Arlen Specter Reacts To Romney’s Criticism: I ‘Never’ Made A Deal With Santorum

by Meenal Vamburkar | 2:58 pm, February 23rd, 2012

» 12 comments

Arlen Specter — the former Pennsylvania senator who went from Democrat to Republican, and then back to Democrat — said he doesn’t quite understand why Mitt Romney mentioned him in Wednesday’s Republican debate. Specter added that there are bigger things to focus on.

Specter told ABC News:

There are a lot more important things to discuss than Arlen Specter…I don’t care if he brings me up. I just think there are more important things to do than talk about me.

During the debate, Romney essentially said Rick Santorum‘s 2004 endorsement of Specter ensured the existence of President Obama’s health care program. Romney said, “If you had not supported him…we would not have Obamacare…so don’t look at me. Look in the mirror.”

Specter went on say he and Santorum never agreed to a deal for Santorum’s support. From ABC News:

But Specter, now an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s law school, said he “never” made a deal with Santorum. He said Santorum’s defense wasn’t appropriate though it was “equal to the attack” by Romney.

Specter also remarked:

I think in these debates, it’s standard to disregard the relevant or important things and bring in the kitchen sink, anything that comes to mind.

In a tweet, ABC News’ Matt Negrin added: “When I asked whom he’d pick among the 4 GOP candidates, he said, no joke: ‘Arlen Specter.’”

Arlen Specter, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum

Anonymous

I watched the debate last night – and I didn’t hear Santorum “deny” Romney’s point – did you?
Anonymous

Nope, and Benedict Arlen has been known to misstate things in the past.
L. Ron Gloveard

If you can’t trust Democrat/Republican/Democrat Arlen, well, who can you trust ?

Call Joe Sestak. The Obama White House and Specter and totally above board.
Anonymous

Specter pretty much nails it: “I think in these debates, it’s standard to disregard the
relevant or important things and bring in the kitchen sink, anything that comes to mind.”

That’s the GOP debate cycle in a nutshell.
Anonymous

NOOOOO ?
:-(
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Anonymous

This could actually end up being a scandal for both of them. If it turns out Specter did make a deal like that with Santorum, would that be some kind of congressional ethical violation? This primary is really airing some dirty laundry
Anonymous

Specter is on CNN right now saying the same thing and strongly insinuating Santorum is a liar. This will get ugly
Clovis4

That’s funny, you wrote congressional and ethics in the same sentance.
Anonymous

How do you know when Arlen is lying? …..When he’s breathing bah, dum, dump, ching!
Anonymous

I’ve been wasting a lot of time digging up old stuff looking for an indication of what really happened here. My take: there was probably some vague promise about judges, but the real goal was to keep Specter a republican, support Bush and the quid pro quo was supporting Santorum in ’06.
Anonymous

I know it’s a double post, but during my research I found this Theresa Heinz quote about SDantorum form back in ’94:

She described Representative Rick Santorum, the party’s nominee for Senate, as “overflowing with glib ideology” and “Forrest Gump with an attitude.”
Forrest Gump with attitude? I miss 1994