The Minnesota Independent

arlen specter - Latest Stories

AM.MN: Specter says sorry for telling Bachmann to act like a lady

By Chris Steller | 01.25.10 | 8:00 am

am.mn logoRep. Michele Bachmann forced a fumble when a question she interjected during a joint radio appearance last week (“Why don’t we make [prosperity] a bill?”) prompted Sen. Arlen Specter to demand that she “act like

AM.MN: Unemployed, unsure what to do? Elect Parry, says Parry

By Chris Steller | 01.21.10 | 8:00 am

am.mn logo
In Minnesota’s special state Senate election next Tuesday, DFLer Jason Engbrecht has the most money, the Independence Party’s Roy Srp has the most experience, but Republican Mike Parry has the most moxie: “I was…

‘Big tent’ no more: RNC’s Steele says GOP is a hat

By Paul Schmelzer | 06.09.09 | 2:02 pm

Here’s more evidence that the GOP is still struggling to find fitting metaphors to talk about itself. The party was likened to a miffed Eminem by Gov. Tim Pawlenty at the College Republicans’ national confab over the weekend,…

Coleman fundraising invokes fellow party-switcher Specter

By Paul Schmelzer | 05.21.09 | 1:37 pm

Sen. Arlen SpecternormFellow party-switcher Sen. Arlen Specter essentially reneged his support for Norm Coleman in the ongoing battle for Minnesota’s second Senate seat, but that didn’t stop…

Specter backpedals on Coleman support: ‘I conclusively misspoke’

By Paul Schmelzer | 05.06.09 | 9:34 am

Sen. Arlen SpecterPerhaps sensing that it might be impolitic to cheer on a member of the party he just left, Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter says his statement, revealed Tuesday, that Norm Coleman will prevail in the battle for Minnesota’s…

Specter wants fellow party-switcher Coleman to win

By Paul Schmelzer | 05.05.09 | 5:05 pm

specterNorm ColemanPerhaps party-switching is the tie that binds. Sen. Arlen Specter — who started out his political life as a registered Democrat, then was elected as a GOP candidate in 1965 and, as of last week,

Union once again looking to organize Wal-Mart workers

By Paul Demko | 05.01.09 | 6:00 am

After years of eschewing labor-organizing drives at the world’s largest company, the United Food and Commercial Workers has vowed that capitulation to Wal-Mart is over. The union has started organizing campaigns in 17 states, including Minnesota, targeting more than 100 stores. The impetus for the organizing drive: the new administration in the White House and the possibility of passing the Employee Free Choice Act.

Franken on Specter in ’96: ‘Hopeless’

By Chris Steller | 04.29.09 | 8:55 am

rush-limbaugh-idiotAl Franken’s one word for Sen. Arlen Specter in 1996, when Specter sought the Republican presidential nomination: “Hopeless.” But Franken’s frank assessment of the man he hopes to join in the Senate went beyond that one word. Franken devoted a…

Dems negotiate committee powers with Specter

By Paul Schmelzer | 04.28.09 | 3:55 pm

After announcing that he’d be switching parties, longtime Republican Sen. Arlen Specter met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to discuss committee powers, according to the Washington Independent.

Specter switches, making 60 Democrats in Senate — with Franken

By Chris Steller | 04.28.09 | 11:19 am

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter announced today that he is switching from the Republican to the Democratic Party. That means Minnesota’s empty U.S. Senate seat could become the Democrats’ sixtieth — the number needed to break a Republican filibuster. Specter’s move increases the pressure enormously on Minnesota officials in a position to control the outcome of the disputed Senate election between Norm Coleman and Al Franken.