Arlen Specter's Loss Goes Beyond Anti-Incumbent Mood

Some thoughts on the morning after Tuesday's big primaries:

The Specter Difference

AP

Yes, incumbents are in danger from coast to coast. Yes. Arlen Specter's effort to save his 30-year Senate career as a newly-minted Democrat by stressing his seniority did not work.

In this case however, "anti-incumbency" was not the full -- or even primary (pun alert!) reason for his loss at the hands of Rep. Joe Sestak.

For Democrats, the case against Specter was encapsulated by an ad that showed Specter being praised by... George W. Bush in 2004, and showing Specter saying his party switch would enable him to win re-election.

Those images, coupled with a devastating tag line "Specter changed parties to save one job -- his, not yours" said it all. Memo to Democrats -- if you are running in a primary, and your opponent can link you to George W. bush, Sarah Palin, and Clarence Thomas, you are n trouble.

Joe Sestak: "I Stood Up to My Party"

It's a Long, Long Time from May to November

There is something heartening about watching energized insurgents deliver a swift kick in the pant to the big shots. Kentucky ophthalmologist Rand Paul did in the GOP Senate primary, and Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio did it when he drove Gov. Charlie Crist out of the party and into an independent run for the Senate.

On the other hand, those pale, plaid moderates do have a point --sometimes the same passionate believers who can warm the hearts of the base can chill the hearts of more centrist votes. Rubio and Paul could both win up winning; but if their crusades cost the Republicans two Senate seats, the mood at next year's tea parties will be a lot less festive.

Rand Paul to Dems: Please Bring Obama to Kentucky
Paul: Tea Party Ready to "Flex Some Muscle"

"A Few Misplaced Words?"

CBS

In some ways, the biggest political story yesterday happened not in a primary, but in Connecticut, where Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the odds-on favorite to win Chris Dodd's Senate seat -- called a press conference to deal with a devastating front-page New York Times story detailing Blumenthal's claims to have served "in" Vietnam, when he in fact served in the Marines Reserves in Washington, D.C. and in Connecticut.

He chose as his venue a VFW post in West Hartford -- an organization he was not eligible to join. And Blumenthal talked about "a few misplaced words", and how he had "misspoken" on occasion.

Watch Jeff Greenfield' Report on Blumenthal

In some ways, the explanation was more off-putting than the mistake itself. In the first place, this whole "misspoken" defense ought to be scrapped. Sometimes, one word is all it takes ("When I said, 'I pitched for the Yankees, I meant 'I cheered for the Yankees.' One small word.")

Moreover, given Blumenthal's long career out of putting veterans' causes front and center, it's simply not credible for him not to understand what it means to claim direct participation in an act as consequential as combat.

Hillary Clinton didn't lose in 2008 because he claimed she had come under sniper fire while visiting Bosnia in the '90s. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is a highly popular politician despite an inaccurate claim years ago that he flew "combat patrol missions in Vietnam.

It's the euphemistic evasions that may make Blumenthal look exactly like the kind of politician who is so unpopular a figure -- in this or any season.

Results:

Roundup: All Winners and Losers
Specter Falls in Pa. Dem Primary to Joe Sestak
Rand Paul Wins Kentucky GOP Primary
Blanche Lincoln, Bill Halter Headed for Run-Off
Dem Wins Special Election for Murtha's Seat

More Analysis:

The Surprises From Tuesday's Primaries
Where do Tuesday's Winners Go from Here?
Who Had the Better Spin?

Watch CBS News Videos Online

CBS News anchor Katie Couric speaks with CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield about several key primary elections across the nation where results could foreshadow the midterm races.

[LIBERALS-are-HYPOCRITES-2]

Reality: NOVEMBER 2010-the Democrats will be voted out.

[votedforobama]

The article about Spector forgot to mention the ad showing Obama with his arm around Spector and promising his full support in the primary! Hahahahaha Poor Spector. He actually fell for that and voted for the HCR bill.

[tapittwice]

Arlen Specter is pure evil!! It was him who "CREATED" THE Magic Bullet theory and was one of the hench men for the Warren Commission who helped to cover-up the fact's about the Assassination Of President Kennedy. He started lying to us then and never stopped. He sold his soul for his own personal advantages and even changed parties to avoid a previous election loss.He cares only for himself and has nothing but distain for what's left of our decaying democratic institutions. He helped add to the people's mistrust of our own government and was one of the biggest blemishes on our history and the truth.Now that he is going to retire from public life, he will have nothing but his own demons to keep him company. If he has any sense of decency left he will use the remainder of his last few years, to consider all the truly awful things he has done to the country and it's people and ask the lord's forgiveness!!

[myopinionpal]

If we start giving all career incumbents the boot then we will see change in Washington. All incumbents do is get re-elected over and over again to do what make a very good salary and get all the perks. And nothing ever gets done but point fingers

[IGold17530]

Obama went to Virginia, but his Dem lost. He went to NJ, but his Dem lost. Then he went to Mass and his Dem lost. Everyone who voted for ObamaCare is in dire jeopardy, including Maj Leader Reid. Seems like the Dems need a new leader. Does anyone here see Hilary coming?

[rile1con]

Yeah... Hillary is the answer. She will change things and save our country. LOL.

I do think she will oppose Obama in the next primary though.

[gramps1941]

Arlen Specter lost because he was only in it to save HIS job. Despite the fact that I don't have a lot of love for a retired Admiral who appears to be a left wing politician (Or another opportunist), Specter did his crap for 30 years and the folks in Pennsylvania even, got tired of his Janus act.

[superdem1]

The Obama-Specter alliance was a marriage of convenience, Specter was on a sinking ship and Obama needed one more vote to beat back filibusters. Obama had to say he'd support Specter, so he did, but there was no love and in the end, Pennsylvania Democrats chose a true Democrat, not a thirty year enemy. The Right is crazy to pitch this as a blow to Obama, Stesak is a true soul mate, unlike Rand Paul, who is a Libertarian, against Wall Street reform, who wants to eliminate Social Security, Medicare, highway funds, education funds, green energy funds, environmental protections, the list goes on and on. Anything Kentuckians need will be thrown to the State government if Paul gets his way, and that means Kentucky politicians will be raising local and state taxes, make no mistake. I can't understand why Republicans are cheering Paul's election. Plus, Paul (and his Dad) are practically Code Pink against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has Kentucky gone anti-war ? What will the Kentucky Veterans groups think the first time Paul votes against funding for the wars ?

[radicalc-2009]

Notice to all MSM reporters and columnists:

Let the spin begin!

The American people are NOT, I repeat, ARE NOT, fed up with the current administration... Make sure that all of your articles and opinion pieces reflect a clear tie to losing and anti-incumbancy or George Bush.

Mention Bush, Palin, Rush, Beck, Chenney and occasionally Thomas to drive the spin. Be careful not to make it too obvious what you are doing... We just want to change the conversation... Nudge.

Use anti-incumbant instead of referrendum in your explainations. This can lead into a blame Bush scenerio later in your article.

Every loss for the Democratic party can be tied back to the Bush administration if you spend some time and get creative.

And whatever you do, DO NOT give the Tea Party credit for anything... It's not about them, it's about us.

Thanks,

David A.

P.S. If you need any help with the spin, don't hestitate to call.

[rile1con]

I am fed up with the current administration and the previous one. The people want leaders who will protect the constitution and promote our free-market economy.

Who cares about Democrat vs. Republican? If you blindly follow your party, then you deserve what you get. I will vote for anyone who protects the Constitution and is not corrupt career politician regardless of party affiliation.

[radicalc-2009]

Here Here!

[johnreggers]

Arlen Specter would have been more valuable to Democrats as a Republican. What is the measure of man, but his actions. Maybe he'll finally have some free time to catch up on his Aristotle, Confuscious, and Sun Tzu.

[eeodonnell]

Here in Pennsylvania one can only vote in the primary for the party to which you are registered. The Democrats who came out yesterday made plain at the polls that they were coming out specifically to vote against Arlen - not for any particular dislike of the guy but because he's been a Republican for decades. People who come out for primaries are by and large the more committed members of their political parties and almost always vote the party ticket. Democrats just rankled at supporting a long-time Republican. Arlen was completely representative of his party in the Northeast for years; it's the Republicans who have changed, not him. Though I rarely agreed with his votes on national issues, he did a fine job for the people of Pennsylvania, but the core of the party wants someone whose sole platform is representing big business interests. Excellent choice - they've suffered so much in the past few years - BP's cap is more than enough, and the teabaggers obviously don't mind using billions of taxpayer dollars to clean up after them.