Is Specter in a Primary Fight? Yes!

In a nearly full Pennsylvania High School auditorium, Congressman Joe Sestak held his district's third veterans summit.

The elephant in that auditorium had nothing to do with veterans and everything to do with Congressman Sestak. The elephant was when Joe Sestak would officially announce that he is running against Senator Arlen Specter. Notice, I said when, not if.

I questioned a few district military veterans about the "when" word. One said best what all were saying:

"He cannot back out now and he will kick Specter's butt".

Time will tell if Congressman Sestak makes his move against Pennsylvania's newest Democratic senator. But his options are disappearing quickly.

My thoughts went back to 2005 when several candidates took up the challenge to run for congressmen from Pennsylvania. Joe Sestak pulled rank and took over Iraq Veteran Bryan Lentz's congressional campaign and Bryan agreed to run for state representative. It was a win for Pennsylvania. Both Sestak and Lentz won their races. Sestak performed at such a high level that he is now considered a real contender for senator. Bryan Lentz is a star in the Pennsylvania House. What now if Sestak abandons his seat to challenge Senator Specter?

 
Bryan Lentz is a former ranger and paratrooper and recipient of the Bronze Star for Service. He was deployed to Bosnia in 1998 and when asked in 2003 by his former commander to return to active duty, he volunteered to go to Iraq to serve with his old unit. During his 2004 tour of duty in Iraq, Bryan rightly earned the respect of his troops. Wayne Bowen, author of the book "Undoing Saddam" and a Republican and Army vet who served under Lentz in Iraq, cited Bryan's leadership and valor in the book recounting Bowen's time in Iraq: "Bryan Lentz was the finest example of wartime leadership that I saw in Iraq, and he will always have my respect and admiration." That literally says it all to my mind.
 
Lentz is a member of Pennsylvania's Veteran's Affairs Committee and a constant and visible advocate for Veterans' issues. He pushes and promotes job training and education programs for veterans. In his very first year, he was the prime sponsor of a law creating a 50 million dollar grant program for volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel.

As a former city policeman, I appreciate that Bryan, a former prosecutor, is a leader on legislation supporting police officers and emergency personnel in the areas of benefits, training and equipment and law and order. Lentz is pushing for parole reforms in the wake of the killing of police by violent parolees.
 
Do not confuse Bryan with a Republican however! He is a solid progressive or liberal. Lentz co-sponsored legislation banning discrimination on the basis of sexual identity; he is pro-choice and received a perfect score from Penn Environment for advocacy of renewable energy programs. Representative Lentz supports the Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor's energy independence program. Since his experience in Iraq, Bryan knows that a renewable energy policy is directly related to national security because of our dependence on hostile nations that produce oil.

Bryan was the first elected official in the 7th congressional district to endorse Barack Obama for president. Although facing his own re-election bid, he worked with grass roots groups including Obama for America to help deliver both primary and substantial general election wins for Obama. Lentz demonstrates a selfless commitment to party and principle, and a practical approach to politics that produces results.

Bryan Lentz possesses the perfect resume for a member of Congress. Veterans at the Sestak event, to a person, endorsed State Representative Lentz as the individual best suited to replace Joe Sestak. They remember Bryan's willingness to sacrifice personal desire for the good of the nation and the state.

I remember a younger Bryan. Fresh from active duty and willing to put it all on the line to continue service to country and community. I was searching the nation to find candidates that could win races and were military or could strongly support military. Pennsylvania hit home runs. Lentz was one of the best of that group.

We need leaders like Bryan in government. People who see honor and duty in government service. People who know government is a necessity to a well run society. People who still hear the echoes of long ago: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Pennsylvania Representative Bryan Lentz knows that life is not about him; he knows life is about all of us.

Comments

[quadmom]

Thank you, Hal for sharing your story about Bryan.
He is a hardworking and honorable public servant. I believe he would serve PA-07 well if Sestak were to move on.

[DelcoGuy]

Lentz is the guy who is most likely going to be the next Congressman from Delaware County if Sestak takes on Specter. He's considered one of Pennsylvania's rising stars in the Democratic Party and has been a true leader in building the Democratic Party in Delaware County. I don't think you can find another local SE PA Dem who, on the state or federal level, has walked door to door with municipal candidates to campaign and raise money for on their behalf. He was also the first elected officials in Delco to endorse President Obama. The PA 7CD has a Republican voter registration tilt. I think that his mix of a progressive voting history in the state house, along with his service in Iraq and in the Philadelphia DA's Office makes him the best possible candidate to defeat any Republican challenger. He's the real deal. I also think that he is a better candidate than Sestak and would do better than him against Specter, but that obviously is not in the cards right now (I do think Sestak could take down Spec though).

[JessWonderin]

This Vet stepped up . . . A few days ago someone linked to actblue.com to donate to the DRAFT JON Campaign - as a note of support they were looking for NUMBERS of supporters not massive donations, to show a support group "exits" . . . I suggest you donate even a $1 to show you WANT him to run . . . after all when a DEMOCRAT decides to run, we will fund the effort . . . as for Phil . . .

[Hal Donahue]

What is Sestak's record? That will be the question

[Hal Donahue]

I am thinking if the candidate is Toomey this may be a great time for a liberal

[jerrypl]

Yes he is!! We Democrats in PA are sick and tired of Specter. He pounded his chest during the Boy Bush years especially when Boy Bush started to use warrantless wiretapping to spy on Americans. Specter came out by saying that he was going to investigate this stuff, but he never did. Specter is a hypocrite. He is staying in as a Democrat in order to keep his retirement and health benefits while many working Americans lost their benefits and retirement when the economy tanked.

In 2010, I hope to see him staying home come the day after the election.

http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com

[jimpwhite]

Hal: What can I do to help in Pittsburgh? I wonder will Sen Spector lose his seat on the Rebublican side of the Veterans Affairs Committee. Not sure how that works?

[Hal Donahue]

I think lost. This is getting interesting. Are you stateside now?

[jimpwhite]

Hal: Back home, and watching a Spector free choice ad on the Tube. Pens Win , Its Jon Soltz's birthday and saw John Huyga yesterday. Ready for a lively campaign Pa Style!!

[catuskoti]

Interesting! I'm definitely looking for an alternative after Specter's (DINO?) nea vote against credit card company usury limits.