Okay the Dog gets it, lots and lots of the folks on the Democratic side of things don’t think it is any great shakes the Senator Specter has crossed the aisle, but could we get a bit of a grip and stop sounding like Howler Monkeys, if only for a while?
Sure, Sen. Specter has not promised to be a stable vote, but so what? Neither are either of the Senators Nelson. Are we really ready to start a purity purge when a moderate joins our Party? The Dog does not think this is great idea at any time, just look what making folks toe the ideological line has done to the Republicans. They are so freaking pure most of the nation does not trust them as a party on any of the major issues facing the nation. Is this what we want for the Democratic Party?
There are some advantages to having Sen. Specter on our side. He is more likely to vote with us on Health Care reform, especially now that is out from under the Republicans thumb. He is more likely to support our Supreme Court nominees, for exactly the same reasons. Does this mean that he is not going to be a weasel? No, that was never ever in the cards, but at least now, he is our weasel. It is completely clear what motivates him, staying in the Senate. He will do whatever that takes. This is our leverage on him.
As a practical matter that means we will need to keep the pressure on him, but that does not include screaming to the rafters that he is going to try to destroy our party from within. First off that implies a hell of a lot more power than he actually has, but do we really expect him to be anything worse than Sen. Lieberman?
Sen. Specter is going to try to walk a line for a while; he is going to try to show that he is really independent and principled. He has to do that for his own self-respect. He will makes some votes that piss us off, but the reality is if he is going to have any chance to stay in the Senate he is going to have to mover further to the left. Not because we will make him, but because he can not win in a primary if he does not.
Yes, the Dog has heard that there is a deal, the President has promised to raise money for him and campaign for him. However, we are not the Republicans; we don’t give to whomever our president says we should. If you don’t believe the Dog look at the lukewarm job the President did in raising money for Sec State Clinton. Is there anyone who really thinks he will do more Sen. Specter, especially if the Senator does not become more enthusiastic about the Presidents agenda?
The Dog is not saying we, the base, need to welcome our newest Democratic Senator with open arms and roast fatted calf’s, not at all. But we should be prepared to give him some space, at least for the next 6 months. Basically we need to treat him like any Democratic Senator whose actions we disapprove of. This shows a couple of things, first off it lets any other wavering moderate Republican Senators know they can jump ship. It lets them know they will be welcome, if not always praised for their position. It also lets Sen. Specter see what he is going to have to put up with as an elected Democrat, we are not going to just let him slide, but we are not going to make his life hell either.
Like most things in life, the issue is going to be decided over time. If the Democrats of Pennsylvania want to have a different nominee the Dog is completely sure they will have the opportunity. They are the ones that have to decide, until then, lets all take a deep breath, give our criticisms in a calm, reasoned tone and get to work persuading Sen. Specter to act differently now that he is a Democrat. After all the guy has only had that title for a few days. Surely we can judge him on his actions going forward and not assume his actions in the future will be exactly the same as the past. If that were true, then he would have never changed Party’s would he?
In the end we have more to focus on then him, so a little sense of proportion is probably warranted, eh?
The floor is yours, try not to scuff it up too much.