Specter: GOP Is "A Party Of Obstructionism" (VIDEO)

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) went off on his former party on Fox News Sunday morning. A Republican until April of this year, Specter said there's no working with the GOP.

"On the Republican side, it is no, no, no. A party of obstructionism," he said. "You have responsible Republicans who had been in the Senate like Howard Baker, Bob Dole, and Bill Frist who say Republicans ought to cooperate. Well, they're not cooperating."

Watch, via ThinkProgress:

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[TRex86]

Q. Ask yourself how it is that 22% of the public self-identify as Republicans, the Democrats control both Houses of Congress with large majorities and hold the presidency yet legislation that should sprint through Congress is moving at a glacial pace--and may not pass?
A. Our political system is poisoned by the corrupting influence of excess wealth. Both parties are under the same malign influence of a tiny fraction of super-rich individuals and corporations: The Best Government Money Can Buy.
The ONLY members of our society that benefit from the status quo are a handful of reactionaries at the top of the economic pyramid. They bribe our representatives to "kiss up and kick down." They are merciless greed junkies. If asked what they want the answer is, "More." Since the New Deal they have mounted an unrelenting counter-revolution against liberal social programs for which they have no use personally--that had built up the middle class to where it posed a threat to their power.

[connorin]

Gee...isn't that strange? When R's held the majority, they said the same thing about the D's? Could it be that that is simply a condition of the minority party? BTW, I thought the D's and those who caucus with them had enough of a mojority that it didn't matter what R's did.

[Mysticalsister]

Specter: GOP Is "A Party Of Obstructionism"

Arlen Specter ought to know.

Support Joe Sestak's campaign.

ActBlue!

[garymc8]

Poster boy of self-serving politicians. Arlen you are about 8 years too late on your pronouncement.

[JakeMontero]

Specter has become the face of the Democratic party

[garymc8]

NO THANK YOU.

[Daniela Vences]

More proof that politicians will say things only when its convenient for them. If his former party didn't threaten his seat, he would still be a Republican... AND he wouldn't be in favor of any reform. He'd be the one saying "No" all the time. Obama needs to use his popularity (that is slowly fading because he isn't doing enough to create change) and pretty much threaten the blue dogs into submission.

[Elbrando]

"JUST SAY NO.", Nancy Reagan the head of the Republican Party.

[hischagal]

The GOP are made up of defiant juvenile delinquents who are immature, irresponsible and stupid. All they're doing is hurting themselves in the very worst way.

[garymc8]

Spoiled rich kid behavior. People who don't have to work for what they have never respect people who have to work very hard for what they have.

[hischagal]

garymc8,

It's quite true. With only a few exceptions like the Kennedys, the Roosevelts, and the Rockefellers, to name a few, you are absolutely right!

Look at what Ensign's parents did for him in paying his lover's family about $90,000 so they could go away quietly. What a baby! And look at Meghan McCain. She doesn't have to work a day in her life, but has become a blogger for "The Daily Beast". She can't write to save her life and when she speaks, she sounds like a VALLEY GIRL. Every other word out of her mouth is "like". Paul Begala did a hatchet job on her when she was on Bill Maher a few months ago. She was completely lost, as she was surrounded by intellectual heavyweights and soon became very quiet. At that point, she stopped participating in any of the discussions.

It's funny, the people with the most money are the ones who least deserve it.

[srose74]

DUH! Where have you been?

[lgervais]

ain't fox news great! Chris referred to Specter as a Liberal Democrat! shissh!

[Elbrando]

Fox must really live in it's own little world. Bring Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Russ Feingold on this program with Arlen Specter and you will really see the difference. Specter is to liberalism what Fox News is to journalism and that's not a compliment.

[lesterbud]

Let's see, they have prevented:
Prosecution of gang rapists
Prosecution of torturers
Closure of Gitmo
Capping executive salaries at bail-outs
Finance reform
Confirmation of dozens of judges
Health care reform
And on....and on.....

Since each of these items is desired by the majority of Americans, it would stand to reason that the RushpubliCant's are playing to a very small group of hardcore issue voters - not a good formula to regain power.

[garymc8]

Their unsustainable fiscal policies only benefit the top 2%, so there is your core group. Not very big at election time.

[springsm]

My gosh, Did Arlen just wake up?

[Sundance]

No sh*t, Sherlock!

[TruGal]

I wonder how appalled most old-time Republicans must really be feeling about having their party hijacked by the new "base". I feel a little bit sorry for them.

[brady61995]

have no mercy

[chocolatecity]

He is right. At least there were republicans in '93-'94 who were for health care reform even if they didn't agree with Bill Clinton's plan. Lincoln Chaffe had a real plan. You could agree with it or disagree, but it was a real plan. But these republicans just want democrats to fail. They don't even have a plan. They are so out of step that Chaffe came out in support of Obama for the election. It's sad.