The Republican ship is sinking and Senator Arlen Specter (R-Penn.) is first to jump off the boat. While to some experts the recent defection of Specter to the Democrats marks the end of an electable Republican Party, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) said they were far less concerned.
“This was simply, nothing more and nothing less than political self-preservation,” said Cornyn, adding that “(Specter’s) own pollster told him that he could not win the Republican primary in Pennsylvania, so his only options were to leave the Senate or join the Democratic Party.”
Additionally, McConnell downplayed Specter’s decision as a Pennsylvania problem, and not a national problem for the Republican Party.
“This is a Pennsylvania story about his inability, according to his pollster, to be renominated by the Republican Party,” said McConnell.
But one aspect of Specter’s decision could not be denied, as he, coupled with Al Franken’s election in Minnesota, would give the Democrats the necessary votes to block any Republican filibuster.
“But it sets up the potential for the majority, if it chooses to, to run rough over the minority. To eliminate checks and balances and the kind of restraint that Americans have historically wanted from their government,” said McConnell.
Nevertheless, while the loss of Specter lessens Republican power, McConnell tried to lessen the blow by saying, “He (Specter) made a totally political decision.” and that the decision was not symptomatic of other underlying issues within the party.
McConnell: Specter’s Decision Purely Political
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
“This was simply, nothing more and nothing less than political self-preservation,” said Cornyn, adding that “(Specter’s) own pollster told him that he could not win the Republican primary in Pennsylvania, so his only options were to leave the Senate or join the Democratic Party.”
Additionally, McConnell downplayed Specter’s decision as a Pennsylvania problem, and not a national problem for the Republican Party.
“This is a Pennsylvania story about his inability, according to his pollster, to be renominated by the Republican Party,” said McConnell.
But one aspect of Specter’s decision could not be denied, as he, coupled with Al Franken’s election in Minnesota, would give the Democrats the necessary votes to block any Republican filibuster.
“But it sets up the potential for the majority, if it chooses to, to run rough over the minority. To eliminate checks and balances and the kind of restraint that Americans have historically wanted from their government,” said McConnell.
Nevertheless, while the loss of Specter lessens Republican power, McConnell tried to lessen the blow by saying, “He (Specter) made a totally political decision.” and that the decision was not symptomatic of other underlying issues within the party.