Arlen Specter shares his opinions at La Salle

By Frank Visco
Collegian Editor
November 15, 2006

Arlen Specter, the leading Republican in the Senate and Chair of the Judiciary Committee, spoke at the Dan Rodden Theatre Nov. 9, encouraging the large crowd of students and staff to “consider becoming Republicans.”

Senator Arlen Specter spoke to students in the Dan Rodden Theatre Nov.9 - Frank Visco

Those who were fully aware of Specter’s party commitments seemed unsurprised by the Pennsylvania Senator’s suggestion. However, his proposed reason did manage to turn a few heads.

According to Specter, the Republicans lost the recent midterm elections to Democrats because voters aren’t interested in key issues such as cancer research and the education budget. He said that his party needs more moderate minded individuals to support programs concerning these issues.

“When I urge you to become Republicans, I don’t just do it because it’s my party. I do it in the national interest,” Specter said. “There needs to be more balance in Washington.”

Specter implied that such a balance would allow for more productivity on the hill. A former Democrat himself, Specter acknowledges that he is often termed a RINO (Republican In Name Only) because of his moderate views.

“I stand for principles and programs, not partisanship,” he said. “I’m glad I became a Republican, because I know I can do more for this country as a Republican than I can as a Democrat.”

Specter, who kept the tone light throughout his speech, opened with a joke, saying, “I’m authorized to tell you the first few rows aren’t reserved.”

He questioned why students always shy away from the speaker, and then walked down to the front of the stage to give his opening remarks.

After making a few brief comments, Specter used the bulk of his allotted time to answer audience questions, saying he wanted to know what questions students had about the issues facing America. He walked all over the theater, directly answering his questioners.

Since the Democrats now hold the majority of the Senate, Specter was asked to give his thoughts on having to relinquish his role as Chair of the Judiciary Committee. He received a laugh by saying, “I don’t like not being chair,” but then said that he would “still be in there pushing” with considerable influence.

Additionally, in response to a question concerning the timing of Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation as Secretary of Defense, Specter immediately said, “A little late,” garnering more laughter and applause.

“I would never have urged it because the president is Commander in Chief and it’s his decision,” he said. “However, if [Rumsfeld] was, in fact, going to go, I would have liked to have seen an articulation of a different policy months ago.”

Based on his experience working with him on the National Intelligence Committee more than a decade ago, Specter noted that Bush’s nominee to refill the position, Robert Michael Gates, is “an able man” and that there would certainly be a shift in policy if he were appointed.

On other topics, Specter gave similarly straightforward responses. He cleared up confusion on the bill concerning the prosecution of enemy combatants, and said that it could not apply to citizens but could apply to non-citizens within the country that aren’t combatants.

He also said that he would like to see some of Social Security privatized so that people could invest it, while the rest remained secure. Even still, he qualified this statement by saying that he’d want to see the privatized portion professionally managed.

Shifting to a more controversial topic, Specter explained that, although he is opposed to abortion, he is pro-choice and believes that the government should “stay off people’s backs and out of their pockets and bedrooms.”

Another issue Specter addressed was his support of drilling in the Alaskan refuge.

“We need to protect the environment, but must balance that with a need for energy,” he said.

Having visited the drilling site himself, Specter concluded that the drilling process was environmentally sound.

Specter concluded his speech by telling the crowd they could aid in keeping the focus on “people not partisanship” by helping him get reelected in 2010. Already Pennsylvania’s longest serving U.S. senator, Specter said he would run if his health allowed, but acknowledged it would be a tough battle for him as a moderate Republican.

“I look at the issues one by one and I try to respond by supporting sound policies,” he said. “That’s why I’m in government, and so I hope you will help me help America.”

vicsof1@lasalle.edu