David v. Goliath? Should Joe Run?
By Pat Racimora on May 31, 2009 at 12:30 PM in Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania, US Senate
In the 2010 Senate primaries, should the dashing retired Navy Admiral who currently represents Pennsylvania’s 7th district as a Democrat in Congress take on the grisly, high-profile, five-term Republican Senator who only recently dumped the GOP to declare himself a Democrat? Either man would likely prevail over the right-wing conservative Republican contender.
Rep. Joe Sestak says that he “intends” to challenge Sen. Arlen Specter . Sestak has apparently set a date of June 30th (an FEC quarterly deadline) to be more forthcoming about his plans, although he recently stated on CNN that he also needs to discuss the matter fully with his family.
I have heard arguments about Joe Sesrak taking on Arlen Specter going both ways.
In favor of Sestak entering the race and making it interesting, at the very least:
1. Joe has paid his dues to the Democratic Party and should have a chance to be the Democratic candidate for the Senate.
2. The people of Pennsylvania should be able to choose who they want, not what the Washington Democratic Establishment dictates.
3. Joe has guts to stand up to the Establishment that is trying to dissuade him, and we need more people of courage in government.
4. Specter is self-serving. All polls show that he could not have won as a Republican this next time around. His primary concern is keeping his career going.
5. Is Specter really a Democrat? How can Democrats know for sure? Will he really compromise on issues important to Democrats?
6. Specter is too old (80 next birthday) and has health issues.
In favor of Sestak staying put in the House:
1. The House is a good place for Sestak to be. He is valuable there.
2. Specter received instant high level support from the President and later the Vice President and Governor of Pennsylvania.
3. Everyone in Pennsylvania knows who Specter is. Sestak is not yet well enough recognized throughout the state and does not show competitively in the current polls.
4. It is best for the Democratic Party to avoid a mud slinging battle in the primaries. Specter has already declared, so first come first served.
Both men have had impressive careers. And right now it is kind of a David v. Goliath situation. But early polls can change, as Hillary Clinton discovered the hard way.
I personally like Sestak best. I’m tired of these big money politicians. Sestak strongly endorsed Hillary Clinton very early on, which made him a favorite of mine. But, I have admired Specter’s sometimes moderate views, and I don’t think age should be an issue if someone can do the job. And if the two men could agree to stick to the issues and not get into the cannibalistic duel-to-the-death that we saw in California in 2006 when Phil Angelides and Steve Westly decided to blow each other up, it might be an exciting and educational race. Otherwise the party could suffer more damage than it needs. (In California, Arnold Schwarzenegger retained the Governor’s mansion without breaking a sweat. He only had to recite the primary loser’s [Angelides] TV ads!)
So, what do you think? Should Joe run?
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Absolutely!
If for no other reason than that the Obama party is telling him not to, so that Specter can win.
Besides, I think that Sestak is the better candidate. I live in PA and I will vote for Joe!
Obama did the same thing in New York by telling Congressman Steve Israel that he cannot challenge the appointed Senator Gilibrand in the upcoming primary. Israel is far more qualified and more influential.
I hope Joe runs and doesn’t back down with Obama pressure.
Fran, I completely agree! Joe has my vote as well.
I’m registered a Democrat, attended the Hillary rally in Philly the night before the primary and listen to Joe give a great endorsement.
Interesting isn’t it that Joe was a Hillary supporter?
I intend to stay a Democrat at least until the primary to vote AGAINST Specter!
In the past, I voted for Specter in every election but no more. Here is a man that clearly only wants to be affiliated with a party where he can win. That is his only agenda.
I also find it interesting that Pittsburgh is holding the G20 summit on Sept 24th and 25th.
Can you say pay backs? What other perks will Barry send PA’s way via the Specter bribe?
It’s a grand old name:
Joe Sixpack
Joe the Plumber
Joe DiMaggio
(We’ll forget for the moment about Joe Biden)
But Joe Sestak!?!? Well, it even rhymes with Joe Sixpack!
And so I say Heck Yes–Let Joe Public choose between Joe Sestak and “Arlen Specter.”
Sestak needs to be suppressed for the good of The Party (there is only one party now). Time to have the ACCORN crew camp out on the lawn in front of his home and harrass him. That’s the way it’s done now.
He should run and send Arlen out to pasture. Arlen Spector and his magic bullet theory need a rest. This man is no Democrat.
Good memory!
RUN JOE RUN!! Yes, I want him to run because I think he has the ability to bring something more than Arlen” I am doing it cause I can’t win as R” Specter. Plus,look what the *establishment* gave us this past election. I can’t believe they attempted to push him out. I know the election campaign is a way still but I intend to go on leave just to knock on doors and make phone calls in PA. Anyone who can stand up and state that they are doing this because they don’t want to get sent home as he did, thinks a little to much of himself.
Well said. I agree wholeheartedly.
All the RINOS need to lose when they show lack of core principles. Joe Sestak is no DINO!!!
Pat, I do like your toons a lot and you’re gifted. I hate what they are doing to the dedicated Dems like Sestak to accommodate usurpers like Specter.
I’m with you, pm 317! Thanks so much, Pat, for the great toons!
And yes, by all means, Run, Joe, RUN!!! Heck, I’ll even contribute to his campaign if he runs against Spectre!
It’s awful that Joe has been asked by the ‘White House’ not to run after Spector became a dem. If in fact change-with-the-wind 0zero sticks with Spector, Biden sticks, and Governor Randell sticks, Joe will have the fight of his life on his hands.
They give their selected candidate lots of money as well as Randell’s machine. When we talked about this before someone at NQ said 0zero’s machine would elect Arlen. Well, 0zero does not have a machine anywhere, least of all PA - Hillary won the PA primary big because she had Randell’s machine working for her. 0zero got the use of it in the ge.
We also saw what happened to Hillary after being the front runner for a year. One big facet(granted there were many) as to why Hillary lost that nomination was the lack of support from the dem leadership. The super delegates she had among that group remained mute when she needed them the most. On 0zero’s side, we all know they were in a frenzy like preparing for the messiah.
That support DOES matter. THEY control the message. They can kill your chances. The money you get from them is easy money. Unless PA would have a revolt, it will not work for Joe. The average citizen does not know what is really happening - just like 2008. Even activists didn’t know. Also, the conservative candidate should not be underestimated. He will be given more money than he can find ways to spend it from the republicans. That will be a targeted seat on both sides.
I’ve watched Arlen Specter in Senate hearings and he seems to be a fearless questioner no matter which party is in power. I will give him that.
However, it was Obama and his followers that have been touting “change”. Sestak would definitely be a fresh face in the Senate.
The Democrats have a large enough majority in the Congress that even the loss of Sestak’s seat to a Republican would make little difference.
If Sestak decides to run he better be careful. The powers-that-be in the Democratic party don’t want him to run. They could actively sabotage his campaign (see Hillary Clinton).
Exactly, candymarl! They will sabotage it with smiles and sincerity. When these snakes in the grass get through, poor Joe won’t know what hit him.
I like the ‘toon, Pat. Another great one. I hope the Republican wins, frankly and that the Dems lose the majority in Congress. I’m sick of my former Party and don’t care who runs. Although I think Specter is an ass for his Party switch to save his career. Our country needs to have those checks and balances restored. I’m also still furious with the election fraud this go around, and while I know the GOP is just as crooked and nasty, it’s the Dems who have my ire at the moment.
Great piece and ‘toon, Pat!
Let the people decide! No more anointments.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
Put in a real Democrat….if the Obamaoids are against him..he must be good.
Go Joe, go!
Yes, Yes, Yes.
Refreshing to see that this might happen.
Sestak claims that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had commissioned a poll testing him running against (then) Republican Specter in a general election, and that the poll results showed Sestak would win. No doubt this strongly bolsters his self-confidence to run.
I see no problem with them running against each other in a primary. I would hope that people would vote for the one they think has the best chance of winning against a Republican in the general election.
Republican politicians mostly turn my stomach, so I admire Specter’s party switch, even if it was primarily to save his own political skin. I do believe the man also has some concern for the good of the country beyond mere self-interest. Despite his age, I think he still shows evidence of being “with it” mentally and that age should not be the deciding factor in the way people vote.
Don, I’ve admired Arlen Spector’s words many times, but when push came to shove, he always voted in line with Bush and his party.
Wonderful Cartoon! Your abilities continue to grow.
As to Sestak running that is his right, though so far I am not sure what he brings to the position that is better than Specter other than being younger. Just paying your dues does not make you qualified to do a better job. Is Specter a Democrat? That depends on how far left a person has to be in order to be considered a real Democrat. Do we really want the party to be packed with people on the far left? The reason Specter left the Republican Party was because he was not willing to be too far right and wanted to be more independent and in the middle, and his party required him to be far right and not independent thinking and acting.
As Democrats we should be the party that is open to the majority of the people, and that includes especially the people in the middle. For me anyone that is too far right or too far left makes me very uncomfortable just like religious extremists make me uneasy. Has Specter done anything to prove that he is not qualified to do the job as a middle of the road Democrat? The answer is that there has not been enough time away from the influence of the Republican pressure machine to tell. So let’s give Specter a chance, and next time if Sestak thinks he can do a better job, let him run. He still will be young enough.
Also, no matter how much people say it will be a clean campaign, it will get dirty and everything each says of the other will give a Republican, who does not have a chance now, more reason to win as the public may end up believing that both Democrats are not suited for the job. Is that what is good for the Democratic Party or agenda?
Rich
But, but, but, Rich! Sestak is no far left liberal. Learn more about him. You will like what you see.
Rich - actually, Specter left the Republicans because his polling told him he would LOSE in the primary - he is an opportunist from ‘way back. Many people don’t realize that he actually started out as a Democrat. Sestak is a real Democrat and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. If only more Ds would have the guts to call the leadership to task!
Now I’d like to see Ned Lamont primary Chris Dodd in CT. I also noticed that Ted Kennedy’s back with his own health plan - will we now have Teddy himself taking on the corporatist Obama agenda? I know for sure that he wants healthcare in his legacy, but not the way Baucus has it written. Kennedy, at least, really does give a damn about seeing it happen for real, all his faults aside.
Mayba now that he’s tried to throw them under the bus with everyone else, Obama will get to see what it’s like to have the Kennedys as opponents. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy (snark). I’ll get the popcorn.
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=58333
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=412232
I know very little of Sestak, so I googled him. He seems rather centrist.
He has missed only 3% of the votes since elected, so at least he actually works for his pay.
Yes he should run.
This used to be a country where the people picked the candidate and voted for them.
I do understand that is changing now. But can we hold on to it for a little while longer?
Specter only changed parties because a republican could not win this election. He wants to keep the seat and the perks. He is too old to get another job and does not want to sink into oblivion.
If he had done his job right and did not rubber stamp bush we may not have been in the mess we are today.
He had his chance to stand up for the country and did not do it.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
When I think of Arlene Spector, all I can think about is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BidWboS3p5E
AAGAHHHH–you are right. I had forgotten about that!
RUN JOE, RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
let the games begin…
Great toon, Pat.
Joe Sestak should absolutely run. Specter is just switching parties to save his career. Politics at its worst, in my view. Sestak is a refreshing presence and has been doing very well by his district from what I understand. He’s got some guts and brings real Democratic principles to the table. Run, Joe, Run!!!
RUN JOE RUN, RUN RUN !!!!!
I think that Joe Sestak should be able to challenge Arlen Specter if he wants to and I think that Sestak could win that primary as I explained in this post:
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/17637
Joe Sestak intends to challenge Arlen Specter; John King on Joe Sestak’s chances
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on May 29, 2009 - 2:52am.
Joe Sestak in my opinion is just as good of a Senate candidate right now that Jim Webb was back in 2006!
I am pretty sure that Joe Sestak will probably be able to get about the same level of Democratic activist grassroots support for his primary campaign that both Jim Webb in VA and Ned Lamont in VT got in 2006 and they both won their primary races against establishment candidates (that especially applies to Joe Lieberman in CT in my opinion who was very strongly supported by the Democratic establishment)!
So the bottom line question in my opinion is will Joe Sestak’s strong grassroots support be enough to overcome Arlen Specter’s name recognition, his Democratic establishment support from Obama and Ed Rendell, and Specter’s ability to raise a lot of money because of that establishment support?
I honestly do not know the answer to that question right now but what I do know is that I will definitely be on board with Joe Sestak right away if he formally announces his Senate primary campaign!
I would have much more confidence in Joe Sestak’s Senate votes (especially on foreign policy) than I would have with Arlen Specter’s Senate votes. Democrats in my opinion are also rolling the dice with Specter because if he wins another term, then he can vote any way he wants to on any issue for the next 6 years and nobody will be able to stop him from doing that short of the Democratic Senate leadership threatening to punish him by taking away all of his seniority on every committee that he is on for as long as he is a Democrat in the Senate!
Mitch Dworkin
Also, I know that Rush Limbaugh wanted Arlen Specter purged out of the Republican Party back in February when he said “Snowe, Collins, Specter… I said earlier today it’s great to flush ‘em out get ‘em outta there let it be known that they are not Republicans. The Republicans lost seats in the House precisely because we’re cleaning up we’re getting rid of the Republicans in name only:”
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/17542
BREAKING NEWS WITH ANALYSIS: Arlen Specter to become a Democrat
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on April 28, 2009 - 1:03pm.
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021209/content/01125110.guest.html
Drive-Bys Giddy Over the Porkulus
February 12, 2009
RUSH: “Exactly right. Rick (Sanchez), let me help you out. I know it’s going to be in vain. If you show too much intelligence, CNN will move you over to Headline News and nobody will ever see you. But this was a clear victory for the Republican Party. Snowe, Collins, Specter? Rick, if you would listen to this program, I predicted back in November-December the Democrats didn’t need 60 votes because they’ve got at least two of these three on every piece of legislation. So they don’t have to worry about what happens in Minnesota. They’re going to have 60 votes because you’re going to have a number of RINO Republicans. I said earlier today it’s great to flush ‘em out get ‘em outta there let it be known that they are not Republicans. The Republicans lost seats in the House precisely because we’re cleaning up we’re getting rid of the Republicans in name only…”
But even while this is true, I still think that Specter should have stepped up to the plate to take the leadership role that Colin Powell has taken by going on national television to publicly take on Limbaugh and try to do something about his strong control over so much of the GOP before just picking up and leaving when he knew that he could not win a Republican primary race against Pat Toomey!
Arlen Specter doing virtually nothing to stand up to the Rush Limbaugh wing of the Republican Party when he could have tried to get a coalition of moderate Republicans together to try and implement some positive changes in the GOP before he left is a valid issue that Joe Sestak can run on in my opinion!
Mitch Dworkin
Good stuff Mitch!!!!
Obama and the DSCC should not decide the people’s candidate! This is what happened to Paul Hackett and the only way that it won’t happen to Joe is for those who are willing to support him to send a little contribution his way so that when the end of June comes, he has something substantive to show the DSCC. Anyone from the WH or Senate leadership who try to strongarm Joe should be shut down by the people! Loudly and clearly.
As always Pat, love the art.
Represntitive Joe Sestak should run for several reasons.
As someone noted above, he works hard for his pay and has not missed but a few votes.
He is well spoken and very well informed about the issues.
He comes across as a common sense person and the Senate is in desperate need of common sense voices.
Senator Spector is still pushing the magic bullet by trading principles for votes. It comes down to pork and what senior committe assignments Senator Spector will garner.
I vote for Sestek. In the end I have to ask my self WHY? Why would BO entertain this deal? It does not help the Dems in the senate, since Spector has stated he will ignore the markers on his hide.
I’m from PA and I want Joe to run. We have seen enough of strong-arming of the BO administration. They have no business trying to get him to not run, as I heard recently. He is a good guy no matter which chamber he is in but if he wants the senate then he should be able to run for it. He was planning to before Spector changed parties. I think he will have enough support in PA. I’ll certainly work to get him in.
I think he should run. I don’t trust Specter and he’s not a real Democrat.
Joe gets my vote because the Democrat establishment wants Arlen.
I wasn’t upset with Specter changing parties because PA has closed primaries (all states should) and he was too moderate for the wingers in the flyover counties.
I voted for Casey over Santorum despite the family history of stabbing Clintons in the back because most any Democrat is better than a winger republican.
I had planned on sitting out the primary and voting straight R in the general to to show my appreciation for the treatment of Hillary.
Spector out, NOW. He’s not a democrat, he made a deal with Obama to switch so that Obama could have votes now, in exchange for backing him for senate (way to give the government back to the people Obama). So exactly why would the PEOPLE need spector? they don’t! I’m in nyc and am watching obama pick the NY senator without letting the people have a choice. Fight this fascist. phone bank and/or give money to sastak if you can.
Sestak is an attractive candidate and from his recent TV comments it looks like he is probably going to run.
The Dems succeeded in shoving the very intelligent and appealing candidate Paul Hackett out of a primary race for Senate because they preferred Sherrod Brown.
Hackett was pretty outspoken about his shabby treatment at their hands but left the race and later endorsed Brown. This should have provided the wake up call that back rooms may not be smoke filled any more but that is where party decisions are still made.
I hope that Sestak doesn’t buckle under the pressure. He seems like a great guy and would make a formidable candidate against Specter, who really should give it a rest.
[...] May, my cartoon (reposted below) was about “David” (Joe Sestak) thinking of running against “Goliath” [...]