Congressman Sestak, Were You Lying Before OR Are You Lying Now?

During the run up to his primary challenge to Sen. Arlen Specter, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) stated that the Obama administration offered him a job in the administration if he would give up his run against Specter. This became an issue when people realized it is a felony to offer compensation to induce someone to quit a race. Since people realized his original claim amounted to an accusation of a crime, both Sestak and Obama spokeman Robert Gibbs have been evasive at best when asked about the situation. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) has been pushing the issue hard for the last month or so. Yesterday, President Obama held his first actual press conference in close to a year and he was asked about Sestak's claim. Obama did his best Nixonian self-finding of no personal wrongdoing and said a full report will be forthcoming shortly. Today, a report was issued which mostly refuted Sestak's claim that they attempted to bribe him to get him out of the race. Basically the report (here's a link) says former president Bill Clinton talked with Sestak and recommended he drop out of the race for the good of the party and told him that if he wanted to stay in government service he could be appointed to some executive branch advisory board position. The memo makes a point to clarify that the advisory board positions are uncompensated (no pay). Now Sestak is saying "Yeah, sure that's about right."

Nope. Doesn't pass the smell test. This guy is a congressman trying to get a job as a senator. In other words he makes $174,000 and looking to keep making that kind of money. You don't convince him to drop out of a race with an offer of an unpaid board position. My guess is he was offered something more substantial (ambassadorship or a cabinet position) and this memo specifically modified that to an unpaid position to sanitize the crime.

Bottom line, I don't think the initial act was all that out of the ordinary in DC. The underlying crime is now less important than the cover up. Integrity should matter to voters and both the administration and Sestak have shown they are lacking in that department. Will Pennsylvanians care?

Reporters should continue to attempt to get Sestak to answer whether he was lying months ago or if he is lying today. My guess is reporters will buy the administration's spin on this and quietly move on to other matters.

Sestak to Challenge Specter in Dem Primary

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) switched from RINO to DINO out of fear that he would be easily be beaten in the Republican primary next year because of his ridiculous vote supporting the massive pork laden faux stimulus bill. Now, after switching to Democrat to seek another term in the senate it turns out he will have a decent challenge for the nomination of that party. Rep. Joe Sestak announced today that he will oppose Specter. I'm no fan of Sestak (he had a reputation in the Navy of being a crappy boss resulting in demotion from Vice Admiral to Rear Admiral and sudden retirement), but I hope he gives Specter a hard bruising fight in the primaries. Let them spend lots of stupid money and then the most damaged and beaten man can face off against Pat Toomey in the general election. Both Specter and Sestak voted for the Stimulus bill and will be vulnerable on that front especially if the economy continues to stumble.

Specter First Casualty of the Stimulus Fallout???

One aspect of Sen. Specter's decision to switch parties that has not been noted yet is he was one of the "Republican" votes that allowed the massive pork filled crap-sandwich called a stimulus bill to pass. His decision to switch was obviously prompted out of fear of losing a primary battle to Pat Toomey who is a strong fiscal conservative who was emphasizing Specter's complicity in that awful waste filled legislation. I don't think it is an automatic done deal that Specter will win the Dem nomination and if he does he'll still face a tough general election and you can be sure he will be hammered over that particular vote.

Breaking News: Senator Specter Switching Political Affiliation

In somewhat surprising news, longtime liberal Republican Senator Arlen Specter is apparently switching to the Democrat party. The move, which simultaneously raises the average intelligence and integrity of both major political parties, is believed to be because of an anticipated strong primary challenge.

Good riddance! Specter was never really much of a Republican and likely became one for political expediency so it is rather appropriate that he leaves the party out of political expediency. I'm sure his statement will make some BS case about the party changing and him feeling more at home with the Democrats. However, truth is he has a better chance in the Democrat primary and switching parties allows him to make the argument to voters that he will have more power in representing them since the Dems hold a large majority of senate seats.