This is a fundraiser’s nightmare: the FEC has ruled that Club for Growth can indeed contact all of Arlen Specter’s donors since 2004, who gave him upwards of $11 million, to inform them they are all entitled to a refund of campaign donations now that Specter has switched parties and become a Democrat. Specter so far has been forced to return about $500,000 — but many people who gave to him don’t know they can ask for their money back now that he’s switched parties.
Club for Growth intends to contact all of these donors and get as many as possible to drain Specter’s campaign coffers. He has about $7 million on hand right now…just imagine what would happen if a majority of Specter donors asked for their contributions back…could he really fall into negative numbers and be millions in debt? We doubt it, but even if 10% or even 5% of his donors want their money back, Specter’s in big trouble.
As a sham Democrat, Specter’s now got Joe Biden and Dr. Utopia doing fundraisers for him…when Specter thought he would be unchallenged for the Democrats’ nomination and wouldn’t need to fight until next November. We don’t believe Specter will win that nomination, or hang onto that Senate seat.
Redstate notes that Specter’s also a major drain on the DNC right now…at a time when Democrats are having to play major defense on seats in Connecticut, Nevada, Illinois, California, and possibly even New York (where David Paterson could very well bring down both Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, if things continue the way they have been going…which would be a political earthquake unlike any other).
Like we always say with these people…just wait a while, and all the garbage they pull and all the rotten things they do always come back to haunt them.
August 28, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Wow! Talk about karma biting you on the ass!
August 28, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I’m pretty sure that Arlen Specter made a critical error by switching to the Democrats.
He was facing a 20+ point deficit among Republicans, so he was almost certainly going to lose the 2010 primary. So switching was clearly a move to try and save his skin.
However, he was also facing a 6+ point deficit across the board, PRE-switch. As of mid-August, Republican Pat Toomey was leading Specter in a state-wide matchup by 12 points.
So “Benedict” Arlen switched to the Dems because he couldn’t survive a Republican Primary versus Toomey, but now as a Dem, he’s probably not going to survive a General versus Toomey either.
That means the powerful Democratic War Machine is probably going to take their first opportunity to throw Specter under a bus and try to get a moderate “true” Democrat to face Toomey instead.
Add this campaign cash fiasco the mix and I just don’t see how Specter can possibly recover.
In any case, win or lose, I’m glad he has to return all this money. I hope he has to return millions more.
August 29, 2009 at 6:33 am
Being cynical is becoming second nature to me lately, but I think the Dems set Specter up. In changing Parties, he relinquished his seniority, his prime role in vetting the Supreme Court Nominee that everyone would be coming up, and became a junior Dem. Senator. I also think the Dems. were grooming Joe Sestek to run on the ticket, not Arlen. Sestek is actively running for the Senate, and is holding debates and town hall meetings with and against Toomey. I think Specter was royally *****ed, by the current administration, and he still doesn’t realize it. Unless he knows where the skeletons are, he is toast. They used his vulnerability to a possible loss to Toomey, then manipulated him, all to their advantage. They had already gotten him to vote on the Stimulus Bill, are pushing for him to sign the card check bill, and he is making sounds like he is all for the socialization of our Medical Care. And all they had to do was have Joe Biden whisper in his ear. What a sad way to end a career.
August 29, 2009 at 10:25 am
He was dooped by Obama just like the majority of American voters were dooped in 2008. Actually, he was dooped twice because he bet he voted for the fraud too.
August 29, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Joanne says: “What a sad way to end a career”
If Arlen weren’t such a greedy opportunist, it wouldn’t have happened that way.
Specter has been dishonorable in the representation he owes the people who voted him into office as a Republican, and now what goes around has come around.
I cry no tears for the turncoat Arlen Specter.
August 28, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!
Couldn’t happen to a nicer turncoat!
August 28, 2009 at 7:29 pm
“Benedict Arlen!”
Now that made me forget whatever I was going to say.
August 28, 2009 at 7:31 pm
” Say What?….But I don’t Haz 11 million dollars…” – Specter to Judge
August 28, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Good. Hope this sets up a precedent for Edwards to return my donations now :)
August 28, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Denise –
You have a right to ask for that back from Edwards too — in light of the fact he used his campaign funds to pay for his mistress. People have been asking for that back.
August 28, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Hmm…I wonder if ACORN’s Las Vegas office is liable for my campaign contributions to Hillary, since they rigged all the caucuses. They ought to pay her remaining debt, too. That should about break them.
August 28, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Garlic,
Hillary has no debt.
Every vendor has been paid…there is no debt remaining from her presidential campaign. The last of it was paid at the end of December with the Jon Bon Jovi concert in New York. She also still has several million in her Senate account that she can give away to other politicians or use herself to run for something else in the future.
August 28, 2009 at 7:44 pm
This is such good news. Only the beginning of cleaning house.
August 28, 2009 at 7:58 pm
HB – Again, another great find! Thanks for the information. This is very interesting!!
August 28, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Hillbuzz:
not sure if you saw this on the previous thread.. but as you mentioned that you can’t watch Fox news since you don’t have cable, wanted to pass this info onto you..
you can watch Fox News as well as other cable channels online for free:
tikilive.com
August 28, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Poor Arlen.Hope there’s room under the bus for him.
August 28, 2009 at 8:55 pm
August 28, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Hahahahaha. What always pops in my head with Arlen is the Anita HIll hearings. Forever linked. I will be so happy if he is defeated.
August 28, 2009 at 10:21 pm
BO campaigned and convinced a lot of voters who donated to him that he was a moderate. Now that it can be proven otherwise…
BO guilty of false advertising.
August 29, 2009 at 5:59 am
Club for Growth really knows how to keep Repub’s in line. Always thought the Club’s functions were anti-republic. Then I learned of DSCC & DCCC. None of these groups should be allowed to exist.
August 29, 2009 at 7:52 am
I have to disagree with most of you. I don’t think this is right. I gave money to McCain in the last campaign. I should get that back that he lost? This decision was political.
August 29, 2009 at 8:22 am
McCain didn’t switch parties.
August 29, 2009 at 11:52 am
Yes, what getfitnow said ….. Benedict Arlen’s (heheheh, I love that, too) crime is that he changed party after being elected. His constituents elected a Republican. It would be like buying a Chrysler and being given a Toyota by the dealership. You would want your money back.
Did Lieberman have this problem when he went Independent? I can’t remember.
August 29, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Lieberman only became an Independent *after* the Dems dumped him… he still espoused the same principles that he always had.
Which is why the people re-elected him, even though he had switched affiliations.
It’s not the same as Specter pretending to be one thing, then changing ships after the elections were over.
August 29, 2009 at 9:07 am
Nice!
And by the way, in this TERRIBLE ECONOMY, everyone who donated to him in the belief that he was going to represent Republicans and his platform, SHOULD ask for their money back!
I can only hope that most people will claim back the money they donated. Boy, who doesn’t wish they had an extra $100 or $500?
August 29, 2009 at 10:40 am
What if he switches parties again? Would he have to give back the money then?
Stranger things have happened, and the past year has been pretty strange. (Not to mention disgusting and terrifying.)
August 29, 2009 at 11:53 am
Interesting question. However, considering he has voted along side the Democrats on every major vote, I would say his donors have the right to demand their money back even if he becomes a RINO.
August 30, 2009 at 12:31 am
[...] the entire article at: Arlen Specter’s in a world of trouble: FEC allows group to contact Specter’s donors informing th… Share and [...]