'Specter Belongs To The Party Of ME'

Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason released the following commentary in advance of U.S. Senator Arlen Specter's official debut before his new party this weekend at the Democrat State Committee meeting in Pittsburgh:

Buyer Beware!
Dems Should Be Aware That Above All, Specter Belongs To The Party Of ME

Two months ago, Senator Arlen Specter made the decision to change parties and turn his back on the Republican Party and the thousands of Republicans who have worked to help him get re-elected for years. His decision to leave our Party was based solely on his desire to further his own political career, and his attempt to lash out at us for standing up for our values, and succeeded only in exposing his own insecurities about the future of his Party.

I was extremely disappointed by Senator Specter's defection and he can rest assured that we will be working hard to win back that Senate seat next year.

I am excited about our Party's chances to take back this seat. Our Party will benefit from having the opportunity to field a new, fresh candidate, while leaders in the Democrat Party in Pennsylvania, like Gov. Ed Rendell and Senator Bobby Casey, are busy bullying Arlen Specter’s new colleagues to clear the way for his coronation as the Democrat nominee.

Our Party is comprised of millions of people from all walks of life and backgrounds. However, while our members may not agree on every issue, we share a common belief and philosophy that smaller government, lower taxes and more personal responsibility are the values that make our country great.

No matter who wins the Republican nomination for Senate in 2010, we are confident that our Party will have a nominee whose goal is serving the people of Pennsylvania, and not their own political ambitions. I have learned a very valuable lesson after dealing with Specter's betrayal: Our Party must not tolerate or promote candidates who put their career above principle like Arlen Specter did.

If Senator Specter floats on his political lifeboat to the Democrat nomination with no opposition, we will know that the Democrat Party’s smoke-filled rooms in Harrisburg, Washington and even Pittsburgh are alive and well.

Rob Gleason,
Chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania