LTE: Vital Muddle: Arlen Specter’s Pointless Op-Ed
Mr. Specter writes that the GOP needs to “get the government off our backs.” That must be why his bill to supposedly limit the President’s illegal, warrantless wiretapping program actually gave the President everything he wanted, and then some, including blanket amnesty from any legal consequences that might arise.
That must also be why, even though he said the bill was “patently unconstitutional“, Specter supported the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This bill stripped detainees of their habeas corpus rights, based solely on accusations of terrorism. It also gave the President sole authority to determine who was an “enemy noncombatant”, including American citizens, and to detain them indefinitely without charges. The bill also legalized torture. Today, the case of Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri shows the Act in practice: an immigrant detained, unable to answer the charges against him, held indefinitely in solitary confienement with no access to a lawyer. So much for getting the government off our back.
As for “staying out of our bedrooms”, it was Arlen Specter who claimed to be “totally opposed” to an attempted amendment to the Constitution banning gay marriage. Then, he promptly voted to move it forward to the full Senate for a vote. So much for staying out of our bedrooms.
Specter mentions “an earlier policy modification” that would have won the election for the GOP, a clear reference to Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation. He has nothing to say about the cooked WMD intelligence that led us to invade Iraq. Or the GOP’s failure to provide enough troops. Or the GOP’s failure to provide our troops with adequate body armor. Or the GOP’s failure to provide even an ounce of oversight as to how the money has been spent. Honestly, the list of the Republican party’s failures with regard to their war could go on for pages. Does Specter think Americans are stupid?
Specter talks about “failure” to deal with Social Security, without mentioning that the Republican plan of investing in private accounts and the stock market did away with guaranteed benfits, leaving the elderly to the mercy of the market. Gambling with one’s savings is not what most Americans want for Grandma and Grandpa, nor for themselves. It’s interesting that we have billions upon billions of deficit spending available for a war of choice, but no money available to shore up Social Security.
Mr. Specter has a lot of chutzpah bringing up Michael J. Fox. When Specter needed help in 2004, Fox campaigned for him, calling Arlen “my guy” when it came to stem cell research. Interestingly, when Rush Limbaugh was attacking Mr. Fox during the 2006 election, Arlen Specter never once stood up in Focx’s defense, nor did he ever intend to. I know, because I called up his office in DC and was told there were no plans to release a statement. What kind of person turns his back on his friends?
Arlen wonders why 89% of African Americans vote for Democrats. Perhaps he should consider his party’s long history of adopting the Southern Strategy, which plays on racial division, to win elections. Or, more recently, perhaps he should consider just what party was in control of Congress and the White House when New Orleans and it’s largely black population was left to drown in their houses, and rot and die in the Superdome.
The fact is that Arlen Specter, and the rest of the so-called “moderate Republicans” are moderate in their words alone. Their votes on war, on torture, on bankruptcy, Supreme Court appointees, and every other issue of long-term importance to Americans are a picture of lock-step Republicanism.
Arlen Specter’s record is clear. His column isn’t fooling anyone.
Brendan Skwire
2 Responses to “LTE: Vital Muddle: Arlen Specter’s Pointless Op-Ed”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Brendan says:
Does Specter think Americans are stupid?
I don’t know about ol Specter but i sure would hate to have to answer that question…
Well since you asked…Yes they are very very stupid for the most part…but that has nothing to do with politics or this blog..
November 15th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
My general feeling about my countrymen (which of course means me too) is that you can pull the wool over our eyes once in awhile, but the truth will out eventually.
That, and you can’t bullshit a bullshitter!
You know who has a good blog? glenn greenwald. Really good, thoughtful stuff, and he links to both left and right.