Specter Should Read the Writing on the Wall

Mark Noonan

If he seeks re-election next year and manages to secure the GOP nomination, the Democrat will win:

A new statewide poll shows 53 percent of Pennsylvanians — and 66 percent of Republicans — want someone to replace Sen. Arlen Specter.

Asked whether they think Specter, a Philadelphia Republican, has done his job well enough to win re-election or whether they’d prefer a “new person” in that job, registered voters by a 53-38 percent margin said it’s time to give someone else a chance, according to the poll by Susquehanna Polling and Research. Eight percent were undecided.

The numbers might reflect Specter’s vote as one of three Republican senators who enabled passage of President Obama’s $787 billion federal stimulus package, said James Lee, president of Harrisburg-based Susquehanna polling. But they reflect long-standing dissatisfaction among Republican conservatives with Specter’s record, he said.

It is almost certain that Specter will draw a GOP challenger on the right – and, heck, such challenger may be more “center” than “right” and still gain a lot of conservative base support for the primary. The GOP rank and file is tired of these Republicans who always manage to justify cutting the GOP off at the knees when it really matters. Its not worth having whatever number of GOPers we have in the Senate if on the crucial issues they are going to side with the liberal Democrats – better fewer GOPers committed to GOP ideals than more GOPers willing to chuck it all in the toilet in return for dinner party invitations and glowing editorials in the New York Times.

The best thing for the GOP is for Specter to lose a primary fight – even if our candidate is subsequently defeated, a defeat of Specter in the primary will be a signal to all week kneed GOPers that there is a price to be paid for giving Democrats “bi-partisan” cover for their liberal agenda. We are not the party of liberalism – we are the party of conservatism. When push comes to shove – and a trillion dollars is about to be wasted – it is time for all GOPers to adhere rigidly to conservative principle. Specter doesn’t understand thing, and thus Specter Must Go.