Auditor wonders what Menendez knew of Specter and when

by: Jason Springer

Mon May 04, 2009 at 11:30:00 AM EDT

I don't really know that this is even an issue, but the Auditor takes a look back at statements by Sen. Bob Menendez surrounding Arlen Specter wondering what he know of the switch and when:

Asked about Specter during an April 13 Statehouse meeting with reporters, Menendez -- head of the Senate Democrats' campaign efforts for 2010 -- said he was watching Specter's upcoming re-election fight "very closely" but didn't pounce.
"Senator Specter has a problem already, obviously, in his own party," Menendez said then, noting that "a couple hundred thousand moderate Republicans" had switched their registration to Democrat in Pennsylvania last year.
"I do believe there is an opportunity in Pennsylvania to pick up a seat, and we are looking at a range of candidates and talking to a lot of candidates," Menendez said. "If we get a good candidate, I think there is a good opportunity."

Then they look at the reaction last week from Senator Menendez following the announcement of the Specter switch which was not surprisingly glowing:

"This one's a game-changer. Specter's move immediately improves the prospects of President Obama's bold change agenda," Menendez wrote in a chest-thumping e-mail blast to supporters.
The note featured an eerily familiar quote from Specter: "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."
Asked whether Menendez knew in advance and was keeping his own counsel about Specter's stunning switch, his spokesman, Afshin Mohamadi, declined to comment.

I'd be shocked if Menendez DIDN'T know. He needs to coordinate the actions of the Senate committee and would have to know who his candidate would be I would think. Follow me below the fold for some bumps that remain in the road and let's look at whether Menendez may have a bigger fight on his hands.

Jason Springer :: Auditor wonders what Menendez knew of Specter and when

While Menendez and the White House may be singing his praise, the newly minted Democrat objects to people saying he'll be loyal:

GREGORY: It was reported this week that when you met with the president, you said, "I will be a loyal democrat. I support your agenda." Let me test that on probably one of the most important areas of his agenda, and that's health care. Would you support health care reform that puts up a government run public plan to compete with a private plan issued by a private insurance company"
SPECTER: No. And you misquote me, David. I did not say I would be a loyal Democrat. I did not say that. And last week, after I said I was changing parties, I voted against the budget because the budget has a way to pass health care with 51 votes, which undermines a basic Senate institution to require 60 votes to impose closure on key issues. "I did not say I am a loyal Democrat."

To demonstrate his lack of loyalty, Specter says he will oppose a public health option for insurance reform and will support a filibuster of the Employee Free Choice Act. Congressman Joe Sestak has not been willing to rule out a run and is not holding his fire about the party in the process:

"I'm kind of disappointed in the Democratic political establishment in Washington, DC," Rep. Joe Sestak said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."
Sestak said the pledge of support for Specter, who became a Democrat just last week, flew in the face of the grassroots, anti-establishment theme of Obama's presidential bid. However, the former Navy admiral said he hasn't decided whether to acquiesce to the party leadership. Sestak said his decision will depend on whether he thinks Specter's conversion is driven by principle or simple pragmatism.
"What I need to know is what he's running for," Sestak said. "If he has the right answer, so be it. We move on."
"Too many jobs have been lost for us to worry about somebody else's job who switched parties," the congressman said. "I'm not sure he's a Democrat yet."

And on twitter yesterday, Andy Stern of SEIU had some praise on Sestak and signaled a meeting today:

Congressman Sestak impressive on CNN. Visiting him tomorrow.

The next question may possibly be what does Menendez think of primary opposition to Specter who is anxious to show his independence infuriating many Democrats including his potential opponents