Arlen Specter Performs Standup Routine At Open-Mic Night (VIDEO)

PHILADELPHIA -- Knock, knock. Who's there? It's former Sen. Arlen Specter and he's continuing his second career as a comedian.

The longtime Pennsylvania senator performed at an open-mic night at the Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia on Tuesday, continuing a post-politics foray into standup.

Specter told the crowd he's "been in comedy now for 30 years" and took shots at former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and others in his act. Former President Bill Clinton and current Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich were also targets of Specter quips.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the crowd roared with approval at Specter's jokes. Specter himself tells the newspaper that "humor is elevating" and he wanted to try it out.

He says, "I might be invited back."

(Video above via the Philadelphia Inquirer)

Comments

[charlie smerlick]

02:49 PM on 12/28/2011

He was probably at his comedic zenith when he laughingly sold the American people the "Magic Bullet Theory " on the JFK assaination.Yep Arlen, you sold out early and played it for all it was worth for all those years,unless you tell the truth before you go to clown heaven, then there won't be many who even care enough to spit on grave...

[onepartysystem]

10:30 AM on 03/28/2012

My sentiments exactly.

[JoannainPA]

01:47 PM on 12/28/2011

I wish I was there. I like Arlene personally. I don't care for his politics so much. He's a really nice man. I love debating with him.

[tacevad]

10:39 AM on 12/28/2011

Arlen is genuinely humorous,he has done other comedy appearances for years. He was also a fair Senator for many years Perhaps his one truly great moment was when he put a halt to the farcical Impeachment of Bill Clinton.He was unquestionably much better for America than Pat "Club for Growth" Toomey.

[gibraltar]

10:32 AM on 12/28/2011

Yeah he was part of the light comedy that got us Clarence Thomas that was a joke on the whole nation.

[legitane]

10:31 AM on 12/28/2011

Specter...isn't he the bad dude from James Bond ?

[Boomer946]

10:14 AM on 12/28/2011

Well finally a politician who has embraced what he really is! Now we can only hope a lot of those lost souls in D.C. can find themselves soon and stop pretending to be lawmakers.

[Schoolgirl666]

10:07 AM on 12/28/2011

Now quite a few Republicans are doing a stand-up routine.....they're calling it debating, however.

[Janine547]

09:57 AM on 12/28/2011

How fitting, his service as Senator was a joke as well.

[bannorhill]

09:53 AM on 12/28/2011

Arlene told the crowd he's been in comedy now for 30 years.

I thought he was a Senator in charge of running the Government. If he thinks that responsibility is comedy, then it is a good thing that he has a new job.

[JoannainPA]

01:49 PM on 12/28/2011

He was pretty
Funny. I think
It was brave of him to do this. I think he had a good time. I
Loved the comment about his library. All two books, one for wish he wasn't done coloring yet. Too funny!