New Dem Specter Votes No On Obama's Budget

It didn't take long for Sen. Arlen Specter to let his new colleagues in the Democratic Party know that his vote won't be taken for granted.

A day after abandoning the Republican Party for the Democrats, saying the latter better represented his political philosophy, Specter voted against President Obama's budget -- which he and other Democrats have described as a manifestation of the party's political philosophy.

Specter was greeted warmly by his new fellow party members on his way into the chamber.

"Welcome," said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), extending his hand when he saw Specter exit the elevator.

Specter was joined in his opposition to the president by the entire GOP. Not a single Senate Republican voted to support the budget. Sen. Ben Nelson, a conservative Democrat from Nebraska, also voted no. It passed 53-43.

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

[talkitreal]

GO VOTE ON OBAMA'S FIRST 100 DAYS --- ON CNN!

[bdd]

http://crooksandliars.com/node/27766
Mobilize for his democratic challenger.

[talkitreal]

AND THIS IS WHY HE WILL NOT WIN THE ELECTION INPENNSYLVANIA! I HOPE THAT OTHER DEMOCRATIC CHALLANGERS COME FORWARD AND KICK SPECTERS A@@!

[vandegrasse]

Another Republicrat!

[TheMuckraker]

let the libertarians have him.

we dont need anothe lieberman.

we dont need no moles, either

[Peter007]

He's not a libertarian. He's a moderate Republicrat. Like most politicians.

[Ted Voth]

Surprise!

[Daniboy]

Wait-I thought the Dems allow independent minded members-none of that lock step stuff-Specter is a true Dem-you have to love him!

[Baudacious Buccaneer]

With all the charm of a typical republic-con, and the thrill of joy ride in a baby buggy, Spector gives the Democratic Party a chance to show America the true value of Disney Parks compared with the Party of 'No.'

[bascombe]

DINO

[triplbee]

Bring on the challenger in the Democratic primary!

[Sparty1]

I was thinking the EXACT same thing!

[Hope Lives]

Uh, Senator Specter, you do realize that you changed to the DEMOCRATIC party today right? You get it, right? It's about more than your next election, you have to really BE a Democratic Senator starting NOW, right? And I wouldn't follow Bayh and Nelson. We all know what they're up to and democrats are writing each other by the thousands to call their states and talk to their Independents. And we're giving money to get someone better elected. The bar is not too high. Anyone is more Democratic than these too. NELSON HAS TO GO. BAYH HAS TO GO! You just got here... stay a while. First vote, President's budget, vote no... hmmm.... not the way to go. You see there are too many people out of work and employment benefits are costing us more than fixing it. Here is your chance to be a HERO. We can be more fiscally conservative next year. Plus good news... the President wants the deficit down too. He just doesn't want to starve so many people to do it.

[Kassandra]

But the lobbyists now have all our $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ so, they have the clout now. Part of the plan to impoverish US so we can't even donate enuff to make our voices heard.

I want the Blue Dawgs in a party of their own so they stop using the Democratic party as a camouflage to get $$$

[cultkicker]

With this nazi as a Democrat, who needs republicans. The dems will do their bidding for them.

Disgusting.

[karela]

I'm very happy to Arlen Specter with us. We don't demand that our Senators march in lock step. That was a Republican trick that was used to bring the country to it's knees because they did exactly that all through the Bush years. I want committed, thinking people listening to both sides of an issue and doing their best to make a good decision based on what they believe is best for the state they represent and for the country as a whole. Our leadership all knew when he came over that he wouldn't vote with us on everything. But we also knew that there were important things that he would vote with us on, i.e. health care and other things. On some things, such as the vote today, he won't vote with us. I'm just grateful that in this case, his vote didn't make the difference against the President's plans. The President says that on some other things, his vote may make a very big difference in our favor. I don't think we should be patterning our behavior after that of the Republican party for the past eight years by acting like bullies who rant hate and anger when a man votes his conscience. Arlen Specter is a good man. 60% of the Democrats in his state view him favorably. He's representing the thinking of the people in Pennsylvania. And that's his job. Thanks for coming over Arlen.

[duxguts]

He's just another political prostitute. He has an election coming up and needs to get his name in the news.

[mcartri]

Specter is a member of the D.C. Country Club. He doesn't give a hoot what party he's a member of. Since Corporate America owns both parties, he just moved to the more "not real conservative" wing of the One Party.

[Kassandra]

Giving prosties a bad name................

[Susane]

When is the public going to get fed up enough to demand that term limits be imposed on our elected government officials. If its good enough for the presidential slot, it should be just as good for the house and senate.

[felisa11]

Lark says "He's still the same old Republican he always was. He just wants the DNC to pay for his next campaign. He can't afford to fight the Republicans and Democrats or he would have become an independent. "

Yeah...uh...no

I agree that they only thing specter has changed is his clothes but he cannot run as an independent.

Here's why:
There is a rule in PA that states that if a candidate loses in the primary, they cannot change parties and run in the general. It is called the "spoiled sport rule

In other words, If Specter ran as a Rep and lost in the primary, he couldn't go and re-register as an Independent and run in the general. So in his mind, specter didn't have a choice if he wanted to be re-elected. His only option was to remain a repug and lose, or take his chances as a democrat and possibly win.

[Kassandra]

Unlike Connecticut