people are just going to scream at you and interrupt screw em. Its a shame for the people that want to have civil discourse that they have to deal with these idiots.
Terry Silver on August 11, 2009 at 12:44 PM
BTW: Specter’s townhall was a great prelude for Obama’s townhall.
BuckeyeSam on August 11, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Amen!!
right2bright on August 11, 2009 at 12:44 PM
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