People often puzzle me profoundly. Like the woman who sticks with an abusive spouse, or the citizen who keeps voting for the same people who have been treating them with disdain and disrespect.
In one particular instance, the disdain is so grand that it is a wonder the politician at the heart of it could get elected dog catcher. Yet, for 28 years the people of Pennsylvania have kept putting him in the Senate. His name - Arlen Specter.
Specter was a Democrat in 1965 when he won an election for Philadelphia district attorney on the Republican line -- so he then became a Republican. This should have been a tip-off that the man had few core principles, and therefore would have no problem betraying others if it would benefit him. Yet, the folks of Pennsylvania closed their eyes.
So it came as no surprise to me that on April 28, 2009, he switched parties yet again. He said polls showed his chances in a GOP primary rematch against conservative former congressman Pat Toomey were "bleak," so he was casting his lot with Democrats instead.
And once again he betrays those who supported him simply so he could remain in power. His ego, his own personal ambitions were more important to him than the country he was elected to serve. And make no mistake - Congressmen are elected to represent their constituents in serving the nation, not the state. Serving the state is the job of STATE legislators.
Another telling point that shows Specter's character (or lack thereof) lies in the fact that the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO has endorsed him since 1998. Rick Bloomingdale, the group's incoming president, said this of Specter, "We know how to work with him. When we give him what he needs, he generally supports us 9 out of 10 times."
It would appear that Spector not only will betray anyone when it becomes convenient, but that his position and vote on important matters can be bought by special interests like the unions.
When I was a young boy growing up in rural New Hampshire back in the '50's, we had a name for people like Specter...
Weasel.
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