Tuesday, May 05, 2009

What Kind Of Democrat Roots For Norm Coleman?

Before the name "Joe Lieberman" pops in your head, please remember that he is no longer a Democrat, even if he caucuses with them. No, the Senator that wishes to thwart the will of the voters in Minnesota and have Norm Coleman drag out the process for another month or two is the newly-minted Democrat, Arlen Specter. Although he's only been in the party a week, so far he hasn't said anything that resembles what one would think an elected Democratic politician might say.

From TPM:

In an interview with the New York Times, Specter stated in no uncertain terms that he wants Norm Coleman to win the disputed Minnesota Senate race: "There's still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner."

So what exactly are the Dems getting out of this whole deal?

Late Update: NRSC press secretary Amber Wilkerson gives us this comment: "First he voted against President Obama's budget, then he said he wouldn't be a loyal Democrat, now he wants Norm Coleman to win. We've never agreed so much with Arlen Specter. You just have to wonder whether Joe Sestak agrees with the positions of his fellow Pennsylvania Democrat?"

Well Amber, Joe Sestak doesn't even consider Arlen a Democrat yet. If he keeps this up, Sestak for one will be challenging him in the Democratic primary come next year. While Norm Coleman doesn't stand a chance at coming back to the U.S. Senate anytime soon, the way Arlen Specter is going, he'll be out of a job once the Pennsylvania Democratic base replaces him with an actual member of the party, not one that slaps a (D) next to his name to avoid the wingnuts from primaring him on the right.

Update 5/6/09 11:15AM: Specter backtracks, but only after he was stripped of seniority for the remainder of his current term.