I fully support our party, our president, and the ideals that we stand for, but i feel strongly that our party needs a wake-up call and it is time.
From the Washington Post this morning:
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry on Monday endorsed Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania's contested Senate primary as the incumbent tries to fend off criticism that he used "Swiftboat"-style attacks.
This endorsement was sickening to me. I have no illusions about the nature of politics, but I honestly thought John Kerry was better than this. Even as he was being swiftboated in 2004, he tried to retain the high ground, even to the point that it might of lost him the election.
His endorsement of Arlen Specter, who has brought his swift-boat style attacks with him from his 45 years with the Republican party, has proven to me that Kerry has sold out and is focusing on pure politics rather than what is right.
It is time that we send Kerry, Obama, Biden, and the Dems, a strong message that people will vote for what is right over what is political posturing.
Even more disappointing than Kerry is Joe Biden. Joe Biden stated in 2008 that if anyone tried to Swiftboat another Democrat, "I'm going to smack 'em right square in the chops."
Where is Biden when it comes to smacking a swiftboater in the chops? He is found standing squarely next to the swiftboater, without even a fist raised. Politics over what is right. Biden and Kerry need to be sent a message. Democrats will not accept this.
However, the buck stops at the top. President Obama, as senator Obama, stated clearly:
“I am prepared to stand up to that kind of politics, whether it's deployed by candidates in our party, in the other party or by any third party,” Obama said. “The cause of change in this country will not be deterred or sidetracked by the old ‘Swift boat’ politics. The cause of moving America forward demands that we defeat it.”
Now that swiftboat style politics are being deployed by a so-called democrat, where is President Obama? Standing side-by-side with the swiftboater.
Joe Sestak is a 31 year - decorated military veteran and has a progressive voting record as well (even though he is a bit hawkish). If Dems think with their hearts over their heads, it is an easy decision to choose Sestak over Specter, the 45 year Republican, and symbol of the Washington establishment. However, I feel that dems are going to outthink themselves out of a senate seat this fall. And here is my case:
Sestak's record is clearly distinguished by all accounts:
Sestak spent 31 years in the Navy and was promoted to a deputy chief of naval operations by Admiral Vernon Clark in 2004 and awarded three stars. During his career in the Navy, he led a series of operational commands, including commanding the USS George Washington aircraft carrier battle group in Afghanistan and Iraq. He served as Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton and, following the September 11 attacks, was selected to serve as the first Director of "Deep Blue," the Navy's anti-terrorism unit.
Following in his father's footsteps, Sestak graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in American political systems. Between tours at sea, Sestak earned a Master of Public Administration and a Ph.D. in political economy and government from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1980 and 1984, respectively.
Sestak's decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit awards, two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals and the Navy Achievement Medal.
Sestak is the highest ranking military official ever to serve in congress.
So, as Republicans often do, Arlen Specter decided that the only way he could win against Sestak was by attacking his military career, or as has been called for the last decade or so, swiftboating a distinguished veteran. Sestak was recognized throughout his career and consistently promoted and decorated until in 2004, President Bush promoted Admiral Mike Mullen and Mullen wanted to bring in his own staff. A newspaper at the time hit Sestak, saying that it was due to a "poor command climate;" however, it was obviously a political hit piece, not anything official. Sestak has hundreds of officers throughout his career that vouch for him and no one has come forward ever to question Sestak's service other than one off-the-record comment from a newspaper - which was probably from a Bush administration crony to justify their putting their own guy in.
Despite the back story, it is just plain despicable to attack someone's military record without a ton of evidence and obvious bad behavior. Democrats should not swiftboat other democrats. And the fact that Obama, Biden, and now Kerry are standing up for the swiftboater, sickens me. I believe in our party, I fight for our party, I make phone calls, go door-to-door, organize, donate, etc. If Specter wins, I will still support our party and i will painfully pull the lever for him, however, I will not do anything beyond that. Major figures in our party have stood by swiftboating without condemning it, and I feel a little less proud today because of it.
We need to stand up and say enough is enough. Please e-mail Specter, Biden, Kerry, Rendell and Obama and tell them this should not be tolerated in our party. And more importantly, if you are from PA, please vote and volunteer for Joe Sestak in these final two weeks. Find out more at his web-site. If you are outside PA, please consider donating to Joe here.
And if you need a reminder why it is so important to have Sestak represent us in November, here are ten reasons:
- AFL-CIO Rating: Specter 61%, Sestak 97%
- League of Women voters: Specter 44%, Sestak 100%
- National Education Association: Specter 56%, Sestak 100%
- NAACP: Specter 76%, Sestak 95%
- League of Conservation Voters: Specter 40.5%, Sestak 97%
- Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund: Specter 60%, Sestak 100%
- Specter voted with George W. Bush on Iraq, Tax cuts for Millionaires, took down health care in the 90's, tore down Anita Hill, and thousands of other votes that are anti-Dem.
- Specter voted for President McCain and Vice President Palin a little over one year ago. We would have a Vice President Palin if it were up to him!
- If Specter is elected, it will probably be his last term, so we will have no way to hold his feet to the fire... He is also very pissed about losing his committee assignments, so he will probably buck the dem party quite often. Do we really just want to trust that he will vote in a progressive way? Or will he be another Joe Liebermann standing in the way of Democratic reform? Keep this in mind:
- Specter has high negatives. Negatives are hard to change. Sestak has very low negatives, so he has an opportunity to continue to add to his support as people get to know him more. Which is shown in the polls put out over the last few days.
Beyond everything else, mid terms are about enthusiasm of the base. Are Dems going to be more fired up for an 80 year old, 45 year Republican, who Bush called very loyal to him:
Or, a progressive veteran that we can be proud of and can represent us for decades to come:
The choice is easy - and we need to send a message to Obama, Biden, Kerry, and the rest of Washington. Swiftboating should not be a part of our party - and they may stand by the swiftboater, but we the voters Stand by Joe!