PA Blog

What exactly do we have to do to make our point?  After the disappointing results of Saturday night’s health-care vote, this is the question I keep asking myself.  Rasmussen now shows that only 38% of Americans support the Democrats’ health-care bill, and yet, our elected representatives voted to move the legislation forward.

First, we have Bob Casey Jr.  A self-proclaimed pro-life, moderate Democrat.  He’s so pro-life that he voted in favor of  Harry Reid’s health care bill which allows for publicly funded abortions.  Sen. Casey has used his father’s good name to get himself into office. Unfortunately,  he doesn’t possess any of his father’s courage.  He hitched his wagon to Obamamania months ago.  Now that the President’s approval rating is sinking, the Senator is too stubborn to switch courses.  He just doesn’t get it.  Americans are angry and afraid right now.  They want to hold someone accountable.  Mid-term elections will not be kind to anyone who campaigned one way and legislated another.

Next, we have Arlen Specter.  This is a man who recently switched parties (for the second time) because his voting record got him into trouble with his constituents.  He had abused their trust one too many times and they were angry.  He knew there was no way to repair his damaged reputation.  Republicans would never see him as anything but spineless and unprincipled.  So now, he has a fresh start with Democrats, or so he thinks.  Specter doesn’t stand a chance of re-election without the support of moderate and conservative Democrats.  In fact, he can kiss the whole western side of PA goodbye without them.   Does he really believe that aligning himself with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid is a smart move? Has he seen their approval ratings?  There even worse than his! But Arlen Specter doesn’t get it.  He made a career out of getting the “lesser of two evils” vote.  He doesn’t understand that we now view him as the worst-case scenario.  He stands with the most radically liberal legislators and blatantly ignores the will of the people. He isn’t the lesser of two anythings now!

For the first time in years, the “silent majority” is making some noise.  Senators Casey and Specter just haven’t heard them yet.  They still seem to believe that election to the Senate is a lifetime deal.  I have a feeling that they are in for a rude awakening.  Hopefully, Pennsylvanians will make the phrase “elected representative” meaningful again.  If they don’t represent us, they don’t get elected!