Sestak wipes out Specter at Netroots Nation straw poll
posted at 10:16 am on August 15, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
So much for switching parties to save one’s political hide. Arlen Specter might have pulled a Jumping Jim in order to avoid a primary fight with Pat Toomey, but he landed in another with Rep. Joe Sestak for the Democratic nomination for his Senate seat in 2010. Despite a surprisingly warm reception at Netroots Nation, the straw poll conducted of its attendees show that the activists in the Democratic Party overwhelmingly distrust Specter just as much as Republicans did:
Progressive online activists prefer Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) over Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) by a landslide margin, according to results of a Netroots Nation straw poll released Saturday. The poll also showed significant resistance to passing a health reform plan without a public option.
The online poll of 252 attendees, which took place Thursday and Friday at the annual gathering of progressive bloggers and activists, found that 48 percent supported Sestak for the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nomination, compared to just 10 percent who backed Specter.
Exactly one-third said they didn’t know which candidate they supported and seven percent said neither.
The results reflect Sestak’s popularity among bloggers and progressive online activists, and the same groups’ wariness toward Specter, a five-term incumbent who switched parties and became a Democrat in April.
I said in 2006 that the reason why Republicans lost control of Congress is that, when faced with a choice between a Democrat and a Republican trying to act like a Democrat, voters will choose the authentic item almost every time. That apparently applies within the Democratic bloc of voters as well.
Yesterday, I interviewed Dave Weigel, who is covering both NRN and Right Online for the Washington Independent, and I asked him about Specter’s reception among the netroots. Dave said that Specter got a surprisingly warm reception, and felt that Sestak had performed rather poorly in comparison. That may be true, but it also may be immaterial. The activist base of the Democratic Party doesn’t trust Specter, despite his flip-flops on Card Check and health care … or perhaps because of them.
And we know how they feel.
Pat Toomey told me yesterday that Specter said he switched because he didn’t want to justify his existence to the GOP party base. It looks like he’ll get roughly the same treatment from Democrats. I think we may need to start the Specter retirement pool in the near future.
Blowback
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what a great idea!
ladyingray on August 15, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Specter left the GOP because he knew he was done. They would not make the mistake of electing him again.
CWforFreedom on August 15, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Voters want someone to represent them. Specter has demonstrated that he doesn’t care about anyone other than himself. He also demonstrated utter disdain for his constituents, shouting them down and telling them he “doesn’t have to be here.”
He believes he’s indispensible, and he’s not.
BigD on August 15, 2009 at 10:21 AM
That is the reason for the obamanation that we face today.
farright on August 15, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Naw, Obama will just send Arlen right to the “Death Panel”
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/08/death_panel_is_not_in_the_bill.html
Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them.
izoneguy on August 15, 2009 at 10:21 AM
This DINO is heading for extinction.
ICBM on August 15, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Good Riddance.
All RINOs should be replaced with true conservatives.
That is the only was Republicans can win.
We can’t be Commie-lite
txdoc on August 15, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Admiral Sestak is a notorious hard ass who takes no prisoners. I think an election fight with him and Toomey would be great!
Squid Shark on August 15, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Specter is going to have to threaten someone in the Democrat establishment with what he really knows about 11/22/63 again.
It’s is magic bullet for remaining in power.
profitsbeard on August 15, 2009 at 10:23 AM
I wonder what took them so long? And there are a lot more besides Specter, folks … like Maine and SC, just sayin’.
Christian Conservative on August 15, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Specter should save the money of the few backers he seems to have. His campaign will be a collosal waste of economic resources.
BuckeyeSam on August 15, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Ha! Man without a country! Or Party.
conservnut on August 15, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Specter is stuck in a vortex vacuum.
stormen on August 15, 2009 at 10:26 AM
When I receive donation requests from the RNC or the NRSC I write on the donation form that I will not support RINO’s and send it back in their postage paid envelope. Eventually maybe they will get the message.
farright on August 15, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Of course they gave him a warm reception what’s not to love about someone helping them attain a filibuster proof Senate and they didn’t even have to waste a vote. And they won’t waste a vote for him at reelection time either. Sen. Specter is done.
Cindy Munford on August 15, 2009 at 10:28 AM
LOL. Shows both sides pretty much know a snake. Slither away Arlen…
JiangxiDad on August 15, 2009 at 10:28 AM
bye-bye Sphincter. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!
conservnut on August 15, 2009 at 10:29 AM
I think they call the stimulus in Congress.
Cindy Munford on August 15, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Arlen Specter’s political career it……
………………………………..shovel ready.
Consider it political euthanasia. It’s a mercy killing. Any campaign funds spent on reelection ought to be viewed with the same skepticism that Obama viewed the money spent to replace his typical white grandmother’s hip.
But, maybe we should support Arlen in the primary versus Sestak, it would just up the schadenfraude that we could enjoy upon his reelection defeat.
ted c on August 15, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Cindy Munford on August 15, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Don’t like Specter never did. However, I will give him this. He at least he had multiple TH’s and even though he was unprepared and looked incompetent he did face the fire.
BTW Toomey will have a harder time against Sestak.
HoustonRight on August 15, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Specter/Blago 2012
the_nile on August 15, 2009 at 10:31 AM
I guess this means he’ll be voting for Obamacare — twice if they’ll let him.
Rational Thought on August 15, 2009 at 10:31 AM
trust lost is never returned. Arlen all you had to do was cote no on the stimulus, you could have maintained your precious “moderate” credentials by voting for Sotomyer, you screwed up buddy.
rob verdi on August 15, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Once a Benedict Arnold, always a Benedict Arnold.
There is always that lack of trust in the back of the mind of the NEW side. The Dems cannot take the chance that Specter will see greener grass again.
Yoop on August 15, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Hey, I heard that Sestak’s people were trying to make it out like Specter started some crazy JFK assassination theories. Something about a single bullet doing all that damage. I mean, that’s low.
*grin*
zamoose on August 15, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them
stormen on August 15, 2009 at 10:33 AM
That’s a great quote. Hey old people, just live with the pain and immobility of those deteriorating hip jonts. We can’t afford to pay for your hip replacement operation. There’s only so much money to go around, and we need to pay for some illegal alien gangbanger’s 7th round of drug rehab. So what if you geezers have been paying into the Medicare system for years? Tough luck. We have to make sure we keep the hispanic voters happy.
AZCoyote on August 15, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Sestak is always willing to do whatever it takes to win, from pandering to dirty tricks. He just recently came out in favour of stronger gun laws:
Sestak was fired from his post by the Chief of Naval Operations for creating an incredibly hostile work environment and killing morale. To date, he has gone through more than 68 staffers in his DC office, an indication that he still is unable to control either his temper or his ego.
AW1 Tim on August 15, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Breaking: Specter reported to be fleeing in a white Bronco and was last seen headed toward the headquarters of General Cornwallis.
Limerick on August 15, 2009 at 10:34 AM
“Progressive activists” … what a joke. I bet 90% of these people have no idea what the real progressive agenda is. They’re being led to their slaughter like the sheep they are.
darwin on August 15, 2009 at 10:34 AM
The biggest danger is that if he knows he is toast, he won’t have second thoughts about voting for Obamacare…the only thing preventing him from doing it is the backlash from voters…if that is off the table, he is a sure ‘yea’ vote….having said that, it’s worth getting rid of him anyway….he is the kind of pol that makes me vomit in my mouth a little when I hear him talk…
tatersalad on August 15, 2009 at 10:35 AM
They know that he is a self server, maybe they worry that he will flip back to RINO status.
farright on August 15, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Let him go back to Scotland to practice law.
Specter has a brain: Not Proven
bookman on August 15, 2009 at 10:36 AM
the problem is that the RINO’s and moderates take that to mean the country has drifted left and then say a true conservative would fail. when the fact is that if given a clear choice between liberalism and conservatism the majority of America has ALWAYS choosen the conservative.
unseen on August 15, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Hey Netroots:
“Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute…”
TXUS on August 15, 2009 at 10:38 AM
OBOBO convinced Sphincter that if he sold out,he would not have a primary challenger;he got pwned!-BWAHAHAHA
pistolpetestoys on August 15, 2009 at 10:39 AM
If Sestak wins the D-nomination would Arlen run as an Independent?
It would fit his weaselly profile.
jjshaka on August 15, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Specter/Blago 2012
stormen on August 15, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Specter unmasking himself is ultimately beneficial for all. In his disgrace and lasting shame, he has finally done something good.
JiangxiDad on August 15, 2009 at 10:41 AM
By the way, what would happen if Specter resigned before his term was up?
Count to 10 on August 15, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Same thing with Benedict Arnold, he found out after he betrayed his fellow Patriots, he was always ostracized by the Loyalists and the British…
Bottomline….no one ever really trusts a Traitor!
Specter never read his history….but then, Anti-American Democrats never do!
Dale in Atlanta on August 15, 2009 at 10:43 AM
I am just mystified by this leftwing enthusiasm for Joe Sestak. He is a rank opportunist whose only real principle is his unbridled belief in his own superiority. Arlen Specter is really a far more principled and consistent liberal than Sestak. He represents a Republican district that was held by Curt Weldon for 20 years, but he has voted 100% with Nancy Pelosi. The Democratic Party in PA begged him to run for Governor next year instead of Senator. But he is far more interested in attending Washington cocktail parties and bloviating on the Sunday talk shows than actually having to govern and live in a cow town like Harrisburg.
rockmom on August 15, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Has anyone seen polling on Toomey v Sestak?
farright on August 15, 2009 at 10:44 AM
The sheep have been convinced that anything other than
socialismprogressivism is bad and evil. Their numbers have shrunk before by their blindly being led to slaughter by the shepard that they trusted. (see Stalin and Mao)thomasaur on August 15, 2009 at 10:44 AM
heh. Guess it is true, what goes around comes around.
tru2tx on August 15, 2009 at 10:45 AM
He can’t. PA state law requires that you declare as an independent before the party primaries, precisely to prevent a primary loser from running in the general.
rockmom on August 15, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Allegheny County
stormen on August 15, 2009 at 10:45 AM
From the headlines
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/15/health/policy/15ground.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
Obama fatigue already? Well they have been campaigning for 2 and half some odd years now, what did they expect? There is no crisis they pushed the crisis button one too many times. They can call it a crisis all they want Americans are fatigued with the out of control spending of their TAX DOLLARS.
There is nothing sexy about health care insurance reform nothing sensational. The People Magazine and Oprah sofa mamas were not going to do more than vote for him last November…now it’s back to who is the next American Idol…LOL! That’s what happens when you build your base out of whole cloth -the superficial.
In Fact Whoppie Goldberg already said, months back she was taxed enough already :) Whoa there fella.
Dr Evil on August 15, 2009 at 10:45 AM
I always found this logic to be silly. Let me get this straight… the voters would rather vote for a liberal Democrat than a liberal or moderate Republican so therefore Republicans should become ultra conservatives? Just ask Rick Santorum how airtight this logic is. hahahahaha!
The Democratic party bigwigs will make sure Specter wins the primary. You can count on that!
Norman Blizter on August 15, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Indeed. Joe Sestak has absolutely no love for anyone not named Joe Sestak.
AW1 Tim on August 15, 2009 at 10:49 AM
The old fool actually believed the democrat’s promises when he switched over. He won’t even make it to the primary. They’ll dump him faster than they did Toricelli.
PatMac on August 15, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I read that headline and thought it said, “NUTroots Nation.”
I hope Specter loses in the primary. It would be poetic justice.
Beaglemom on August 15, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Can\will Sphecter run as an Independent an win based on a plurality?
WashJeff on August 15, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Stick a fork in him. Just to bad it can’t be done BEFORE he votes to destroy the constitution and put us all on Uncle Sam’s Plantation!
Bicyea on August 15, 2009 at 10:53 AM
How, um, democratic of them.
Limerick on August 15, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Specter’s going down! Let that be a lesson to traitors and vermin.
alliebobbitt on August 15, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Usually it’s sad to see old folks fail in their life-long careers. But with Specter, not so much.
Toodle-loo.
petefrt on August 15, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Ever thus to deadbeats, Specter.
Red Cloud on August 15, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Too bad Specter won’t leave now.
GarandFan on August 15, 2009 at 11:00 AM
I think he was personally fired when Admiral Mullen (now JCS) became Chief of Naval Operations. Part of the reason I heard was that he was a tyrant.
Squid Shark on August 15, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Even DKos polling is seeing bad numbers for Specter…
SouthernGent on August 15, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Specter will syphon off some “stimulus” cash to prop himself up.
I am sure there is a corrupt businessman somewhere that has a “stimlus” project he can raid……
izoneguy on August 15, 2009 at 11:07 AM
The Al Bundy of the Senate is looking more and more like a horse headed for the glue factory. I think Sestak will take the old nag out in the Democratic primary. The Democrats in Pennsylvania don’t like Bundy anymore than the Republicans do despite support from the likes of Ed Rendell and King Hussein.
Percy_Peabody on August 15, 2009 at 11:09 AM
the most disgusting thing about Specter is….
He has been treated TWICE successfully for cancer. A gift that would not be offered to the rest of us serfs if we are 60 or older. His hypocrisy is so evil that I am surprised he does not combust.
nondhimmie on August 15, 2009 at 11:10 AM
I’m guessing that for all of the incumbents running in 2010, Arlen Specter’s campaign manager has the hardest job.
myrenovations on August 15, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Sestak has already made up his mind how he will vote on Obamacare. He has flat out stated he will vote based on his own principles and what he feels is best for the country. He intends to ignore the wishes of the majority of his constituents, his justification based on assuming Obamacare will lower overall health care costs in the end.
He’s on board for Obama’s vision of a socialist state.
There’s no upside here, unless Toomey gets in.
fogw on August 15, 2009 at 11:18 AM
The fact that Specter has has been willing to make such an ass of himself, switching parties, saying and supporting whatever he needs to in order to build a winning coalition of people who have no values whatsoever, says one thing and one thing only. They must serve one hell of a chicken fried steak in the taxpayer subsidized Senate cafeteria.
omb on August 15, 2009 at 11:19 AM
As much as I admire John Avlon and agree with much of what he wrote in Independent Nation, moderates like him simply underestimate how the web’s “information hyper-saturation” of the electorate is utterly merciless in pruning candidates who are ideologically ambiguous.
Which isn’t to say that moderates are doomed, but that voters are growing more and more demanding about having access to the ideological and philosophical motivations behind their candidates. And that those who are unable or unwilling to be absolutely clear about their convictions will fare poorest as voters start becoming more and more suspicious of candidates who elude the total exposure that they have come to expect out of anyone and everyone in the public spotlight.
Khorum on August 15, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Santorum takes a lot of ribbing for losing his race so thoroughly but he was running against the sanited Bob Casey Jr. There wasn’t much that Santorum could have done to win that race.
myrenovations on August 15, 2009 at 11:21 AM
So who should we be sending money to at this point – Joe Sestak or Pat Toomey?
InTheBellyoftheBeast on August 15, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Same could be said in 2008.
Good riddance, Specter. $(*#& RINO TRAITOR!
HornetSting on August 15, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Once the fact that Specter is a sure loser sinks in, Obama will throw him under the bus, just like his grandmother, regardless of whatever promises Obama and his gang made to Specter to encourage him to switch parties. We know that all Obama promises have expiration dates based on convenience to Obama. Look for Specter to announce that for health reasons he will not run, maybe even retire early so that the dems can appoint a senator to be able to run as an incumbent.
GaltBlvnAtty on August 15, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Don’t worry Arlen, I think you will receive the wonderful health care that all you “special people” in DC get for the rest of your life.
You shall continue your cancer treatments. The rest of us will not receive such “luxuries”.
stenwin77 on August 15, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Say what you will … if Pat Toomey becomes the junior senator from this blue state, the GOP should give Arlen a Lifetime Achievement Award. A bruising primary can effectively help the other side. Ask Ahnuld; he was supposed to be the ‘One Term-inator’.
RedBaQl8R on August 15, 2009 at 11:31 AM
very true, because the rest of us who don’t fall in line are useless eaters..
right4life on August 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM
PLEASE support Toomey. Sestak has the Soros money crowd behind him and doesn’t need the money.
rockmom on August 15, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Couldn’t happen to a
nicernastier guy.tgibson1962 on August 15, 2009 at 11:37 AM
You know the bigest problem is, even if he’s forced into “retirement” (read that lost re-election) he’ll still get a much better “golden parachute” then every one of us! Free Congressional Healthcare just being the least of it!
Vntnrse on August 15, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Specter has been a lying tool ever since the Warren Commission.
I hope he fails.
Geochelone on August 15, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Specter: OOPS.
cobrakai99 on August 15, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Really?? Maybe you’ve noticed the fool we have sitting in the White House right now.
BigWyo on August 15, 2009 at 11:41 AM
People need to remember that Sestak has almost zero name ID outside of his own district, and the unions as well as Ed Rendell’s machine are backing Specter. I still think Sestak is on a kamikaze mission here, but it’s good for Republicans because he is going to push Specter to the left and make him spend a lot of money. I don’t think the nutroots mean very much here in PA.
rockmom on August 15, 2009 at 11:42 AM
And Hillary kicked his ass in the PA primary.
rockmom on August 15, 2009 at 11:43 AM
HornetSting on August 15, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Another RINO bites the dust. Good riddance to weak Republicans.
hpk1942 on August 15, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Sorry, rockmom, gotta pull the john murtha card…..PA, almost as bad as MN. Almost.
HornetSting on August 15, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Check out this.
HR45 (Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 )
Johan Klaus on August 15, 2009 at 11:45 AM
But that is just one of a few crazy districts in PA. On the whole, they aren’t nearly as bad as MN.
myrenovations on August 15, 2009 at 11:48 AM
As Willie Nelson would say, “Turn out the lights, the party’s over…”
ncborn on August 15, 2009 at 11:49 AM
I hear you, but when you say you are mystified by libspaz enthusiasm over an empty suit, it gives me pause.
Liberal/Leftwing and common sense are not on speaking terms.
BigWyo on August 15, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Stuart Smalley trumps all, even if a PA district elected Satan….point taken.
HornetSting on August 15, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Murtha is considered a conservative Democrat. He was disdained by the Left until he came out against the war in Iraq.
rockmom on August 15, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Thanks for the memories Arlen….
Rovin on August 15, 2009 at 11:52 AM
I say goodbye and good riddance to this two-faced self-centered prick. This is what happen when Hussein-Obama gives you ‘full support.’ Think about that while you spend the rest of your days trying to wash off the smell & stink of your liberal buds!
try again later on August 15, 2009 at 11:54 AM
I’ve always thought that Ventura didn’t do that bad of a job while he was governor. If anything, it was entertaining. Just all the insanity that he’s done since…gahhh….
But now we have what is easily the King of Fools for a senator…Al Franken.
We win, hands down.
BigWyo on August 15, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Retirement Pool?
How ’bout, throwing him in a Cess-Pool?
oh wait… he’s already joined one… nevermind.
franksalterego on August 15, 2009 at 11:57 AM
I could not have said it better myself
Remember…..to vote in your next election! Clearly there are many Politicians that are NO Longer working in our interest and should be recalled or defeated in the next election.
I have a tough road ahead of me….I from the state of ex. Gov. named Moonbeam and ultra liberal morons nicknamed Meathead. It will be a tough road but I believe we will succeed in ridding of Boxer, Frankenstien, and Pelosi (unless the CIA does not talk to Pelosi first)! Hey Pelosi, can you please explain again how they
Liedmis-led congress again? LMAOBigMike252 on August 15, 2009 at 12:00 PM
It,s not all bad Sen. Specter.If you loose you can rest easy in your old age knowing Obamacare is there for you.
thmcbb on August 15, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Buh-bye Arlen….we hate to see you go.
redslippers on August 15, 2009 at 12:09 PM
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