Earlier this afternoon, Wolf Blitzer asked Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid about Sen. Arlen Specter’s defection, and all the various complications it’s caused for the Democratic party. One of those complications surfaced yesterday when the New York Times reported (and then re-confirmed) that Specter said he still hopes Republican Norm Coleman prevails in the courts over Al Franken–the winner of the Minnesota Senate race–and retains his seat.
Specter walked back his statement after Reid confronted him about it, but the interaction seemingly left Reid speechless. Watch:
Last night I came to him and I said “Arlen what’s all this about?” And he said “I forgot what team I was on.”
That’s not actually all that surprising. Specter started his career in politics as a Democrat, then, for almost 30 years, he was a Republican, then, last week, he became a Democrat again, but since that time has been voting and otherwise behaving like a Republican. Confusing.
Perhaps things will smooth out in the days and weeks ahead. In the mean time, though, labor organizations and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), his potential primary rival, are telling him he better figure out which team he’s on, and quickly, too.
