The Los Angeles Times is reporting that President Barack Obama has thrown his weight behind Arlen Specter for a series of fundraisers that will reap Specter's campaign half an estimated $2.5 million. Obama's support comes just five months after Specter bolted the Republican Party when it became obvious to most that he would not win the GOP's nomination.
From the LA Times:
President Obama, making an unusual foray into a Democratic primary election battle, told a paid crowd of supporters of Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) on Tuesday that the senator would fight "to help me move this country forward."
The reception drew 750 people, some of whom paid $2,400 to attend. The president was scheduled to attend a more intimate gathering of Specter's big-money donors later today. Overall, the fundraiser was expected to bring in nearly $2.5 million, split between Specter's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
http://www.latimes.com/...
President Obama has thus unofficially endorsed Specter is his race against the more progressive Joe Sestak. Obama has further shown his contempt for progressive ideals and his colors as a corporate-DLC Democrat. This follows on Obama's refusal some months ago to take firm action against another turncoat: Joe Lieberman. Lieberman now, of course, is one of the main opponents of single payer in the Senate.
One of the major progressive complaints against Obama (and one originally laid against him by Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries last year) is that he doesn't seem to have much fight for progressive causes. So it comes as a surprise that Obama has endorsed Specter as a "fighter". Here's Obama in his own words:
"Arlen is not someone who came to Washington to fight for a particular ideology," said Obama, at the Philadelphia Convention Center. "He came to fight for the working men and women of Pennsylvania. That's why you should send him back for another six years, because you know he's going to fight for you."
(Same source)
Sorry, Mr. President. That's precisely what we DO NOT know about Arlen Specter who was a huge supporter of George W. Bush and his disastrous policies for 8 years, and for many years before that a partisan Republican hack. Moreover, Specter has hardly been a fighter for the "working men and women" of this country. He has an anemic 61% rating from the AFL-CIO and worked AGAINST organized labor's main bill:
He voted for cloture on the Employee Free Choice Act in 2007. The vote failed to reach the 60-vote threshold that would have ended debate on the bill and allow it to pass. In 2009, Specter announced that he would not be voting for cloture on the Act in the 111th Congress.
SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Again, sad to see that the Obama administration sees progressives as its enemies and not as its friends. President Obama is repeating the same failed policies toward Specter as he did toward Lieberman. And you know what, Mr. President, in the crunch Lieberman has not been there for the people of America (he opposes a public option), let alone the working people of America. The same thing is likely with Specter if he gets reelected.
UPDATE #1: Another article from the LA Times provides more information on the President's support of Specter:
As leader of his party, Obama had the option of following a more neutral course and staying out of the primary race between Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.). But the White House has opted to double down on its support for Specter, a longtime Republican who switched parties in the spring partly to avoid an anticipated defeat in the GOP primary next year.
And more details on the fundraisers while also indicating that Vice President Joe Biden will also fundraise for Specter:
Guests attending the private dinner with Obama must donate $10,000 or raise $50,000. A ticket will also get them a picture with the president. The ticket price for the reception is about $2,400. Organizers expect about 750 people to attend the reception and 250 at the dinner. The Senate is scheduling no votes after 3 p.m. today so Specter can attend the fundraiser, a leadership aide said.
Next month, Vice President Joe Biden will headline a Specter fundraiser in Pittsburgh.
The same article indicates that the move carries some risks for the President since his overall approval rating in Pennsylvania has declined:
An Obama endorsement may not carry as much weight in Pennsylvania as it once did. The Franklin & Marshall poll found that 47% rated Obama's performance "excellent" or "good," compared with 53% who chose "fair" or "poor." In June, his "excellent/good" rating was 8 points higher.
SOURCE: http://www.latimes.com/...