Specter: Republicans Support Stimulus, Don't Want 'Fingerprints' On It

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), who broke with his party to support President Obama's stimulus package last week, said before the final vote Friday that more of his colleagues would have joined were they not afraid of the political consequences.

"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.'"

Specter, along with centrist Maine Republican Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, joined with Democrats last week to move the stimulus bill forward. Specter said he doubted there would be any more Republican votes than those three Friday night.

"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."

Being the 60th and deciding vote isn't easy for a centrist who will likely face a more conservative primary challenger and then a more liberal general election opponent.

"I'd feel less uncomfortable about being the sixty-first and even better about being the sixty-seventh, but I'll take 'em one at a time," he said.

Specter added that his hope was that next time there would be more Republicans joining within him. But is that realistic?

"I didn't say it was my expectation, it was my hope," said Specter, before walking on to the Senate floor.

UPDATE: Listen to the audio.

Comments

[Szewczyk]

For the life of me, I cannot understand how the Republicans can possibly think that acting as rigid, obstructionist, right-wing partisans will help them retain their elected positions. Surely, even many Republicans realize the dire straits we're in and recognize the absolute need to stimulate the economy, don't they? I don't get it.

[marchamlin]

The Republican Party is more concerned with rebuilding the Republican Party than they are about rebuilding the country.

[queeraz]

Goes to show exactly how brave the Repugs are. They campaign on education but, cut it whenever they get a chance. They dug this hole and aren't willing to help the common folk out. There wasn't much talk about $700 billion going to the banks but, $800 billion for the whole country is too expensive? It's time to get rid of the rest of the "corporate tax cut" idiots.

[KKojei]

I have always had great respect for Sen. Specter. He is, in my opinion one of the great senators of our time. He is a straight shooter and a man of his convictions, not prone to political expediency but loyal to his values and thoughtful about his vote. His courage in the face of overwhelming pressure to lock step with his colleagues will come back to haunt those Republicans who misread the mood of the American taxpayer, their constituents. I expect he will be rewarded for his courage come reelection time.

[jacqmac]

These guys who think they 'might have a primary' voted AGAINST the Stimulus for THAT reason? How absolutely short sighted of them. I'm glad they're following their so-called 'principles' of small government, no spending, tax cuts for all, yaddayadda, but HEY!! this was a CHANCE to RISE ABOVE small-mindedness and DO THE RIGHT THING for their constituents--NOT ALL OF WHOM happen to vote Republican....what are they going to say? "Well, sorry, folks-I really was FOR the Stimulus but couldn't vote that way because I was afraid of the ghost of Ronald Reagan?" This country is sicker than I thought!!

[pk4obama]

I am waiting for the republicans who voted against the Stimulus to approach the administration for some of the "we don't like your stimulus package" $$$ for their particular states; like that Lady in Alaska that has her hand out right now, but didn't like the package (because she's not educated enough to know what was in it and has left her state bankrupt). I know that if anyone of them do this, Obama would to the right thing for America despite the fact that the repubs hope this fails...but I'm sure they will have their hand out to....if this is successful....they will somehow twist it to make it look like it was their idea in the first place.....the repubs need some anti-psychotic medication as their party slips into oblivian....we can only hope...

[babyboomerorig]

The Republicans have already put their stamp on this bill and the American People.

They said no....s.crew you!

[momof3inGA]

Classy guy. Honest. I respect that. Thank you, Mr. Spector.

[rhondadavis28]

REP = NO NO NO

BOO HOO

WE DO NOT WANT YOU

HAD ENOUGH

WE VOTED FOR CHANGE

[hangdogit]

The Republican "strategy," if there is one, must be to oppose the stimulus, hope it fails (along with the nation's economy) and somehow be welcomed back into power by the voters in 2010 and 2012 -- a real longshot if ever there was one!

[mafina]

States with highest unemployment rates:
MI-Granholm-D
RI-Carcieri-R
SC-Sanford-R
CA-Schwarznegger-R
NV-Gibbons-R
OR-Kulongski-D
DC-
NC-Perdue-D
IN-Daniels-R
GA-Perdue-R
FL-Christ-R

[momof3inGA]

Wow. Now there's a message.

[walsenberg]

Does that mean the Republican's who voted against it won't be able to help their constituent's since they all didn't want the help, Yea! Let's give their share to the states who had the ball's to vote for it. lol

I respect Senator Spector on this one.

[jacqmac]

And your point is? Well over half of these Republican governors sought to cut taxes and now they cry about shortfalls in their budgets. Schwarzenegger and Crist are saying they NEED the stimulus. Granholm INHERITED a state where the unemployment rate was already really HIGH--this last downturn just made it HIGHER. The only REPUBLICAN governor who has literally said 'NO' to any funds from the Feds is Sanford. I think that Texas is making noises that way-but there are ways to circumvent the Govs.--there are CITIES that could use the money and will probably ask for it..

[pk4obama]

I live in California and we are getting an IOU from the State overpaid state taxes. Arnold has gone to court to invoke a 3 go 4 day work week for the State employees and most of these individuals are going bankrupt and have lost their homes. Close to where I live had an entire 250 home subdvision go into foreclosure; 250 homes sitting empty that could have been rented back to the homeowners and the banks would not be getting all their money, but at least they would be getting something...

In our case in CA - we would really like to know where all that money went, because the first thing Arnold CUT WAS EDUCATION!!!! I guess an education is wasteful spending.....he will be votd out in 2010...it's in the works now.

[Oley]

Which is better to do nothing while 3.6 million people are out of work or to support a stimulus bill that will help put people back to work and reduce unemployment. If you are a Republican ask yourself if you do not know Republicans who are unemployed and who will benefit from this bill.

[Savanna]

Polite lying is never a good thing. You either vote you conscience, you abstain, or you vote one way for politcal reasons and think another. Some people know that 2 and 2 are 4, but they just can't quite believe or can't say it. What a pity for all of us.

[Maxwell A Smart]

I was initially a supporter of Obama, but am thusfar VERY unimpressed with all the criminals that he's nominating and the weak attempt at bipartisanship on the stimulus was very disheartening. My senator (democrat) said they received the bill very late in the evening and nobody bothered reading it because everyone had been preapproved for their "benefits"... sad, sad, sad.

[MM216]

Oh please....like Clinton and Bush didn't have their glitches at the beginning of THEIR administrations.
Of course, in the case of Bush, the glitches snowballed and became catastrophes!
Geez, it hasn't even been a month and your ready to throw the Prez under the bus. Get a grip.

[mafina]

What a dumb a && excuse. The american people have been reading and commenting on this bill for weeks.

How did they not read the bill, when the GOPS was criticizing what was in it the darn thing. What were they reading or better yet what did they have their aides read for them.

This is nothing but excuses, you can't cut something out of a bill if you haven't read it, all they were talking was the so-called pork in the bill.

[mafina]

What a du mb a && excuse. The american people have been reading and commenting on this bill for weeks.

How did they not read the bill, when the GOP was criticizing what was in it the darn thing. What were they reading or better yet what did they have their aides read for them.

This is nothing but excuses, you can't cut something out of a bill if you haven't read it, all they were talking was the so-called po rk in the bill.

[patricksmom]

Yes your comments are sad. I doubt you were much of a supporter, maybe a follower. His attempt at bipartisanship was very magnamimous; the Rethuglicans met with him got their tax cuts, but never had any intention of working with him. The Rethuglican senators had 2-3 weeks to read the bill, which remained largely the same.
Apparently it has been common practice for senators not to read bills they pass, long before this occasion..
As for criminals, you are judging without basis. As for criminals, there was a lot of such activity in the previous administration. Did that bother you or just now?

[walsenberg]

Obviously a weak supporter. Criminals? Give me a friggin break. WTF - the republican's took 8 years to get us in this mess and you are already bellyaching about Obama's first 3 weeks?

I see that you ain't so smart maxwell.

[miltonista]

Tax cheats are criminals under the law, smartipants.

And this financial crisis was caused by government interventions... CRA, Fannie & Freddie... Democrat legislation, and Democrat-run institutions... Bush tried to regulate Fannie & Freddie back in 04 & 05 but the Dems blocked it on a party line vote.

I'm amused that you don't know this. Because the people feeding you information would rather let you think that it was all Bush's fault... and they're smiling at how successful they've been in persuading you.

[jacqmac]

Max---anybody can say they were 'initially a supporter of Obama'. He nominated no 'criminals'---and he did everything but kiss the Republican leadership's collective behinds to get them to CONTRIBUTE something constructive to BOTH versions of the bill before the Conference Committee. You also need to READ THE POST from Rep. Slaughter--the HEAD of the HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE that drafted the FIRST HOUSE version. If you read it, you will find that there WAS Republican support from the BEGINNING. Congress convened in December knowing FULL WELL what the agenda would be. The Rules Committee included ELEVEN Republican amendments--but several of them did not see the light of day. EVEN when the House version hit the floor--there was an EQUAL NUMBER of Republican Amendments---but the REPUBLCANS did not even vote for their OWN amendments. I doubt that you even are a Democrat. No one is 'preapproved for benefits' in this bill and your senator doesn't sound like someone who WANTED to know what was in the bill. Again, this bill--in BOTH versions has been ALL over the Internet in the last three weeks and the FINAL VERSION IS THERE TOO!! GO READ IT!!

[pk4obama]

So Max.....Bush, Cheney, Rove, Limbaugh, Boehner, McCain aren't criminals?
Who do you think PUT THE UNITED STATES IN THIS MESS? the BUSH ADMINISTRATION WAS FULL TO THE TOP OF CRIMINALS.

[doofenshmirtz]

But, geez, didn't your boy promise to run a transparent, clean administration without lobbists and tax cheats? Seems the only thing he's "changing" is his mind.

[EdWhite1]

When the hell are our elected officials going to do what is RIGHT for the country and say to hell with their politics and worries%2

[kid5rivers2]

They're weird, these GOPhers! Where on earth can they get a hands-free stimulus.