TPM Reporting Sestak WILL run against Specter.

( – promoted by buhdydharma )

Brian Buetler of TPM is reporting that Congressman Sestak will run against Senator Specter in the Pa. Democratic primary.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) is privately telling supporters that he intends to run for Senate, TPMDC has confirmed.

“He intends to get in the race,” says Meg Infantino, the Congressman’s sister, who works at Sestak for Congress. “In the not too distant future, he will sit down with his wife and daughter to make the final decision.”

TPM: EXCLUSIVE: Sestak Intends To Run For Senate

Follow the link and read the handwritten note to a supporter in which Sestak announces he will run and asks for a contribution.  And give TPM some views, because they broke the story.  

I’ve written on Sestak and Specter before.  I think this is a good thing.  Sestak is more progressive than Specter and can win in Pa.

AFL-CIO’s Trumka Critical of Specter; SEIU’s Stern Meets w/ Sestak Today

Mon May 04, 2009 at 07:29:54 AM PDT

After yesterday’s proclamation by Specter that ‘I Did Not Say I Am A Loyal Democrat,’ it’s time to look at Senator Specter’s votes last week and positions on key issues. Last week, he joined every Republican in voting AGAINST the Obama budget and AGAINST the bankruptcy cram down supported by Obama, reiterated that he will vote AGAINST President Obama’s pick to head the Office of Legal Counsel, Dawn Johnsen.  In March, while still a Republican, Specter said that filibustering Johnsen was “under consideration.” He opposes any government option in health care reform, thereby putting himself in opposition to President Obama’s plan that has one.

And he will support a filibuster of EFCA.  Yep, not a loyal Democrat.

Looks like Andy Stern of SEIU notices.  He’s meeting with Congressman Sestak today and I think a primary is the topic of the day.

And here:

Congressman Sestak on Specter: Will He Vote Like a Democrat?

Thu Apr 30, 2009 at 07:48:13 AM PDT

Congressman Joe Sestak is leaving the door open for a run against the new Democratic Senator Specter in a primary.

I think this is a very good thing.  Many Democrats like Rahm pressured Sestak not to run, but it looks like he will.  Good.  A primary will give Pa. voters a choice.

Update I: You can learn more about Congressman Sestak here

Joe Sestak is serving his second term as the Representative from Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, which includes most of Delaware County and parts of Chester and Montgomery Counties.

Born and raised in Delaware County, Joe Sestak spent 31 years serving our nation in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of three-star Admiral.

snip

During his distinguished career in the Navy, Joe led a series of operational commands, culminating in the command of the George Washington aircraft carrier battle group, which consisted of 30 U.S. and allied ships, 15,000 sailors, and close to 100 aircraft. Under Joe’s watch, the George Washington battle group conducted combat operations in Afghanistan and precursor operations to the war in Iraq.

Joe also served in President Clinton’s White House as the Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council. After 9/11, he was selected to serve as the first Director of “Deep Blue,” the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit where he worked to establish new strategies for the Navy to fight the Global War on Terror.

After graduating from Cardinal O’Hara High School, Joe followed in the footsteps of his father, a Navy captain who served in World War II, and attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated second in his class. Joe also holds a MPA, and a PhD in Political Economy and Government, from Harvard University.

He was on firedoglake in early May answering questions.  Tokar summarized his answers in a comment to one of my diaries on Sestak in early May:

Here is a summary of his responses: http://firedoglake.com/…

Does not agree that we have enhanced our security or intelligence thru torture.  Believes it has placed service members at greater danger from countries that do torture.

Supports the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”.  Would like to take the lead along with Murphy (D-PA) and Murtha (D-PA)

Supports Sec. Gates’ recent proposal to transform the military to where it is not numbers but capability which measures the military.

Supports a health plan similar to one in Mass. which he says is similar to Obama’s.  Supports Medicare, Medicaid and public plan standards.

Supports stem cell research.  Says “It’s great having President Obama here.”

Completely aware of same things we are: budget reconciliation requires only 51 votes to pass, and healthcare reform package has been virtually guaranteed the same fate…not sure why there was a Specter deal.

Supports labor/EFCA (co-sponsor)

Supports public healh care opinion [option]

Supports Obama’s budget resolution (voted for it)

Supports cramdowns (voted for it)

Supports Cap and Trade (co-sponsor of Waxman’s bill and Markey’s bill)

Voted on bailout bill even though he received over 3500 e-mails and letters from constituents telling him not to.  Said he read research

which said the bill was absolutely critical and voted with his brain and not his ideology.

Supports regulation in the Federal Reserve, and other institutions.  Says we need proper reserves, transparency and reporting of trades.  Comments ms. Brofsky of the CFTC who in 1998 tried to implement such.

Supports a commission to find out what really amount of torture occured.  Supports using the justice system to punish those responsible for designing the policies.

Will turn down a bid for Senate IF and ONLY “If Arlen Specter truly embraces the principles and policies necessary for good governance and the economic, health, energy/environment, education, and defense securities needed by Pennsylvanians and by our nation…and we believe he will stick to them for the full 6 years”

Supports re-institution of the Assault Weapons ban, child locks, ATF Surprise inspections, etc.

by Tokar on Mon May 04, 2009 at 09:25:20 AM PDT

More:

JoeSestak May 3rd, 2009 at 5:58 pm 76

In response to ToddBeeton @ 64 (show text)

EFCA- Yes- co-sponsor of it.

Public Health Option- Yes, but best by public healthcare standards for every plan.

Budget- Yes and I voted for it. However, I believed reconciliation should have been done on a second budget resolution if necessary. The reason is that, while I would never sacrifice good policy at the altar of bipartisanship, I believe that per President Obama’s statement (that everyone should be around the table, at least at the beginning) the congregation should begin praying together and not have a schism before they even begin. At least some effort should have been made and, as necessary, pass the second budget resolution, which we could readily do with reconciliation.

Cramdowns- Yes. Voted for it.

Cap and trade- Yes. Cosponsor of it.

And Labor may support him.  Andy Stern, the head of SEIU, met with him in early May and Richard Trumka, the secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, has warned Specter he will lose labor’s support if he continues to oppose EFCA:

Richard Trumka, the secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO warned that union leaders may drop their longstanding support for Specter, D-Pa., if — as he has promised to do — he votes against them on their legislative priority, the Employee Free Choice Act.

“Those decisions will be made by people in the state, and our members in the state know who will stand with them. And if Arlen Specter — he stood with them in the past — if he continues to stand with them, they’ll support him. If he doesn’t, they won’t support him,” Trumka told us.

Also on Orange on Daily Kos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/…