Changing of the Guard
Tuesday night was a paradigm shift in Pennsylvania History! Old blood was retired and new blood was given a chance! Many in Pennsylvania knew Arlen Specter as a moderate conservative in Pennsylvania who back in 2008 switched to the blue Democratic side to ensure his re-election to the United States Senate. Many would say that the Obama effect is failing as OFA canvassed, robo-called and phone banked the citizens of Pennsylvania to ensure voter turnout for Senator Specter. However when it came down to it Tuesday, the voters of Pennsylvania were not happy with where Mr. Specter stood on different issues within our state and his long run in congress and so many felt that it was time for a new young person in office.
Many believe that it was Arlen Specter’s switch to the Democratic Party that called for him to lose his position within the state. Others felt that it was the fact that he has served 6 terms in the United States Senate, that it was time for new and younger blood to enter the Senate. Others felt that in the General Election, with Pat Toomey as the Republican Nominee, that Mr. Sestak will have a better chance than Mr. Specter would have. All of these reasons were valid. It seems to be overall the extreme need for change, the need to have new blood, new ideas to find another chance at change. This notion of Change in America has not died off; that aspect of the Obama Effect has stayed in the political arena. What is different is that Obama Effect has flown back into the faces of OFA as they campaigned for Specter in this incidence, as Change for Pennsylvania means sending a new Democrat or Republican to Washington. It is very important that people understand that. It is a want for change that is causing a changing of the guard. Specter didn’t lose because of his support for health care, since Joe Sestak himself said he would have voted for healthcare. It’s not Specter’s want to have climate legislation passed or his investment in the youth political movement. It was that Pennsylvanians felt that this was the perfect time for him to retire and relax take care of his family and let someone else do the job as Senator for a while.
