Specter to Bachmann: Act like a lady

Good thing he’s a Democrat now. Otherwise this might have been pretty offensive.

When Specter tried to counter, Bachmann, darling of the Tea Party movement, kept on talking, which didn’t sit well with the one-time Philadelphia DA, who is a stickler for politeness and protocol.

“I’m going to treat you like a lady,” Mr. Specter shot back. “Now act like one.”

Ms. Bachmann replied, “I am a lady.”…

Bachmann is hardly a beloved figure in Democratic circles. But how many liberal women, whom Specter badly needs to defeat front-running Paul [sic] Toomey, would appreciate being told to “act like a lady” during a male debate partner?

They seem okay with stuff like this; why shouldn’t they forgive Specter a transgression? Or rather, two transgressions: Remember when he called Laura Ingraham “young lady” during a radio argument last year? I’m inclined to chalk this all up to grampa-ism — he is, what, about a hundred now? — but if he starts referring to conservative women as “dames” or “broads,” someone’s really going to have to pull him aside. Maybe Harry Reid can do it. He’s pretty up-to-date on cultural sensitivities, no?

For the record, Specter now trails “Paul” Toomey by nine points among likely voters. If not for Reid, his would be the must-see concession speech of November 2010. Exit question: Do we get to add words to Specter’s quote to make it more damning too, or is that sort of thing reserved for liberals like Maureen Dowd? Click the image to listen.