President Barack Obama, with Sen. Arlen Specter to the left, and Vice President Joe Biden in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House this morning. (Photo by Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images.)
by Christi Parsons
Calling him "one tough hombre," President Barack Obama this morning welcomed Sen. Arlen Specter back to the Democratic Party with promises that he will campaign for him and seek his advice - "especially when he disagrees."
Specter suggested that Obama already had solicitied his advice in his campaign for president -- a tale told here.
Specter's decision to leave the Republican Party after more than 40 years in the GOP "reflects an independence that has been the hallmark of Arlen Specter's career," said the president, appearing alongside the Senate's newest Democrat during an early appearance at the White House.
Vice President Joe Biden introduced Specter at the morning event, noting their longstanding friendship as fellow members of the Senate who often commuted home by train together - "I helped finance it,'' Specter allowed.
"I'm also grateful Joe Biden paid him a little attention on the train," the president told reporters in the Diplomatic Room, subtly crediting Biden with helping bring Specter to the Democratic side.
Specter noted that he (a senator for 29 years) and Biden (a senator for 36 years) had long been friends but now will "caucus'' together. Their friendship was on display with back-patting and smiles today, as Obama headed out for a "town-hall'' styled appearance in the St. Louis area on this, his 100th day as president.
Specter also told a little story on Obama this morning: Specter, who was born in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Jewish immigrants from Russia, and raised in Russell, Kansas, said the young senator from Illinois, whose mother had hailed from Kansas, once had a question for him:
"i got to know the president, to some extent, in the Senate,'' Specter said. "The president approached me when he was Sen. Obama, before the Democratic primary. And he said, "Tell me, Arlen, if a Jewish kid from Kansas can carry Pennsylvania, how can a black kid from Kansas carry Pennsylvania?"
"And I gave him some advice, and he became.... he became president of the United States of America. ''
The advice apparently ultimately panned out in Pennsylania in the long run. Sen. Hillary Clinton carried the 2008 Democratic primary there, Obama won the state in November and he made Clinton secretary of state.
Specter accepted Obama's and Biden's promises of help in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, one of the states that had helped secure Obama's electoral victory in November.
He said he looked forward to working with the White House on issues such as health care, immigration and climate change, but warned that he will not be "an automatic 60th vote" for the president in the Senate.
If Democrat Al Franken is seated as Minnesota's new senator, as many expect, the president's party will have a 60-vote majority in the chamber - a number that makes it filibuster-proof for measures supported by the caucus.
"I will continue that independence," Specter said this morning, while telling the president standing to his right: ""You have projected an administration I have felt very comfortable with . . . I think I can be of assistance to you, Mr. President, (with) my views of centrist government."
Specter was a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 1865 to run for district attorney in Philadelphia, and was elected to the Senate in 1980. After five terms in office, he is the state's longest-serving senator.
The president said he does not expect the newest Democrat to back him on every decision.
"I don't expect Arlen to be a rubberstamp," Obama said. "I don't expect any member of Congress to be a rubberstamp."
Comments
Look as if the word Rubber Stamp has reached the Presidents vocabulary better come up with a new one such as "Lock Step".
Posted by: Inky | April 29, 2009 9:19 AM
This article is complete and total propaganda and White House spin- please.
No mention of the fact he was about to have his career snuffed by a GOP upstart who leads him in polls by 20 points?
He has a lot in common with Barack, too- a self-serving serial opportunist for whom political security comes first, everytime- NOT the country's interests, nor anything of the sort.
Actually, I would vote for Phil Spector over Arlen- seems like a more stable and trustworthy individual, lol.
With all due respect, Senator- don't let the door hit your butt on the way out. Nobody on our side's going to miss you.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Reaganite Republican Resistance | April 29, 2009 9:27 AM
Obama said. "I don't expect any member of Congress to be a rubberstamp."
______________________
Obama must think we're all idiots- I guess we all just misunderstood when Obama told Dem Rep DiFazio "Don't think we're not keeping score, brother".
Barack Obama is a shameless liar, what a piece of work. Only a fool would believe a word that comes out his mouth anymore.
No mention of the fact he was about to have his career snuffed by a GOP upstart who leads him in polls by 20 points?
He has a lot in common with Barack, too- a self-serving serial opportunist for whom political security comes first, everytime- NOT the country's interests, nor anything of the sort.
http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Reaganite Republican Resistance | April 29, 2009 9:34 AM
Specter's switch is the ultimate signal that Obama's agenda has become mainstream and the GOP has overreached in their constant lurches to the right.
But the pressure is now squarely on Congressional Dems. Reid and Pelosi can no longer blame "obstructionist" Republicans for their failures.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | April 29, 2009 9:48 AM
I knew Specter was old, but...
"Specter was a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in 1865 to run for district attorney in Philadelphia."
Posted by: j | April 29, 2009 9:56 AM
You Repubs just don't get it!
The country favors the road that Obama has chosen.
The Repubs are becoming a southern, racist minority party. It will take many changes and many years for them to get back into power, especially as "The Bloated One" is their spokesman! Bet he associates the word exercise with Obama!
Posted by: Libby | April 29, 2009 10:23 AM
This is the guy that gave us the "magic bullet" theory of how one bullet did so much damage to JFK and John Connelly. Independent or opportunist?
Posted by: Blue Dog Democrat | April 29, 2009 10:44 AM
I guess Specter has changed his mind on his previous statement about switching parties.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-specter-jeffords29-2009apr29,0,2430682.story
Libby,
I don't think the most Americans that voted for BO understand the road he is taking us down. Here's a sample of those voters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm1KOBMg1Y8
Posted by: Terry | April 29, 2009 10:59 AM
Repubs refuse to acknowledge that they are losing the game. They think playing the game the same way as they have been will produce better results.
That would be like the Bears not trading for Cutler - and saying, "We're great, it's the other teams that need to change to prevent us from losing".
A Brilliant strategy.
Posted by: gus | April 29, 2009 12:02 PM
Nice classy human interest story about having an elephant in the room. No, let's make it an elephant and a donkey in the same train car. And then the elephant becomes a donkey because the donkey took a thorn out of the elephant's foot thingy.
Any way these good Swamp stories get marred by slight typos, like using 1865 instead of 1965. I know that blog sites are done on the cheap, but couldn't you folks use a volunteer or intern to help sharpen up the transcripts?
Posted by: T=Mak | April 29, 2009 1:24 PM
Here's what the party leader has to say about anyone who dare buck the party:
“It's ultimately good.” the acerbic radio talk show host quipped to his audience on Tuesday. “You're weeding out people who aren't really Republicans," he added.
"A lot of people say, 'Well, Specter, take McCain with you. And his daughter“, referring to Megan McCain, daughter of John McCain, former GOP presidential candidate and outspoken critic of GOP politics. Take McCain and his daughter with you if you're gonna…".
and take McCain with you.....Can anyone say "meltdown"?
Posted by: bill r. | April 29, 2009 2:15 PM
I'm loving this!
I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face ever since Specter decided to join the Winning Team yesterday.
Posted by: former Republican | April 29, 2009 2:50 PM
I don't think the most Americans that voted for BO understand the road he is taking us down. Here's a sample of those voters.
Posted by: Terry | April 29, 2009 10:59 AM
The problem is Terry........your road skills drove us to the toilet. The last people we need to take advice from is the Wrongway Peachfuzz gang.
Posted by: bill r. | April 29, 2009 2:51 PM
Its a great thing for the Republicans and the American people. If they get their Filibuster majority, then they will also own everything the do and pass in Congress. And the way things are going with the massive spending and all the tax increases, the Republicans will have a field day in 2010 and beyond. Sooner or later the people that put this administration in office will finally find out they've been had.
Posted by: Paul | April 29, 2009 4:06 PM
The number of Americans identifying themselves as Republicans has slipped to a quarter-century low of 21 percent.
Specter is not the only one who has grown disenchanted with a Repug party that once prided itself as a "big tent" that welcomed divergent views.
Except for the hard core Teabaggers, no one wants to be a Republican anymore.
Posted by: Mick | April 29, 2009 4:10 PM
We don't want McCain. After the dishonorable, sleazy campaign he ran, we'd prefer he stay with the dishonorable, sleazy Republican party. They deserve each other.
Posted by: Democratic Voter | April 29, 2009 4:36 PM
Lil' Billy,
Go back a few years when a Senator Liberman switched parties after his defeat in the Conn democratic senate primary. He became an independent and beat hin in the general election. You and your fellow flatliners had you panties in a bundle.
This is no different than what Specter id doing, but he is doing this just a little sooner. He sees he is behind 20 points in the GOP primary, so by switching he can save his political career.
Specter switching has nothing to do with the "GOP leaving him", it all has to do with Arlen's political survival.
Posted by: Terry | April 29, 2009 5:14 PM
Specter switching has nothing to do with the "GOP leaving him", it all has to do with Arlen's political survival.
Posted by: Terry | April 29, 2009 5:14 PM
**********
Teabagger Terri,
If it makes you feel good then keep telling yourself that.
.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/weblog/2009/04/republicans-less-popular-than-venezuela.html
.
Posted by: you | April 29, 2009 6:12 PM
This is a terrific turn of events! It must really make Terry's and John D's day!
And it may not be over. Look for more of the same from Collins and Snow?
It just keeps getting better.
Posted by: C.Morris✈ | April 29, 2009 8:28 PM
Could Lugar be next? He used to be considered conservative, but lately, I don't know!
Posted by: OldCreaky | April 29, 2009 8:32 PM
Trickled On You,
Those are just the facts. hard thing for you to accept in mom and dad's basement.
CM,
Take them. Will Specter vote different know that he is a dem. If he starts making votes differently because he is dem than when he was a GOP, it says more about his sense of values than it does about either parties
Posted by: Terry | April 29, 2009 9:09 PM