To follow-up on the Specter story for a moment, I had a random thought that’s probably silly, but I’ll mention it anyway. Could Specter face a recall vote in Pennsylvania?
I don’t know what the state’s laws are for something like this, but Specter just spent every day for months telling a Blue state’s voters that he’d be a “free agent,” untied to a party or ideology. He’s a Republican, Specter said, but voters could count on him to always put his moderate conscience above his party’s interests. It worked — on Election Day, Pennsylvanians backed Kerry over Bush by 2% and Specter over Hoeffel by 11%.
But that, of course, was before Specter’s recent unpleasantness, which prompted him to abandon his independent streak. Indeed, as I mentioned earlier, Specter has already indicated he’ll give up his opposition to GOP agenda items he used to resist.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the embattled heir to the Senate Judiciary Committee gavel, is assuring panel members who will vote soon on his ascension that he will not stand in the way of tort reform, one of President Bush’s highest priorities.
During a private meeting of the Senate Republican Conference yesterday, Specter, one of the chamber’s few centrist Republicans, also pledged not to obstruct legislation he opposes.
Specter will be, in other words, just another rank-and-file GOP senator who follows the wishes of the White House and the party leadership. That’s not terribly unusual, I suppose, but it’s not what Specter said he’d be during the campaign.
So, here’s what I’m thinking: The time may be just right for a recall drive.
Pennsylvania Dems who backed Specter — and based on the results, there had to be quite a few — thought they were getting a lawmaker who wouldn’t be afraid to stand up to the GOP. Dems probably thought he couldn’t be all bad considering he’s pro-choice, voted against some of Bush’s ridiculous tax cuts, rejects school vouchers, opposes tort reform, and he even backed Clinton during the impeachment mess a few years ago.
But that Specter is gone, replaced by someone who’s promised to be a GOP “team player.”
On the other side, the right still hates Specter. They’re mad about his voting record, they’re mad about his Roe v Wade “warning” to Bush, and they’re mad he’s survived the onslaught and will be Judiciary Committee chairman.
And let’s not forget, the right wasn’t crazy about Specter anyway. Literally just one week before Election Day, Dick Cheney was at one of those infamous invitation-only rallies in Pennsylvania for a theater full of adoring fans. Consider a small part of the transcript:
Cheney: The President and I are delighted to be part of a great Republican ticket here in Pennsylvania this year. I want to thank Congressman Tim Murphy for his kind words and the great leadership he provides. (Applause.) And I also want to put in a good word for Senator Arlen Specter, although he couldn’t be here today.
Audience: Booo!
Cheney: This is a tough crowd. (Laughter and applause.)
A hard-right Pennsylvania audience that loves Cheney was booing the VP at the very mention of Specter’s name.
What do you suppose would happen if there was a meaningful recall effort to hold Specter accountable? Disappointed Dems in Pennsylvania would probably like another shot at this Senate seat and far-right Republicans in Pennsylvania, who nearly beat Specter in the primaries, probably wouldn’t mind it either.
Is this crazy? Does anyone know what it would take to prompt a recall in Pennsylvania?