Seems like Specter is using Rove's strategy of accusing others of what you do, or in this case of what you are.

Republicans are the embodiment of the term hypocrite in most respects, and Specter is simply showing his true stripes.

What terraformer said. And there is political value in getting out in front of the charge -- if he uses it on Sestak first, it automatically takes on a little me-tooism when Sestak uses it on Specter.

shortstop, to be fair (something Specter doesn't really deserve), Sestak was blasting Specter for being a fair weather Dem the nanosecond he switched party loyalty. In a way, you can't blame Specter for saying "Me? What about HIM?" even though Sestak's rationale for being an indie for decades & having a spotty voting record has a ring of logic to it, whereas Specter is clearly nothing but pandering.

I think this speaks -- again -- to the apparently universally held belief (at least amongst the Senators) that they are somehow such an august body of lawmakers, doing such a wonderful & tremendous job, that they are above any sort of criticism.

Or self-awareness.

In truth, though the Republicans have set a pretty low limbo stick the last couple of decades, I have a feeling this Congress will not be remembered kindly by history.

Call it a hunch.

Pandering is what Specter does. He's a piece of shit no matter what letter he has after his name this week.

I didn't realize Sestak had already said that stuff, slappy. Still, I don't know how many voters are paying close attention at this point. Perhaps Specter is putting Sestak on notice that he won't hesitate to lob this ball back every time it comes up. If both guys are saying the same thing about each other, it has the effect of making most people tune out that particular charge altogether.

Perhaps SPECTRE was too involved in the affairs of the State of Specter to criticize the swinging in the wind moments of Norm Coleman, who switched his lantern switches from left to right.

Free Agentcy comes to the political world!

Like the Cy Young/ Heisman trophy winner, you sign with the "team" that offers the best chance of a Super Bowl/World Series ring. . .

Of course, the RepuGs have had to lower their limbo stick - Too many Chrysopeleae, Flying Snakes, were attempting to crash the preferred party of Southern Water Moccasins. Plus, those flying types just didn't have the required venom required to be heavy hitters.

As a PA voter I want Arlen gone.

I have to disagree - Specter's not opening with this argument. He's responding to mitigate Sestak's argument and try and moot it so that he can pivot to other topics. I don't think there's much to see here.

Someone needs to tell Specter about throwing bricks in glass houses...

The idea of Specter calling into question anyone's loyalty to the party is mindboggling.

There once was a regulation demanding that career military officers be politically unaffiliated; it was discarded, or just disregarded, sometime in the Nixon - Reagan era. The purpose was to prevent a political - military coup -- rightwing, of course. You may be following the problems we're having now with religiopolitical fascists in the military, especially in the academies, because we abandoned this rule. Sestak deserves praise and support, not attack. But what would you expect from a stealth Repo?

" Sestak's rationale for being an indie for decades & having a spotty voting record has a ring of logic to it"

In PA, if you're registered as independent, you don't get to vote in primaries.

Now, I'm sympathetic...there haven't been that many disputed D primaries in Delco (until ~2005, R's controlled just about everything) so not much reason to chang registration until recently.

Arlen is a putz.

"His lame excuse for avoiding party affiliation, because he was in the service..." - Specter

I would hardly call that a lame excuse, as a matter of fact, I can't think of a better excuse for not picking a party. What is lame is a jackass who time and time again threatened to investigate BushCo, yet never once followed through.

The one thing I do know is that the words coming out of Specters mouth don't match his actions, he isn't trustworthy.

Joe Sestak has been throwing stones from his glass house for months, and when Arlen Specter so much as points it out, he gets blasted!! Not fair.

Seriously, point me the way to the Sestak donation mailing list.

This is Rovism at the most flagrant - go directly at the strong point of the opponent, and ignore the notion that this is hypocritical. After all, if you point the spotlight at the other, the light is less strong in your direction.

OK Joe you've explained. DO NOT get caught up in Specter's dumping on you. He's slime, manipulative and a pro. GO FOR IT! Those that matter KNOW that LOTS of young voters in the 70's registered INDEPENDENT because 1) you had to declare a party affiliation and 2) the two major parties SUCKED (wow, not much has changed). I never registered Democrat until it became necessary to vote in the primaries...another great Republican innovation I might add.

I know Joe-he is a solid middle of the road Dem with very good environmental and education policies, reasonable and willing to listen to constituents' views and smart as a whip. Specter is outclassed and outgunned-finally!Joe is as good a Dem as we can possibly elect statewide in "Pennsyltucky" and Arlen is a self-serving, beltway hasbeen.

And in 2006 we'd crtiticise Sestak from hopping on board? or is it that only Independents get to "see the light" just before running in a party to dodge a more difficult primary?

Specter is not avoiding the issue because Sestak wouldn't have let him.

As a bonus, Sestak does smack of hypocrisy and is he suggesting that all Democratic servicemen are doing something wrong by wanting a say in the nominee for who will be their boss?

His rationale is not above skepticism.

I welcome both these newly minted Democrats and find their pedigree comparison pathetic.

also sleestak mentioned that absentee ballots often get lost in the land of the lost.

am i spelling that name right?

Oops
Meant so say difficult GENERAL
Election

Independents have no primary and it is the general that is almost unwinnable, thus the suspect motive for registering.

The Penna case of independents being able to weigh in in primaries does give him flexibility but.does label him a flight risk nearly as much

If he hates parties so much, why would he stay in one over the other?
If the GOP were to become superior in 16 years somehow, could we be sure he wouldn't swap sides?

Do we see his choice of party as ironclad? Is this even reasonable to ask? How is it we demand Specter stay put when they become as hostile to moderates as they have become?

Specter didn't get the nickname 'Snarlin' Arlen' for nothing.

-Z

Specter is only interested in Specter. He will say and do anything to get and stay elected. Sestak is a centrist dem but is hardly a phony or a hypocrite... both terms apply to Specter. Careful somebody doesn't put Specter's record on display...a republican until republicans turned against him and not because his ideology has changed.

Sestak's response was so perfect and predictable that I wonder why Specter bothered to make these comments at all since it only brings Specter's motivations into question. Not very bright of him huh?

Why don't you narrow minded sheep consider avoiding the Dems and the Repubs? They have you fighting over which is best when they are basically the same garbage. You have all been brainwashed. Muddy your brains with original thoughts for once.