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

[madprogressive]

I am still at a loss as to what Obama and the Democrats think they gained with his switch. Having him in the Democratic only helps secure him power he would never get again as a Republican, given the state of that party. It also assures him an easy road to re-election. Yet in this whole equation, I still do not see what the Democrats get from it. He is already voting against them. He couldn't even vote with Obama on his budget as gratitude for ensuring his return to the Senate. Once again the Democrats bite off their nose despite their face. Why not let Specter fall by the wayside and ensure a real progressive Democrat is put in his place in 2010. I mean it doesn't seem like much else is changing legislatively during the next year anyway. So if Specter was to bite the dust as a Republican, why save his worthless ass. Haven't we learned from Lieberman and Nelson yet. There is no way Pat Toomey is going to beat Joe Sestak in 2010, so why the urgency for Obama and the Democratic leadership to sell their souls to this guy. He has already said he is no automatic 60 vote, and today he proved it. Looks like we just can't handle success when it is being handed to us by the ultra right.

[petef59]

If these Dems keep failing the voters, the Greens, Progressives will come flooding into DC. Who needs millions of campaign contributions anymore? We have 3yrs and 265 days to use all the social-networking sites to blast the ol' bastards out of the system.

[Veneita]

He's a manchurian candidate. throw him back.

[crazylikeafox]

Remember Spector, man on dog Santorum was defeated.

[msjimmied]

It's good not to have everyone agree with you, the power alone can be mind bending. A little burr on your side that makes you think of the other side of the issue is good. So, I think he has a purpose, and whatever his views are, they are accepted because we are a democracy. Of all the republicans, I cannot think of a better one to have on our side. I am delighted.

[crazylikeafox]

Called his office today.

told them what we expect.

If we don't get it, he's out in 2010.

Guess he's already got his foot on the banana peel.

[robbep]

If arlen is not going to go with the program then he is useless to us. He is as wishy washy as they get and cld become a real pain in the neck for Obama and the democrats. To join the democrats bcz he cant win a gop primary is rich and shows you just who arlen is really thinking of, himself! I say we put him in a tough primary and drive him out of the senate. we need reliable supporters in the senate not a guy trying to keep a job.

[JeffyBoy]

You Libs wouldn't want a man who thinks for himself would you. Puppetts only .

[vandegrasse]

Excuse me lock-step Republican-Nazi's!

[Clayton139]

I agree if, he doesn't follow O'Bama and the Dems !

[peterg76]

I didn't expect that Specter had any actual convictions, but with all the hype I thought his new party affiliation would last longer than this.

[Clayton139]

The Democrat’s will be smart if,,, they follow Barack Obama's lead and the majority of people that voted for him !

If Barack O'bama (3% Irish :) keeps explaining to the people what he is wanting to do and knows we agree !

Arlen Specter and most Dems. better and will vote for what O'bama, the people wants and needs !

They better follow the people like for Universal Health care !

[takeittothem1852]

Why accept him into the party. They should have said no - go on your own! Mistake to accept him for political gain -- he may end up doing more harm than good. Tell him we (Dems) made a mistake and we don't want you in our party. Does anyone have common sense these days? He needed to get out and they should have left him as a republican or made him join some fringe party so he was eventually gotten rid of. Put up a great Dem and he/she would have won his seat and not accept another turn coat like Lieberman!

[darleneslee]

Specter gives us that last vote we need for healthcare. It's the conservadems we have to watch.

[go4thegold]

Tell me again why we should welcome him into the Democratic party? D.

[GuidedByEwoks]

Because we're better than the other guys. But if he doesn't tow the line, I don't see why he shouldn't see another tough primary in his future. We're a party on the move and there is no time for stragglers.

[StellaRay]

For healthcare reform. It will take every advantage we have, and Specter is expected to go with the program here. No promises, but my fingers are crossed.

[Steward Clinton]

We're really getting a dose of transparency today! First Sen Durbin's announcement of "they own the place" Millions paid to Dems by banks, then this. The battle lines become more apparent as to what the secret societies (that don't exist) look like. Oh, and yesterday Buchannon's statement about being the "white" (supremacy) party (backed by banks). Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!! Keep it coming and flush out into the light the entire network of crooks, and cooks, so that we know specifically who to dissect from where and what! All we need is a few good minds (well protected). The world has our back. "I pity the fools!"

[AngusC]

He had to vote no.
It is political, so that he can claim that he still has integrity and he is truly a Republican at heart and that he is his own man.
I completely expected this from him.

[alanrsnipes]

I sat that REAL Democrats should run against Senator Specter in the Primary next year.
To those who are complaining that we want Senator Specter to follow lockstep with the party I say this. If you just joined a politcal party, why do you vote against one of his most important pieces of legislation?
The reason we expect most Democrats to support the President is because No Republicans will dare cross party lines and we have a whole range of serious problems to be solved which were caused by the Republicans, which they will never acknowledge.
To those who are complaining about the deficit, where were you during the Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2 administrations. You don't mind running up the defict to give the rich more money, you don't mind running up the deficit to start a war based on lies, but when someone wants to spend money to help those in real need, you scream about the deficit.
Get a life!

[dsws]

"If you just joined a politcal party, why do you vote against one of his most important pieces of legislation?"

We didn't need that vote. It wasn't cloture. If you want 60% in this country, you can't agree on everything. Not even everything important. Obama knows what he's doing.

"To those who are complaining about the deficit, where were you during the Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2 administra­tions."

Respectively, I was an apathetic child, clueless adolescent, and Dean/Obama netroots supporter. I don't want to balance the budget this year. That would be stupid. But I want it dealt with for the long run.

It's not just Republicans concerned about the deficit.

[tokenconservative]

43 - the implication there is that there was another Democrat besides Nelson who voted against the budget, and there are 3 votes missing (besides Franken/Coleman).

[lisak2008]

The "Nay" votes by Democrats were Bayh (Indiana), Nelson (Nebraska), Byrd (West VA), Specter (PA). Sens. Kennedy and Rockerfeller did not vote.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00173#position

I getting sick of Evan Blah.