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The Toomey Voting Record

Toomey Vs. Specter

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Senator reverses position on Saddam
By ALISON HAWKES
Bucks County Courier Times

Caught on the wrong side of an emerging political consensus that Saddam Hussein should face the death penalty, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter has reversed earlier public statements calling for the fallen Iraqi dictator to be kept alive.

The Pennsylvania senator made his initial statements about Saddam to a number of Pennsylvania newspapers in the days after U.S. troops captured Saddam:

·"If he's in jail for a long period of time, he'd be a constant reminder," to the world, said Specter in a Courier Times editorial board meeting on Dec. 17. "We have a societal interest in exposing him."

·"In this situation, I am not inclined to think that the death penalty would be the best for society's interests," Specter told a public gathering in Somerset County , as reported by the Daily American on Dec. 16.

·"I think that Hussein being imprisoned for decades would be very salutary for minor tyrants. ... I think society's best interests are served by keeping him on display," said Specter, according to a Dec. 20 article in the Norristown Times Herald.

Last week, however, Specter's stance had changed.

In a Jan. 7 Associated Press article, Specter said he is "now, and always have been, for the death penalty for Saddam." The next day, FOX News reported that Specter's campaign said the senator "has never voiced an opinion that Saddam Hussein should not face the death penalty. It's absolutely fallacious for them to say that."

A fellow Republican who intends to challenge Specter in the spring primary was quick to jump on the discrepancy.

"It's disturbing," said Congressman Pat Toomey, R-15, who said he believes Saddam should be subject to the death penalty. "It's one thing for [Specter] to do a 180-degree reversal of his opinions - he's done that before, but he's denying what he even said."

On the phone yesterday, Specter explained that his initial public statements against the death penalty were an option he was considering at the time, but his thinking has evolved.

"I was exploring with your editorial board and a number of places my thinking on what ought to be done, which was in the formative stage," Specter said. "I was considering that, but my point of view on the matter has settled out that [Saddam] ought to be tried by the Iraqis, and they ought to make the decision if he should get the death penalty."

At the Courier Times editorial board meeting, Specter said he'd like to see Saddam tried at an international criminal court in The Hague by a panel of Iraqi prosecutors, where security would be better assured than Iraq. A trial at The Hague , however, would not allow the death penalty. A trial in Iraq , however, likely would.

Specter, a former Philadelphia district attorney who was instrumental in re-instituting the death penalty in Pennsylvania , asserted his 40-year history supporting the practice yesterday. Specter said he saw a "realistic plan to get a court in Iraq in the near term" after President George W. Bush moved in that direction.

"I'm going to back the president on that," Specter said. "There has been pretty much a national consensus of trying Saddam in Iraq ."

Asked to account for last week's public statements in which he denied ever being against the death penalty for Saddam, Specter cut off the interview and told the Courier Times to refer additional questions to his staff.

Toomey represents the residents of Lehigh and Northampton counties and parts of Montgomery County .

Alison Hawkes can be reached at 215-322-9715 or ahawkes@phillyBurbs.com.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-01142004-226997.html