Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter

NEWS ABOUT: Arlen Specter

Arlen Specter stories: 80 news summaries

1 - 20 of 80 Stories | 1 2 3 4 Next >>

Switch to grid view »

White House Throws
Weight Into State Races

Some Democrat's fret about administration's increasingly partisan direction

Sep 22, 09 6:15 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Obama administration is becoming increasingly assertive in trying to influence state-level elections around the country, the New York Times reports. White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and other top political strategists have made it plain that they're willing to play hardball to strengthen the Democratic ticket where necessary—... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Karl Rove • Arlen Specter • partisanship • Rahm Emanuel • governor • David Paterson • Obama administration • 2010 election • gubernatorial races • Michael Bennet • Joe Sestak

TALK SHOW ROUNDUP



 Sebelius: 
 Public Option 
 Not Essential 

Also, Dem sen. calls Obama's health care pitch a 'wasted effort'

Aug 16, 09 9:57 AM CDT
(Newser) - Liberal lawmakers are demanding that a public option be included in a final health care reform package, but top Obama administration officials seemed to hedge on the subject today, Politico reports. On Face the Nation, Robert Gibbs said “thus far” President Obama sees a government-funded system as the best... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Arlen Specter • health care reform • Kathleen Sebelius • Kent Conrad • Robert Gibbs • public option

 Senators Tweet It Out 
 Over 'Death Panels' 

Specter accuses Grassley of spreading false info

Aug 14, 09 4:12 PM CDT
(Newser) - Arlen Specter and Chuck Grassley engaged in a very 21st-century sniping match today, ABC's Jake Tapper reports. The 79-year-old Pennsylvania Democrat took to Twitter to accuse the 75-year-old Iowa Republican of spreading "myths about health care reform and imaginary ‘death panels.' " He was referring to comments... More »

MORE ABOUT:
health care • social networking • Iowa • Senate • Arlen Specter • Pennsylvania • Charles Grassley • health care reform • medical care • Twitter • death panel

(Newser) - Arlen Specter got a taste of health care rage at a town hall event today, where a reform opponent got so angry that another attendee tried to physically remove him from the event. Specter descended from the stage to try to break up the confrontation, telling the man to leave... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Arlen Specter • health care reform • town hall meeting • protesters

Facing Primary Battle, Specter Shifts Leftward

Has voted with Dems 97% of time since Sestak announced bid

Jul 26, 09 9:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - Since going blue, Arlen Specter voted with Democrats some two-thirds of the time on “Contentious Votes”—defined by Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com as “anything that comes up for a floor vote and where the majority of each party splits their votes.” That is, up until... More »

MORE ABOUT:
primary • Arlen Specter • partisanship • vote • Democratic Party • Pat Toomey • Joe Sestak

(Newser) - The White House is working hard to ensure an easy confirmation for Sonia Sotomayor, with John Roberts' perfect-10 testimony as a model. Will she sail through? Politico lists six things to watch.
  1. That 'wise Latina' remark. Republicans are obsessed with it, and she needs to explain it without
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate Judiciary Committee • Arlen Specter • Jeff Sessions • George HW Bush • Senate confirmation hearings • confirmation hearings • US Supreme Court • Sonia Sotomayor • Herb Kohl

Pa., NY Dems Ignore Obama, Ready Senate Primary Bids

Renegades take aim
at Specter, Gillibrand

Jun 15, 09 10:01 AM CDT
(Newser) - Two House Democrats look ready to stage Senate primary challenges in 2010—even if the White House doesn’t like it, Politico reports. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania says a presidential intervention wouldn’t change his mind about a run against Arlen Specter; New York’s Carolyn Maloney is “way... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Senate Democrats • primary • Arlen Specter • incumbents • 2010 election • President Obama • Carolyn Maloney • Kirsten Gillibrand • Joe Sestak

Analysis

Sotomayor Vote Carries Risks for These Senators

Judiciary committee members share spotlight with nominee

May 28, 09 9:02 AM CDT
(Newser) - Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation looks likely, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some drama between here and there. Politico runs down which senators have the most to win—and the most to lose:  
  • Patrick Leahy: Facing his first nominee as judiciary chairman, Leahy’s
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate • Senate Democrats • Senate Judiciary Committee • Arlen Specter • Jeff Sessions • Senate Republicans • Patrick Leahy • Charles Grassley • Senate confirmation hearings • US Supreme Court • US Senate • Sonia Sotomayor

Democratic Congressman Plans Run
Against Specter

Sestak unswayed by recent party switch

May 27, 09 8:20 PM CDT
(Newser) - Geez, what's a guy got to do to win some love from his own political party? Even though Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania switched parties to become a Democrat, he's still going to face a big-name challenger in a party primary. Rep. Joe Sestak told Wolf Blitzer on CNN today... More »

MORE ABOUT:
politics • Senate • primary • Arlen Specter • Pennsylvania • Democrat • Joe Sestak

Obama Already Throwing Weight for Midterms

Takes steps for Reid, Specter, Gillibrand
4 months into term

May 26, 09 8:16 AM CDT
(Newser) - He’s been in office just a few months—but President Obama’s already working to get Democrats elected in 2010, the Wall Street Journal reports. So far this month, Obama has urged a potential candidate to run in North Carolina, battled a primary threat to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, pledged... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Harry Reid • Arlen Specter • Democratic Party • David Axelrod • President Obama • Election 2010 • Kirsten Gillibrand

analysis

Specter Finds His Inner Democrat

After rocky beginning, GOP turncoat sticks to new side of aisle

May 21, 09 10:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Arlen Specter’s first days as a Democrat may not have gone well, but since then he’s settled in and sided with his new party on nearly every vote, Politico reports. He’s gone from staunch opponent of the Employee Free Choice act to a key negotiator for it,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate • Senate Democrats • Arlen Specter • Pennsylvania • Democrat • switching parties

Specter Backs
Pelosi in CIA Torture Flap

Cites agency's 'very
bad record' on honesty, chides GOP for 'games'

May 20, 09 3:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - Arlen Specter defended Nancy Pelosi today against the CIA and former GOP colleagues he says are making a “political game” out of the interrogation debacle. “The CIA has a very bad record when it comes to honesty,” the Senate’s newest Democrat said. Specter charged that the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Nancy Pelosi • CIA • Democrats • Arlen Specter • waterboarding • Republicans • enhanced interrogation techniques

Republicans Slam Party-Purist Outfit

Club for Growth backs unelectable righties,
say some in GOP

May 18, 09 2:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - Some in the GOP have had it with the Club for Growth, an organization that identifies Republicans it deems weak on low-tax, small-government values, the Wall Street Journal reports. Party members argue that the Club backs Republicans too far right to win elections. “If their goal is to increase... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • conservative • Arlen Specter • Republican Party • conservatism • conservative credentials • Pat Toomey • Club for Growth

OPINION

Abortion 'Purity Test' Is New to Republicans

Not even 'conservative issue' for older generation: Goodman

May 15, 09 1:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - Abortion has become “the purity test for remaining in the GOP’s inner circle,” writes Ellen Goodman in the Boston Globe: The Republican Party is shedding and shunning abortion-rights supporters it once called its own. But it wasn’t always that way—even “Mr. Conservative” Barry Goldwater... More »

MORE ABOUT:
abortion • abortion rights • Arlen Specter • Barry Goldwater • pro life • pro choice • Colin Powell • conservatism • conservatives • Republicans

ANALYSIS

Specter to Dem Donors: Show Me the Money

Senator's election-cycle party switch creates fundraising issues

May 12, 09 9:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - Arlen Specter may have brought his years of experience in the Senate across the aisle with him, but that doesn’t mean all his donors will follow. And the timing—it’s 2010 campaign season—complicates matters, Jeanne Cummings notes for Politico. “He’s not the world’s most... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate Democrats • Arlen Specter • Senate Republicans • campaign fundraising • Ben Nighthorse Campbell

Ridge Won't Challenge Specter for Seat

Former Pa. gov was encouraged to run for Senate by GOP brass

May 7, 09 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Former Pennsylvania governor and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will not seek the Republican nomination for senator from that state, the Hill reports. Party leaders had urged him to run against newly minted Democrat Arlen Specter. Ridge was in a good position to run, polling just 3 points behind Specter.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Senate • Arlen Specter • Pennsylvania • Department of Homeland Security • governor • senator • Tom Ridge • Election 2010

After Seniority Flap, Specter Lands Plum Gig

Durbin engineers Judiciary shuffle, giving newest Dem a gavel

May 7, 09 12:09 PM CDT
(Newser) - Dick Durbin has yielded his seat atop the Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime and drugs to Arlen Specter, a consolation prize after Democrats stripped their new colleague of his seniority, Politico reports. In exchange, Durbin will take the helm of a newly reconstituted human-rights subcommittee. The move should help... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate Democrats • Senate Judiciary Committee • Arlen Specter • Dick Durbin • seniority

ANALYSIS

 GOP Looks to Centrists for 2010 

Candidates should 'fit their states': Cornyn

May 7, 09 10:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - As the GOP eyes 2010, it’s turning to centrist candidates to restore its health—despite a “good riddance” attitude to the departure of moderate Arlen Specter, Politico reports. “I’m absolutely committed to recruiting candidates around the country that fit their states,” said National Republican Senatorial... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Joe Biden • Arlen Specter • John Cornyn • Charlie Crist • centrist • moderate • President Obama • Election 2010 • Michael Castle

(Newser) - Arlen Specter, demoted to junior spots on Senate committees after switching to the Democratic Party, thought things would be different, he told CNN today. Majority Leader Harry Reid “said that I would maintain my committee assignments,” Specter said, “and that my seniority would be established as if... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • Senate • Harry Reid • Arlen Specter • Republican Party • Democratic Party • committee • seniority

For Sessions, Confirmation Hearings May Feel Familiar

Specter's far right replacement once rejected by same committee

May 6, 09 10:20 AM CDT
(Newser) - Even if Al Franken is seated, President Obama's Supreme Court nominee isn't guaranteed an easy confirmation process. The reason is Jeff Sessions, the Alabama Republican who inherited Arlen Specter's seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The fiery Sessions knows the committee well: It blocked his bid to become a federal... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Senate Judiciary Committee • Arlen Specter • Jeff Sessions • racism • Senate confirmation hearings • nominee • US Supreme Court • US District Court • President Obama

1 - 20 of 80 Stories | 1 2 3 4 Next >>


from our news partners