Arlen Specter Will Vote To Confirm Elena Kagan

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) has decided to support Elena Kagan's Supreme Court nomination, writing in a US Today editorial Thursday morning that she has done "just enough to win my vote."

In the editorial, Specter commends Kagan for having "impressive legal mind, a ready humor and a collegial temperament suitable to the court," but spends the majority of the time harping on the fact that she managed to evade much of the more substantive discussion about how she would vote as a judge. Specter complained about this issue during the hearings as well, but apparently wasn't so much surprised by Kagan's actions as he was frustrated.

"It may be understandable that she said little after White House coaching and the continuing success of stonewalling nominees. But it is regrettable," Specter wrote. "Some indication of her judicial philosophy may be gleaned by her self-classification as a 'progressive' and her acknowledged admiration for Justice Thurgood Marshall. That suggests she would uphold congressional fact-finding resulting in remedial legislation and protect individual rights in the congressional-executive battles."

Left with so few determinants, Specter explains his vote as a function of a character assessment, his support of her former colleagues, and Kagan's answers about increasing the visibility and transparency of Supreme Court proceedings by televising them to the public.

"In addition to her intellect, academic and professional qualifications, Kagan did just enough to win my vote by her answers that television would be good for the country and the court, and by identifying Justice Marshall as her role model," Specter wrote.

Comments

[Bulbul2010]

12:46 AM on 07/18/2010

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Why are we NOT SURPRISED???

[whatisrightisright]

10:56 AM on 07/16/2010

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/07/an-obama-administration-job-for-senator-specter/comments/page/3/#comments
An Obama Administration Job for Sen. Specter?

i think this is why he is voting for her.

[10thAmendmentPatriot]

10:48 AM on 07/16/2010

zero integrity

[publicedukated]

10:00 AM on 07/16/2010

It should read "Arlen specter kisses a55, hopes obama throws him a bone"

[YardGnomeNews]

03:48 AM on 07/16/2010

Yes, but Kagan continues to evade my questions on whether interstellar space aliens migrated to the USA would be granted rights under our constitution!

[Juno912]

02:01 AM on 07/16/2010

What is the message here...? ... Specter will vote for Obama's creepy Supreme Court nominee, Kagan, because (having lost the primary to Congressman Sestak) Specter wants to suck up for a job in the Obama administration. I believe that says it right. Why...? Because the alernative is shepherding this creep off into political oblivian. It demonstrates in spades what Specter's primary opponent (and victor, Congressman Sestak) said all along about Spector (and the Obama adminstration).

[CDRUSNret]

10:00 AM on 07/16/2010

Juno......absolutely right! Specter never had a principled stand in his life.

An Obama Administration Job for Sen. Specter?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/07/an-obama-administration-job-for-senator-specter.html

[lendmeanear]

12:41 AM on 07/16/2010

Isn't it ironic that in the same day we finally saw an end (we hope) to the worst environmental disaster in our nations history and final passage of the most sweeping financial regulatory reform in decades to address the worst financial disaster since the great depression all on the heels of finally achieving universal health care? in his first 18 months Obama has dealt with the a collapse of our economy, environmental disaster and passing health care reform. This is after becoming the first african american president. Love him or hate him but this guy aims BIG and does it!!!!

[Daly]

10:52 AM on 07/16/2010

#29

The list of accomplishments are weighed down by fox educated teahadist willful ignorance; still you can't find many of them letting go of the the health care they fought so hard against... many are absolutely gleeful to have their kids covered...

[rjaxone]

11:45 PM on 07/15/2010

Arlen Specter is the most Machiavellian creep I have ever observed. Well, maybe not the most but right up there with John McCain, et al.

I remember the Clarence "long dong" Thomas hearing for confirmation to the supreme court; and I remember how Arlen Specter dragged the testimony of Anita Hill through the mud. I got the dry heaves just watching him obviscate the truth in favor of Long Dong...

Event though I am in favor of Elena Kagan appt. to the supreme court. I wonder what is really behind Spector's support of her. I'm confident his motives are related more to his personal political agenda than to the best interest of the nation's juris prudence...

[gbrooks]

04:31 AM on 07/16/2010

Specter does not do anything that isn't politically expedient.

Sorry to hear that you support Kagan, I can't possibly imagine why you would--she's fully in support of stripping people's civil liberties and has no recognition of the rights of the individual. I find her abhorrent.

[kmac23va]

10:00 AM on 07/16/2010

What political agenda? He already lost his primary, he's pretty well done. Unless he flips back to the GOP to run against Sen. Casey or tries for the House, or some state office like governor. But I can't really see any of that happening.

You know the biggest thing Specter may not be remembered for is? He was the creator of the JFK magic bullet theory. Really.

[Guitanguran]

10:20 PM on 07/15/2010

Not that Mr. Specter would have changed his mind, but this information is going to go over like a lead kite.

http://www.aul.org/featured-images/Kagan-Ethics-Report.pdf

[Enock Zamora]

10:07 PM on 07/15/2010

The Republicans lost a good man in Arlen Specter, and I respect his decision to confirm Elena Kagan, who will do alot of good in the Supreme Court.

[gbrooks]

04:31 AM on 07/16/2010

**vomit**

[Bulbul2010]

12:49 AM on 07/18/2010

Are you DAFT? Elena Kagan will spend the rest of her life living DOWN her association with Snarlin' Arlen. You think she LIKES this guy? You think he's voting for her just because they're both Jewish?

No no no! It's the only way he can go out in style! There's a sinecure waiting for him, up on Big Rock Candy Mountain.

[Kreskytim]

09:09 PM on 07/15/2010

Another job? Retire already! Your'e almost eighty years old for god's sake.
We have 9.5% unemployment rate. People need the jobs.

[ran6110]

07:14 PM on 07/15/2010

Here is what the payoff was...

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/07/an-obama-administration-job-for-senator-specter.html

If this is true shouldn't it be illegal for him to personally gain this way?

Just asking...

[Bankerrkt]

08:25 PM on 07/15/2010

You beat me to the link. You are correct. There should be no "quid pro quo" for Spector's vote.

[gbrooks]

04:32 AM on 07/16/2010

He's a repulsive human being.

[Bulbul2010]

12:50 AM on 07/18/2010

The way he turned on Jim Crumlish was shameful.

[ran6110]

05:33 PM on 07/15/2010

He was holding out for some payoff and finally got it...

[AddyGmom]

04:50 PM on 07/15/2010

Why bother------

Does his vote count anymore, anyway?

[mommadona]

04:13 PM on 07/15/2010

He gave a damning speech about Kagan just a couple hours ago on the Senate floor. I didn't hear anything but a very lukewarm and backhanded snark toward the woman.

So, he feels 'forced' to vote for her?

Arlen Specter is going straight to hell.