illusionofjoy | Sestak vs Specter: my cynical prediction

While issues came up which prevented me from attending both of Congressman Joe Sestak's events in Pittsburgh over the weekend, it was only after the fact that I realised I had another chance yesterday (which I also missed). From The Pitt News:

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak used his visit to campus yesterday to criticize Sen. Arlen Specter, his opponent in the race for a Democratic Senate seat, for “flipping positions” and showing “lack of leadership.”

Sestak spoke in front of more than 20 students in the William Pitt Union as part of an event hosted by the College Democrats. He spent about an hour answering students’ questions about his policy positions, campaign and opponent.

Sestak, who mentioned that he has worked on health care subcommittees while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, called Specter’s work on the health care reform bill “inadequate” and said that a “real leader” would have campaigned more actively to shape the bill, rather than compromise. Sestak did not elaborate on Specter’s compromises.

I am certain that Sestak will make more visits to Pittsburgh if he wins the Democratic primary in May. Unfortunately, that is a big if as the Democratic brass have seen fit to back Senator Arlen Specter. A more accurate way of putting it is that the party "elite" have decided to cram Specter down our collective throats in Pennsylvania.

This means that even if Sestak were to technically win the primary, it is unlikely that he would be allowed to reap that reward. Despite technically winning the presidential primary in 2008, Hillary Clinton was not allowed to run for President; that honour was handed to the undeserving Barack Obama. For those of us who have slightly longer memories, this is nothing particularly new. When Ned Lamont won the Connecticut primary battle versus Joe Lieberman in 2006, the Democratic Party elite threw support to Lieberman in his independent run against Lamont and Republican Alan Schlesinger.

I don't doubt that a similar ploy is being set up in Pennsylvania. Joe Biden isn't about to let his train-riding buddy down. One way or another Arlen Specter will get his umpteenth term representing Pennsylvania in the United States Senate.