Readers Respond: Arlen Specter shakes up the Senate
What do 84 Lumber, PPG Industries, Wolf Organization, Lezzer Lumber and O.C. Cluss have in common? They are all based in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where Senator Arlen Specter crossed the aisle to the Democratic party.
As the Senate stands precariously close to a 60-40 party line split, with 60 votes needed to override a Republican Party filibuster, the move has generated considerable attention. We asked readers for their thoughts on Specter's political bombshell and its impact on the home channel? Here are some of the responses.
“I remember when Arlen Specter was a Democrat way back when. He wanted to run for Philadelphia district attorney as a Democrat in the 1960s but the powers that be didn't endorse him so he switched to the Republican ticket and got elected. So his most recent switch is just going back home.”
— Anthony J. DeCarlo President and CEO LMC
“I personally don’t see it having any significant impact on the industry. It may seem significant in the halls of Congress, but I don’t think it really is.
“From the information I have gathered over the week, Senator Specter’s move does not indicate a shift in political ideals; it was merely a survival move. Senator Specter is up for reelection in 2010. As his staff evaluated the political mood of the electorate in Pennsylvania they determined that even such a longtime incumbent would have little chance of reelection as long as they had an (R) after their name on the ballet. Therefore it is nothing but a jump from a losing team to a winning team for a better shot at winning reelection. It’s all about keeping your job.”
— Kent Pearson
“Not that it should be wrong to switch parties, I just think you should resign and have the Governor name a same-party person to fill the remainder of the term. Then the defector can run as whatever party they defected to. But the folks that elected Specter are getting screwed; they elected a Republican and should have one until the end of the term, then Specter can run in his new party.”
— Bill Mitchell University Electric
“I do not believe that an elected official should be allowed to switch their party affiliation without having a special election in their state or city. This was done by Mr. Specter to save his own political career after he discovered he was behind in the primary voting. He was at best a Moderate Republican with a noticeable tilt to the left. I will not miss him in the party and am glad he is finally showing his true colors. The down side to this is of course the shift in the balance of power. This concerns me greatly. Where is the conservative movement in this country?”
— Bob Gengler Contractor sales manager Knecht Home Center Rapid City
“Arlen Specter provides an example of the worst characteristics of many of our politicians. He has nothing but his own interests at heart. We can only hope that he is defeated as a Democrat next year, and a Republican with a measure of integrity can replace him.”
— Buddy Klumb, CEO Klumb Lumber Fairhope, Ala.
“As Specter is a career politician, I question his integrity from the start. I don't believe anyone is truly service-minded if they make a career out of politics.
“As for its impact on the building industry, it depends on his motives for the change. I don't believe it will be a good thing. The Congress and Senate haven't done anything to substantially help the industry, our economy or the country for that matter.”
— Don Neff
“Sixty seats do not imply 60 votes. A number of conservative and moderate democrats are getting weary of the Obama agenda, especially as it relates to the growing deficit spending, the skyrocketing national debt and the increased tax liability for future generations.”
— Evert J. Dykhuis Luvipol Doors
“Bring on term limits and have him pay for benefits like the rest of us.”
— Gary Kochinsky
“We can only hope that he loses reelection next year as a Democrat, and we will do whatever it takes in Central Pennsylvania to make this happen.”
— David M. Lezzer VP Lezzer Lumber
“At 60-40, the Democrats can push the Employee Free Choice Act, which allows a union to get in without a secret ballot. That is disastrous for almost everyone who employs over 10 people. It is also a disaster for the vendors who supply the home center industry causing costs to spike and risking potential work stoppages.”
— Terry W. Abels Chelsea Building Products