Arlen Specter Reinforces GOP 'Cannibalism' Criticism

Former U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) reinforced an attack this week he thrust upon Republicans for party infighting in his farewell address on the Senate floor last session.

In an interview with the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Current published online on Thursday, the Republican-turned-Democrat addressed his characterization of politics within the GOP as "cannibalism." He discussed the remarks in the context of moderates like former Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) being purged from the party.

"I called that in my speech sophisticated cannibalism, and I made a mistake," Specter said of his remarks on internal Republican party politics. "I called that in my speech sophisticated cannibalism, and I made a mistake; I should not have called it sophisticated. It's just raw cannibalism."

Specter was defeated in his quest for reelection in the primary stage of the 2010 midterm election cycle. Former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) swiped the Democratic Senate nomination from the longtime lawmaker, marking an end to his 30-year career in the upper congressional chamber.

The Senate seat once held by Specter now belongs to Pat Toomey, a Republican who secured the post last November.

The New York Times recently reported that Specter will become a professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania next fall.

Comments

[JDZSB]

06:13 PM on 03/07/2011

This country is basically a "middle right" country and more conservative then liberal. What has happened in the last two years under Obama, Pelsi, and Reid, is the "perfect storm" of pent up left wing progressive legislation and policies that are so extreme that what used to be called the "silent majority" has awakened in the form of the Tea Party and are now getting into the mix, and reacting to all of this huge growth in government and government spending, and this poorly developed and non-bipartisan legislation nicknamed "Obamacare". This is good for the country and began to sort out in the last election. My guess is that for many years to come, it is going to be difficult for an obvious liberally progressive person to get elected President, including Obama in 2012. The purging started in November and will continue in 2012.

[blackraisin]

12:33 PM on 03/07/2011

Wasn't Arlen Specter eaten by the Democrats instead of the Republicans?

[Raw Ron]

01:31 AM on 03/07/2011

The GOP should have admitted that they wrecked the country under Bush and worked with Obama to repair the damage. Instead they chose from the start to appose the president at every turn and then encouraged the rabid base to shout people down and protest under the new name tea party.

The extremist got a taste of power and wont be quick to give it up. My prediction is they will lay havoc on GOP primaries for years to come. Pretty soon we will have moderate republicans calling to move election day to the weekend to help delude the crazies.

[alfo]

11:34 AM on 03/07/2011

it WORKED, now all of you poor,public working,union loving,OBAMA hating BIGOTS, YOUR chickens are coming home to roost,as REV. WRIGHT said "GOD DAM AMERICA"

[whattodo rups]

01:13 AM on 03/07/2011

I'm actually thinking are we witnessing the beginning of the end of Republican party as we know it. What is the future when the two ends of it are so far apart on everything. One is social conservative and the other is corporate interest group. This is like hillbillies and the hamptonites in one team. How long will this go on, without a fissure happening.

[Peter Boehringer]

10:01 PM on 03/06/2011

The tendency of the orthodox is that once they have started purging the "non believers" they willl continue to do so. The Republican party, at least in the short term is going to purge anyone who even looks close to being moderate. To survive in the party everyone will move further to the right and farther away from mainstream America. The party as it is today will eventually implode.

[ohiomark]

05:33 PM on 03/06/2011

Specter speaks of "cannibalism" because he was a victim.

Because he was such a RINO, the conservative Republicans realized that he was more of an asset to the Democrats.

Specter is nothing more than a political opportunist who changed parties twice in order to get elected. The second time didn't work.

[Trapster]

08:23 PM on 03/06/2011

Perfect example!

[armadillo]

11:02 PM on 03/06/2011

I wonder if he just made Spector's case for him?

[MNValley]

07:44 AM on 03/07/2011

Ah yes The GOP.

The party with the small hat and large head ...

[Trapster]

08:57 AM on 03/07/2011

You made me laugh! Nice way to start a day. Thanks!

[therealone]

05:05 PM on 03/06/2011

Just look at the obesity rates in Red States. What WON'T they eat?

[jannielee]

05:27 PM on 03/06/2011

Vegetables.

[ThankGodhesgone]

05:38 PM on 03/06/2011

Anything that is not fried. They looooovvveee fried shrimp, chicken, fish, corn poppers, pickles, road ki// and twinkies.

[April22]

03:45 PM on 03/06/2011

Arlen Specter.

The man who helped to invent the "single bullet theory" in the assassination of Pres. Kennedy.

With such an impossible theory ever being true, I cannot help but wonder who was he protecting or was he involved somehow.

[GeoNorth]

02:17 PM on 03/06/2011

Republicans eat their own. We've known that for a long time. Who would want to be a Republican? It's like a bad gang. If you want to leave, you will be eaten.

[ohiomark]

05:35 PM on 03/06/2011

We were glad to see Specter leave the GOP. He was more of an asset to the Democrats.

[ckesegi]

12:24 AM on 03/07/2011

Is there an echo in here or are you merely repeating yourself?

[den1953]

12:02 PM on 03/07/2011

He only switched because he was thinking of himself had nothing to do with either party his ego was more then politics!

[cabrobst]

01:28 PM on 03/06/2011

We are watching the end of the Republican Party.
Let's just hope enough of America survives to see the other side.

[jannielee]

05:28 PM on 03/06/2011

Let's also hope that the Democrats get out and vote in 2012. So many sat out the 2010 mid terms and look what happened.

[Jaladeno]

11:46 AM on 03/06/2011

GOP - Greed Old Poops

[llyd wlsh]

05:33 PM on 03/06/2011

greedy old ped0ph!les

[Bude]

11:41 AM on 03/06/2011

Tastes like chicken?

[falco]

11:20 AM on 03/06/2011

Short word for it all - karma.

[Kat119]

01:02 PM on 03/06/2011

+1000

[Carl Caroli]

11:14 AM on 03/06/2011

Republicans are predators. They are willing to help their friends, but everyone else is either a stepping stone or a servant.

[TXfemmom]

09:50 AM on 03/06/2011

If the Republicans manage to rip one another apart to the point where they can no longer effect the electorate or this country in any meaningful way, that would be fantastic, but right now, each group of the GOP is trying to out destroy the country so they can look tougher than the other groups within the far right.  That is destroying this country and getting back on our feet. 
 
Our only hope can be that they cannibalize one another sufficiently and in such a manner that the electorate turns out in 2012 and banishes them in extreme numbers so the country can begin to make the changes necessary to get things back toward progress.

[sorjuana]

11:31 AM on 03/06/2011

You are so right.

[cabo]

12:16 PM on 03/06/2011

Very precise and to the point - "party of destruction"!

[superdestroyer]

05:06 PM on 03/06/2011

Do you really think that the U.S. will be better if politics currently work in the State of California or the District of Columiba or maybe Maryland.

What will the U.S. be like as a one party state?

[jannielee]

05:33 PM on 03/06/2011

If the republicans and the tea party continue along their hateful, destructive, selfish path, the country would be better off with one party. Don't worry, there have to be some nice patriotic republicans left in this country. They are in hiding for now because they don't want to be cannibalized by the teabaggers and the republicans who pander to them.

[TXfemmom]

06:51 PM on 03/06/2011

There would not be a one party system.  The Democrats are never one party, really.
 
On the other hand, if the Tea Party and the far right splinters into twenty different ones which all are too stubborn to work together, yea.