by Mark Silva
Michael Steele isn't holding back.
The Republican National Committee chairman has this to say about Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's imminent party-switch to the Democratic side of the aisle:
"To put it rather frankly, the senator wound up flipping the bird at the Senate leadership, quite frankly, who stood by him in 2004, went to bat for him in that primary in 2004,'' Steele said on FOX News Channel's Live Desk.
"This is a slap in the face to a lot of good Republicans who took it on the chin for this man for a lot of years,'' Steele said. "I think it is rather disrespectful."
While Specter says the Republican Party has veered too far to the right for him, acknowleding that his own chances of claiming the GOP's nomination for his reelection bid next year are "bleak,'' the party chairman (pictured at his acceptance of his party's chairmanship in a photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP) sees just one thing at work here:
"Political expediency and self preservation is the order of the day and this is what we're seeing,'' Steele said. "That's fine, that's absolutely fine, but don't sit there with the sanctimonious, high-minded, 'Oh, I found religion by becoming a Democrat.'''
"I'm not buying that,'' he said. "This is self preservation in the first order it's a cold crass political calculation."
The party-switch is "a slap in the face of good Republicans'' such as Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky "who went to the mat for this man,'' he said. "There are ideological differences, no doubt, between Arlen Spector and the conservative base of the Pennsylvania party as well as national party but, as we like to argue, those differences were not enough to create this event.''
Comments
Funny, coming from the party that said you're either with us or your with bin Laden.
Posted by: dt☢ | April 28, 2009 4:22 PM
Hey Steele - flipping the bird to Republicans is a popular past time in America these days. Haven't you noticed?
Posted by: former Republican | April 28, 2009 4:33 PM
Rather than trashing Specter, the Republicans might be wiser to try to figure out why they are going down the tubes. The more they become the redneck party, the more they will keep losing.
Posted by: Flo | April 28, 2009 4:43 PM
After we get Snowe on board we can drown the GOP in a bathtub!
Posted by: Hulk SMASH! | April 28, 2009 4:49 PM
Tea bags to Democrats as protest?????
How about Kraft Singles to Republicans? That way they'll have cheese to go with their whine.
The leader of the RNC is sounding pretty childish and petty if you ask me.
Posted by: kg123 | April 28, 2009 4:49 PM
Hey Bill....I'll pop some popcorn....the moves just started.
Posted by: Xcellentform | April 28, 2009 5:02 PM
Steele, if the bird fits, wear it.
Posted by: ornery | April 28, 2009 5:10 PM
Arlen Spector is just not about to kowtow to Rush Limbaugh, Minority Whip Eric Cantor, or any of the far right. Every time Republicans speak, they confirm what we already know: Republicans have nothing-- no new ideas, no plan, no scruples, and no leadership. Apparently, the GOP has adopted the line from the new shredded wheat commercial "We put the NO in innovation." Seems like it would serve their party better if they would do some listening to the middle for a change.
Posted by: Carol A. | April 28, 2009 5:37 PM
In a way you have to feel bad for Steele. He was promoted to the position of First Mate of the Titanic (Serving under Captain Rush Limbaugh) after the ship had already hit the iceberg. If he's lucky, he'll end up as commander of a life boat.
Posted by: Marcus | April 28, 2009 6:08 PM
Specter's a Democrat? Now that's CHANGE we can believe in.
Posted by: rinky | April 28, 2009 10:00 PM
I think there is more to it. Someone must have said something to him or he's just tired of the nonsense they are spouting now and the negative politics. Also, I think after being thru a life threatening illness, you start to see things in a different light.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | April 29, 2009 7:10 AM
The GOP has absolutely nothing to offer. Nothing, except whining and crying and bold face lying. They are dysfunctional. Just look at them. Who would believe Eric Cantor, 'bug eyes' McConnell, Peter Roskscum, grandpa McCain, John Boner, etc. They will lose yet another election in 2010 and deservedly so.
Posted by: Doug R. | April 29, 2009 7:56 AM
Specter has been a liberal all along in fact at times he was more far left than some of the democarts. I have not been able to vote for him for many years.
Posted by: Merv S. | April 29, 2009 10:10 AM
Why can't we be AMERICAN ?When you run under a set of view ,Democratic or Republican, than you should be faithful to them the people who gave you money, time etc to get you thereuntill your term is up.
Posted by: Robert Sellers | April 29, 2009 10:47 AM
It seems to me that Steele’s response would have better served his own interests and that of his party if he had been a bit more poker-faced. His Specter-hurt-our-feelings response said “ouch” more than it expressed resentment. For his own good, he should have said something like, “I heard his news conference. If that’s what he thinks, he’s wrong. But good riddance all the same.”
Posted by: John W. | April 29, 2009 3:01 PM