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12/26/2003 Archived Entry: "Reason to vote Toomey"

THE SPECTER OF CHAIRMAN ARLEN THE BEST REASON TO VOTE TOOMEY: I can understand why Republicans feel conflicted about the GOP primary race in Pennsylvannia between incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter and his conservative challenger Rep. Pat Toomey. Specter is pretty liberal for a Republican and often a pain in the butt to conservatives, but he has managed to hold onto that seat in a competitive state and is more conservative than anyone the Democrats are likely to nominate for it. Pat Toomey is a solid conservative with a more Republican voting record than Specter, but he would shift the seat from being a reasonably safe bet for the GOP to a toss-up.

Yet with Orrin Hatch term-limited out of the position, Specter is line to become the next chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. A staunch liberal on many of the issues that provoke the most controversy in judicial confirmation hearings, he could become an obstacle to President Bush's nominees and therefore be as destructive as any Democrat in that seat. Unless the GOP comes up with a plan to deny Specter the chairmanship, that by itself may be a decisive reason for conservative to vote Toomey.

Read the full story about the specter of Chairman Arlen here.