Specter: "Lee Harvey Oswald Did Not Have This Big An Entourage"

Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Democrat (!), was mobbed Tuesday afternoon by reporters in the Capitol, shortly after releasing a statement that he was leaving the party he'd joined in 1966.

He repeatedly declined to answer questions, saying that he'll speak to reporters later this afternoon. His promise did nothing to hold back the mob. "Lee Harvey Oswald did not have this big an entourage," Specter noted.

Specter, when he was a Democrat pre-1966, authored the Warren Report, a study on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that concluded Oswald acted alone.

Specter's announcement comes on a Tuesday, the same day that both parties gather for extended lunch meetings. Specter, however, will lunch with neither today.

"I've got my wife -- I had my wife," he said, looking around, "the good looking blonde over there and the handsome fellow's her son. And we're about to go down to the dining room, that's where I'm having lunch."

"I'll answer all your questions this afternoon," he promised.

Ryan Grim is the author of the forthcoming book This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

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Comments

[ZellaBee]

Not to be trusted, no matter what political button he wears.

[kgb999]

Well, duh. He's a politician.

[beefy daddy]

This is more of a symbolic change. He will not suddenly vote differently (as evidenced by his immediate reference to the Card Check).

However....this is important because it shows that the GOP has no place for a moderate, independent thinkers. As the GOP becomes more and more extreme, they alienate more and more people, and they become less and less relevant.

[Taughtology]

He did have that Magic Bullet, though, eh, Arlen?

[Sandmanj]

The last thing Specter should be doing right now is mentioning Lee Harvey Oswald.

Specter didn't "author" the Warren Report.

He authored the "magic bullet theory" in support of the single-assassin theme of the Report - the most ridiculous, outrageous, and shameful piece of fiction ever put forward w/r/t the Kennedy assassination.

I'd like to think he's evolved and progressed since that darkest of chapters in his life. Time will tell.

[OnTheLeft]

Amen!

When it comes to the JFK assassination, the only "theorists" are those who peddle the single or magic bullet theory.

Sorry, but the single or magic bullet theory makes a complete and utter mockery of physics.

Those of us who reject the single or magic bullet theory and the Warren Report are not the crazy ones.

[Bilboo]

Yes you are.

[Lucky123]

What a bizarre, and inappropriate, analogy.

[JFKBLUEDOG]

Rush Limbaugh doesnt even want to mention that specter left :) lol It feels like christmas i love it
Welcome to our big tent now Arlen.
NEO-CONS HERE ENDED THE LESSON :)

[kimmmmmmmmm]

HOPE, CHANGE,YES WE CAN!---now

[Weirdwriter]

..and the GOP leadership is shocked, SHOCKED! that a veteran congressman they kicked to the curb for his independence has decided to leave it.

More proof that the Republicans deserved to lose.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

FOX News just announced that Michelle Bachmann wanted to join the Democratic Party too, but Obama said no.

[TomNY]

ROFLLLLLLL...OMG, that would be the nail in the coffin for the repugs.

[SurrealPumpkin]

I heard it was HE// NO!

[tisfilm]

LMAO

[whiteboyblues]

That funny just made my day.

[Ldyandrea]

OMG, just......NO. She can go and start her own party, plzkthx.

[genia]

Yea......he needs to watch his back...lol

"Lee Harvey Oswald did not have this big an entourage," Specter noted.

[janfin]

YEA!

[mad1nola]

this is the best news i've heard all month!

[Michael Milsop]

Let's keep in mind that it was unclear that Arlen would've won in the primary. He knows he was going to have a very tough fight. Additionally Arlen lead 3 other Rep. Senators to vote against Public Health $$ in the Stimulus. Those funds were slated to go to fund jobs aimed at emergency preparedness ie:the Flu.

[SurrealPumpkin]

He was going to have a tough fight to win the right to represent people he really doesn't represent. This is a sensible change on his part. When your party moves to the right on you it makes sense to stay with your constituents not your party.

[lisalovesamelie]

nicely put

[JKPHILLY]

I agree being a Pennsylvanian and a supporter of Specter-I am a Democrat-it makes sense that he is moving with his supporters!

[Michael Milsop]

I hate to be a cynic but he is in a very tough re-election cycle with an opponent that he might not have beaten in a primary. Also Arlen is to blame in leading 3 Rep. Senators to vote against Public Health $$ in the stimulus that would have went to emergency preparedness ie: the Flu.

[Lark817]

The democrats will throw everything at this election. Sure, so will the Repubs but when we get Specter (and we will) to support non-secret union vote (the current name escapes me), the Pennsylvania voters will vote him in again. It's a habit by now. Half the Repubs won't realize he on the other ticket.

[PallinAround]

Woo-hoo! Franken will be seated soon and then we've got our 60-seat Super Majority!!! Hear that,
Rethugs? Your obituary is being written as we speak!