Specter: Jack Kemp's Death May Have Been Caused By GOP Priorities

Sen. Arlen Specter went on CBS News' "Face The Nation" with Bob Schieffer on Sunday to discuss his recent switch to the Democratic Party.

Asked whether he believed that he had let people down by changing parties, Specter said issues like Republican attitudes towards cancer research had made him unhappy with the party. Specter went on to suggest that if Republicans had been more aggressive about cancer research, GOP luminary Jack Kemp would be alive today. The former GOP Congressman and vice-presidential nominee died over the weekend, at age 73, from cancer.

Watch Specter talk about Kemp in the interview below and read a partial transcript underneath. The question begins about seven minutes and thirty-five seconds into the interview:

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BOB SCHIEFFER: Let me talk to you about a little politics here, while we're--while we're at it. I want to ask you about the Republican Party. But let me also ask you this. A lot of people, I would assume, voted for you in your last Senate race because you were a Republican. Do you feel in any way that you let them down or that you had some obligation to them to switch now? It's one thing to say, you know, you've come up to the election and say I want to announce I'm going to run as a Republican, I mean, run as a Democrat the next time out, but to just switch parties in midstream, does that--does that bother you, Senator?

SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER: Well, I was sorry to disappoint many people. Frankly, I was disappointed that the Republican Party didn't want me as their candidate. But as a matter of principle, I'm becoming much more comfortable with the Democrats' approach.
And one of the items that I'm working on, Bob, is funding for medical research. I've been the spear carrier to increase medical research. And I've even established a Web site, Specterforthecure.com, to try to get people to put more pressure on Congress to join me in getting more funding. This medical research has been a reawakening--the ten billion dollars. We were about to lose a whole generation of scientists. And now they're enthused. There are fifteen thousand applications to be granted. If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine.

Now, as the New York Times pointed out in a column today, when you talk about life and death and medical research, that's a much more major consideration on what I can do, continuing in the Senate, contrasted with which party I belong to.

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Comments

[buckaroom]

12:44 AM on 05/07/2009

Anyone who thinks that there is a "cure" for cancer is anti-science because they obviously don't know what they are talking about-scientifically speaking. And blaming conservatives for blocking a "cure" for cancer smacks of a lunacy that I rarely see except for people suffering from psychosis or religious extremists.

[Jetling]

03:40 PM on 05/06/2009

Good thing Phil came to his senses after all that time watching his fellow Republicans continue to give science the cold shoulder.

[barrycourage]

02:46 AM on 05/07/2009

Arlen, dear. Not Phil.

[yuvid1]

11:56 AM on 05/06/2009

The Repubs think they have to get it now while they can, before they are raptured. They are already raptered. They got confused and think they have to be predators.

[barrycourage]

11:33 AM on 05/06/2009

After losing a leg to cancer in his twenties my cousin was considered to be in remission if not cured.

He was lucky enough to be living near a university-affiliated medical center doing stem cell research when the cancer resurged a few years later. He underwent a complete stem cell replacement and there are no detectable cancer cells in his body--13 years later.

Specter's own experience with cancer lends imprimatur to his statement. His use of Kemp's death in an attempt to save thousands, if not millions, of lives is laudable.

Bush's limits on stem-cell research as well as lack of government funding for medical research were and are an abomination.

Go get 'em, Arlen.

[stefiz]

02:31 PM on 05/06/2009

RIP Christopher Reeve

[Jennifer DeMente]

05:08 PM on 05/06/2009

Are you sure they used FETAL stem cells for your cousin? My understanding is that ADULT stem cells are the only useful ones used in cancer treatment. So far, FETAL cells are used in NO disease treatment because they don't work, but there are dozens of diseases the ADULT stem cells are effective in treating. Maybe Bush is as uncaring as you think...

[Joseph Upton]

05:16 PM on 05/06/2009

There's no point in debating the people here at Huffpost. They believe that only GOVERNMENT can do useful research and that unless GOVERNMENT controls the money or puts its stamp of approval on something...then it is not legitimate. Democrats worship GOVERNMENT...(unfortunately, so do some republicans).

[bluestems]

06:21 PM on 05/06/2009

"So far, FETAL cells are used in NO disease treatment"

Yes, because further research is needed.

"because they don't work, but there are dozens of diseases the ADULT stem cells are effective in treating"

Wrong. Procedures with Adult stems cells show us that it does work, but Adult stem cells are limited to what they can do.

Adult stem cells are already "programmed", for example, a skin stem cell cannot be transformed into a heart muscle cell. Adult skin stem cells can only become cells of the skin.

Embrioytic cells (from a fertialized egg) are pluripotent; this means that they can transform into any cell type found in the body with no restrictions or limitations.

And in between, falls Fetal stem cells, which are more versatile that Adult stem cells, but not as much so as embriyotic.

Because of this trait, Embryonic stem cells and to a lesser degree, Fetal stem cells can have the potential to treat diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Cancer and more where Adult stem cells can't.

[Phidippides]

07:01 AM on 05/06/2009

What a thoughtless, insensitive thing for our newest Democrat to say.

[ywcachieve]

02:58 AM on 05/06/2009

What? Jack Kemp is dead?

[rp27964]

12:37 AM on 05/06/2009

I said that same thing in my condolences comment on May 3, Cf on my list of posts.
Specter is absolutely right republicans blocked cancer and other valuable medical research. The believe the Bible (as I do but realistically interpreted for the times) as the absolute truth, trumping science. I looked and could not find a single verse in my concordance for penicillin. Best we ban it too, as well as these evil computer generated comments. LOL

[American50]

12:34 AM on 05/06/2009

Sen. Arlen Specter

Date Bill Title Vote Outcome
02/13/2009 2009 Economic Package
HR 1 Y Conference Report Adopted - Senate
(60 - 38)

06/07/2007 Immigration Act of 2007
S 1348 N Cloture Not Invoked - Senate
(34 - 61)

06/06/2007 English as the Common Language
S Amdt 1384 Y Amendment Adopted - Senate
(58 - 39)

There he is yours now.... Keep him and be happy

[BurtonOerney]

07:38 PM on 05/06/2009

The preview button is right there. Text boxes don't automatically format tables for you.

[Tuco bad]

11:11 PM on 05/05/2009

I am no fan of Arlen Specter, but he is correct on Kemp’s disastrous legacy.

All the tax money that Jack Kemp saved for himself and his wealthy friends could have been used to research and cure various diseases.

Oh well.

[grave-robber]

01:50 AM on 05/06/2009

He is absolutely wrong on Kemp.
Jack Kemp was an extraordinary man whom both liberals and conservatives admire. He was not selfish any more than you are.
Cancer is UN-CURABLE, which is terribly unfortunate, but nonetheless true. The best we can do is to destroy the infected cells, and pray it doesn't return.

But as for your assumption that Kemp was a selfish disaster, you should be ashamed.

[yuvid1]

11:22 AM on 05/06/2009

Cancer is "UN-CURABLE" you say. How about that. Does that mean 7time winner of the Tour de France Lance Armstrong has been lying and he won the seventh tour while he had full blown testicular cancer. What a guy.

[American50]

02:16 PM on 05/06/2009

You know the left and hate They surely have alot of it

[ywcachieve]

03:07 AM on 05/06/2009

Tuco bad is right. Without Jack Kemp there would not have been the disastrous Reaganomics, which started the failure of our economy we see today.

[Jani7744]

05:36 PM on 05/05/2009

Specters comment about Jack Kemp might still be alive was vile. My husband died from cancer. We can't look to blame others when illness happens. Sometimes, things just happen. God Rest your Soul Jack Kemp.

As for Specter.......Specter is a vile lil weasel and a traitor.

Specter's not so clean!

An except dated June 1987

Inouye, one of Israel's staunchest supporters, has handled most of the committee's affairs with the Israelis. He has also successfully managed to shift the focus away from Israel. Interestingly, although he faced virtually no opposition in his 1986 re-election campaign, Inouye accepted almost $50,000 in contributions from out-of-state pro-Israel political action committees (PACs). The Hawaii senator has also received approximately $4,000 per year since 1980 in honoraria for speaking before a variety of pro-Israel groups around the country.Inouye is obviously not alone in his acceptance of pro-Israel PAC money. In fact, pro-Israel PACs contributed millions to congressional campaigns in the 1986 elections. For example, just six Senate aspirants received a combined total of more than $900,000 in contributions, an average of more than $150,000 per candidate. Five of these six—Thomas Daschle (D-SD), Alan Cranston (D-CA), Harry Reid (D-NV), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Bob Kasten (R-WI)—were elected. In fact, concern about such expenditures by special interest groups has initiated a serious effort in the current Congress to reform US campaign finance

laws.http://www.wrmea.com/backissues/0687/8706006.html

[patricksmom]

06:27 PM on 05/05/2009

Jani,
I;m sorry that your husband died of cancer, but you did miss the point. A lack of funding in cancer research is costing lives, particular research may or may not have helped your husband or Mr Kemp.

[AxelDC]

08:02 PM on 05/05/2009

It's speculative, but not cruel. Republicans have severely limited scientific research by cutting funds and by their moral posturing on stem cell research.

Remember Limburger mocking Michael J. Fox over stem cell research for Parkinson's? How many Parkinson's patients suffer because of such Republican cruelty? How many people could be relieved of cancer, diabetes, asthma, alzheimer's, etc. if we adequately funded NIH?

The cruelty is in stymieing medical progress to fund useless wars and tax cuts for the overprivileged. The cruelty is having a joke for President from 2001-2009 who pretended that torturing people made us safe from terrorists.

[Jennifer DeMente]

05:20 PM on 05/06/2009

Hello,

Limbaugh did not not mock MJF for the stem cell research. Limbaugh felt that MJF appearing in an unmedicated state to try to prove that fetal stem cell research is necessary was inappropriate. The debate is about whether dissecting people is a good idea, not whether we should try to cure cancer. So far, fetal stem cells show NO promise in curing any diseases, but adult stem cells are already doing a great deal for many people who have certain types of cancer - ie leukemia.

As far as torturing people keeping us safe - that idiot sheik did provide information that enabled us to thwart additional attacks, so there was no pretending involved. And it wasn't torture, it was aggressive interrogation. He still has all his parts, which is more than I can say for the poor people who have been beheaded by his minions. If you think keeping us from becoming additional victims of jihad is useless then I feel sorry for you that you think so little of your own life. I love my life, and I want my children to grow up.

[barbwire507]

05:20 PM on 05/05/2009

Poor Specter! He doesn't quite know what to do! Well, I guess it's o.k. that he has come over to the
Democrats' side if only for the possibility of voting with us once in a while. But a Democrat? Not on your life. Or at least not the Democrat we want to have who will support the Obama agenda. Now he wants
Coleman seated! I rather think he is losing his senses so the best thing for him to do is retire. After all, he IS 79 years old! As for me? I will urge some courageous Progressive Democrats in Pa. to put up
a REAL Democrat to run in the Primary - I think Specter will lose and that the will be the end for him.
BTW, did I hear that the Obama administration (maybe Biden?) promised Specter that he will get a
committee chairmanship? And jump over some real Democrats who have worked hard and who
deserve the Chairmanships? That is a terrible move - let's face it - Specter had no where to go
and just being allowed to run as a so-called Democrat would have been enough for him. We had
the leverage and if the story of chairmanships is true, we didn't use our leverage. In other words,
Specter would have come over without that promise. He knew he wouldn't be nominated by the
Republicans. Bad decision by the Democrats.

[Jennifer DeMente]

05:43 PM on 05/07/2009

Maybe he is is a plant!

[SodamY]

05:04 PM on 05/05/2009

Poor JAck Kemp, he was one of the last good repubs.

On the other hand you suck Specter!

[ywcachieve]

03:01 AM on 05/06/2009

No he was not good.

[American50]

08:15 PM on 05/06/2009

really? whats good to you

[hollybork]

01:15 PM on 05/05/2009

Where was Arlen Specter when Pres. Bush presented the Military Commissions Act, the Wiretapping Bill and the Patriot Act? How did Arlen stand on habeas corpus? He wrote the bill.

Senator Specter, if I may address you directly. With your help in Congress, we got to the point where torture is called "enhanced interrogation." Where the Supreme Court lacks that one quality that is ingrained in true justice - empathy. Where are you on revision of the tax code to save people's homes in bankruptcy, to close loop holes that allow rich corporations to hide income from reasonable taxation, to deny the american people access to national healthcare of the type you enjoyed as a US Senator?

Sir, the American people are not as stupid as you think. Nor will we continue to be patient as the economy goes to meltdown and hurts the middle and lower income families in perilous ways.

We expect you to be a liberal voice in the Senate or else forget it.

[Realityism]

04:42 PM on 05/05/2009

Who's "we"? Are you from Pennsylvania?

[Pam Fike]

12:26 PM on 05/05/2009

Not worried about a cure for cancer. We all have toxins, chemicals, heavy metals in our bodies. All from the air we breathe, water we drink and the food we eat. NCD--Natural Cellular Defense continually removes all the toxins, etc. from our bodies. It's amazing what removing the toxins lets your immune system do. The drug companies will NEVER be able to market this product--Only sold thru distributors. The company is 5 years old and profitable. I've never felt better in my life. Have more energy than when in my 50's. Send a comment to my facebook if interested. I've learned to be proactive, government is too slow.

[DrVeruju]

12:22 PM on 05/05/2009

To steal and old comment ...

"The IQ of both parties has been lowered"

[SteveDenver]

12:46 PM on 05/05/2009

I think the IQ of a nation has been lowered.

[grave-robber]

01:53 AM on 05/06/2009

Precisely (had to think how to spell that for a minute)

Thank you "No Child Left Behind" aka no child excels

[hollybork]

01:06 PM on 05/05/2009

Dear Dr. Veritas - the IQ of our President is fine and well, thank you. We who voted for him will not be cowed. Where there is a stupid policy, like blocking stem cell research, or prohibiting contraception, or abandonment of sound standards of military justice, or advancing professional scientific inquiry into global warming, our President is advancing the ball for reason and enlightened thought.

[Jennifer DeMente]

05:34 PM on 05/07/2009

If that is reason and enlightened thought, please consider me entirely irrational and ignorant - a total lost cause. Thank you.