LTE: After Protest, Specter Toes the Line
The only thing surprising in Steve Goldstein’s article
about Senator Specter’s decision to vote for the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which the Senator correctly characterized as “patently unconstitutional”, is how long it took for the Inquirer to catch up with what everyone else has known for the past three years: Arlen Specter talks a good game in an effort to pump up his credentials as an “independent” and a “moderate”, but when push comes to shove, the Senator does not stand up to the White House or the GOP leadership in Congress.
Specter promised when he took over the Judiciary Committee, “When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think that is unlikely. And I have said that bluntly during the course of the campaign and before. . . . That is my view, now, before, and always.” Then he promptly and faithfully delivered John Roberts and Samuel Alito.
When the Administration’s illegal spying came to light, Specter huffed and puffed that “there is no doubt that the President’s program violates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which purports to be exclusive”, and then promptly offered a bill that gave the President everything he wanted and then some, including retroactive immunity for previous illegal spying.
And so we find ourselves living in a nation that has given the President near-dictatorial powers to detain anyone for life, including American citizens, with no recourse to challenge the charges, on secret evidence that includes hearsay, subject to torture including sexual assault, at solely the President’s say-so, because at the end of the day, Arlen Specter voted for a bill he happily admits is “unconstitutional”.
So much for Arlen Specter’s “moderation” and “independence”. And so much for American citizens and their “inalienable” rights. Heckuva job, Arlen.
Brendan Skwire
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