Standing up for what you believe in is not easy. If any politician knows this, it is Arlen Specter. When this man first came to my attention it was in connection with the assassination of John Kennedy. I can tell you Senator Specter’s explanation of the "magic bullet theory" was not popular with everyone. After that, I had no respect for the man. However, I did respect one Mr. John Rich, the patriarch of the family that founded Woolrich Woolen Mill. As a young man I happened to be in a conversation with the elderly Mr. Rich and somehow Arlen’s name came up. I scoffed at the mere mention. The old man leveled his gaze at me and with quiet conviction said to me. "Arlen is a friend of mine, and I can tell you one thing for certain. If Arlen says something, you can believe it." At the time that incident did nothing to raise my opinion of the senator and tarnished my appreciation for Mr. Rich.
Later, I watched as Senator Specter stood between the Democrats and Clarence Thomas. At the time I thought to myself, "Why can’t the Democrats find a pit bull like Arlen." Don’t get me wrong. The choice of Justice Thomas to replace Thurgood Marshall on the court was an insult plain and simple. Yet someone had to stand in the breech and say "This far and no farther". There is a wide gulf between an insult and a travesty. During his incisive closing statements, Specter reminded everyone of the standards that must be met before a public official can be held accountable in the face of scandalous accusation. By holding us as a country to that higher standard, he may have provided Justice Thomas with the undo affirmative action Thomas eschews, but he also reminded us all of the importance of our fundamental principles. By this time I had moved from disdain to grudging respect for an able adversary. Considering that Arlen Specter’s opposition to the appointment of Robert Bork was instrumental in the rejection of that nominee's bid for a place on the high court, it was hard to convince myself that Specter was just shilling for the party...but I did.
Next, during the Clinton impeachment, the senator once again took a principled stand and voted "Not Proven", a nuanced and accurate vote that had the same weight as not guilty but without any hint of condoning or excusing the former president’s behavior. By standing this time against the vigilantes of his own party, Arlen Specter was looking more and more like Atticus Finch to me.
Then, along came Alberto Gonzalez. Watching Specter in action during the Justice Committee hearings caused me to reflect deeply on the senator. As chairman, the one person in all of Washington who could have pulled the fat out of the fire for Gonzalez was Arlen. Instead, he roasted him. And though it was obvious that the Attorney General’s repeated abuses of power have the senator seething, it wasn’t a bombastic or flamboyant attack. It was, however, methodical and very effective. Those who are not familiar with the effort of the Republican Party’s right wing to keep Arlen out of the Chairman’s seat should be thankful for the lifetime of faithful service Arlen has given his country. Without it, he could not have weathered the storm; because of it, we were able to stem a poisonous tide. By now I was thinking that it was entirely possible that I had misjudged this man.
Now, as one of only three to stand against their Republican establishment, and help sustain the Stimulus Bill, Arlen has once again put his principles and firm belief of what is right for the country ahead of his own self interest. There is no doubt that in the next election, should he decide to run again, he will face stiff opposition in the primary. He and the two senators from Maine will be the first ever Republicans who I will actively support. They are the surviving nucleus of the party of Lincoln, and deserve their current title as the Loyal Opposition.
Having moved from an opinion of utter contempt, to grudging respect, to sincere appreciation, I would just like to put on the record that I am now in agreement with old John Rich. Arlen Specter is a friend of mine. It’s a shame we never met.