|
|
|||
|
NEW!: PRINTABLE PDF FLIERS:
Links Republican Party of Pennsylvania Republican Party of Centre County
|
|
ARLEN
SPECTER’S DISHONESTY Arlen Specter has been in office for
over 23-years and has established one of the most liberal voting records
of any Republican Senator. Instead
of defending his record, Arlen Specter has decided to launch dishonest,
negative attacks against Congressman Toomey.
In addition to being dishonest in his advertising, Arlen Specter
has also made dishonest statements to the press.
Below are the dishonest attacks from Arlen Specter, followed by
the truth about Congressman Toomey’s record.
One misstatement maybe a mistake, two maybe acceptable, all of
the following dishonest claims are unprecedented and unbecoming of a
U.S. Senator. Check back often as this section will be updated to debunk the dishonesty of Arlen Specter. Specter’s
Dishonest, Negative Attack Ads Specter’s
Dishonest Claim – “Toomey
says he is for protecting our children but voted against warning labels
on violent and obscene records, movies and video games.” Truth – Congressman Toomey has never voted against warning labels on violent and obscene records, movies and video games. In fact, the U.S. House of Representatives has not voted on warning labels on violent and obscene records, movies and video games since Congressman Toomey has been a member. Specter’s
Dishonest Claim – “I authorized this ad to give
you the facts about my record as a fiscal conservative.” Truth – Senator Specter has voted for 5 major tax increases, including 2 that were the largest in history at the time of their passage. In addition, he has been rated as the second worst Republican Senator by the fiscal watchdog group, Citizens Against Government Waste Specter’s Dishonest Claim – “I supported both of President Bush’s tax cuts” Truth - Senator Specter did not support President Bush’s $1.6 billion tax cut and in fact, voted with Ted Kennedy, Tom Daschle and Hillary Clinton to impede, reduce and undercut President Bush’s tax cuts. Specter’s
Dishonest Claim – “Pat
Toomey says he’s for traditional moral values but voted for Internet
gambling and failed to oppose thousands of slot machines across
Pennsylvania.” Truth: Congressman Toomey has supported curbing gambling over the Internet and has supported a bill, H.R. 2143, during this Congress that would institute necessary regulations to prohibit Americans from using their credit cards to gamble on the Internet. In addition, the slot machine issue was debated by the State legislature, not federal legislators in Washington – Congressman Toomey has never had the opportunity to vote on slot machines in Pennsylvania. Specter’s
Dishonest Claim –
“Toomey
says he supports the military but voted against needed pay raises for
the men and women fighting terrorism around the globe.”
Truth
– Since his first term in 1999, Congressman Toomey voted for a pay
raise every year he has been in Congress.
(P.L. 106-65, P.L 106-398, P.L. 107-107, P.L. 107-314).
Specter’s
Dishonest Claim – “Toomey
was the only Republican Congressman in PA, the only one, to vote against
an amendment allowing the military to be used to prevent terrorist from
entering the US.” Truth –Congressman Toomey has voted twice to allow our troops to be used on our borders to prevent terrorists from entering the country (5/10/02, Roll Call Vote 154 and 09/25/01, Roll Call Vote 356). Specter’s Dishonest Claim – “Pat Toomey says he is effective but only passed two bills in Congress. One increased paperwork, the other renamed a building.” Truth – Congressman Pat Toomey’s bill that became law that increased paperwork, was a law that requires all federal agencies to do financial audits of their books to give Congress oversight as to how agencies are spending tax dollars. Agencies such as the FCC, the SEC and the FEC did not have to account for how and where money was spent. In addition, the Congressman has passed several bills in the House that died in the Senate, which included a bill to reign in HCFA, and another that would allow businesses to get interest on their business checking accounts. Also, the Congressman has had many legislative accomplishments outside of passing bills. He saved area hospitals over $8 million per year from Medicare cuts, he had language added to the Ex-Im Reauthorization which will help to stem the tide of foreign steel, he made the U.S. seek reimbursements from its allies for the war in Kosovo and was successful in getting the federal government to specifically pay down debt with surplus dollars. Lastly, the Congressman is a leader working against budget increases and over regulation. Ironically, during Specter’s first six-years in office he was able to pass bills commerating weeks and days, including – “Afghanistan Day”, “Lupus Awareness Week”, “National Birds of Prey Week”, “Greek Independence Day” Also, if you do a search of bills that have passed with Specter’s name as the lead sponsor, he has not passed a bill in the 107th or 108th Congress. Specter’s Dishonest Claim – “Pennsylvania Republicans are demanding Pat Toomey return more than $500,000 of campaign money taken under false pretenses. Truth - The funds were given to Congressman Toomey for election to federal office. Senator Specter had over $2.6 million left over from his 1998 election that would be categorized in the same manner. The argument would cut both ways, if individuals gave to Specter in 1998 to beat a Democrat it does not mean that were giving it to be used in this primary. Specter’s
Dishonest Claim – “The
Inquirer reported in a front-page expose that Toomey has been caught
playing a game of quote ‘bait and switch’.” Truth - The Inquirer did not say this was a bait and switch - Bob Holste of Congressman English’s office was quoted as saying this. Specter’s Dishonest Statements in the Press Specter’s
Dishonest Claim January 7, 2004, Specter stated he
is "now, and always
[has] been, for the death penalty for Saddam" January 8, 2004, Specter spokesman Bill Reynolds stated, “Senator Specter has never voiced an opinion that Saddam Hussein should not face the death penalty. It's absolutely fallacious for them to say that.” Truth “I have been a very strong advocate of the death penalty as a deterrent for heinous criminals who commit outrageous crimes," [Specter] said. "Saddam certainly fits that bill, but I think that there is a little different dimension for Saddam Hussein. I think that if he were to rot in jail, tyrants would see that and it would be an ongoing example of the fact that you can't get away with it even if you are a head of a state." (The Daily American, Somerset, PA, December 16, 2003) “If he's in jail for a long period of time, he'd be a constant reminder” to the world, said Specter. “We have a societal interest in exposing him." (Doylestown Intelligencer, December 18, 2003) “I
think that Hussein being imprisoned for decades would be very salutary
for minor tyrants,” said Specter, the former Philadelphia district
attorney who normally favors the death penalty for "heinous
criminals and outrageous crimes.” “I think society's best interests
are served by keeping him on display,” said Specter. (Times Herald,
Norristown, PA, December 20, 2003) “What seems to be absolutely fallacious is the denial that Specter in fact changed his mind.” (Doylestown Intelligencer, January 15, 2004)
|
|
| Please contact us if you would be interested in working on the campaign. | |||
