Quotes by Arlen Specter

About Arlen Specter:

Arlen Specter was a United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter was a Democrat from 1951 to 1965, then a Republican from 1965 until 2009, when he switched back to the Democratic Party. First elected in 1980, he represented his state for 30 years in the Senate.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

It so happens that I'm pro choice.

Arlen Specter

I've been in a lot of elections.

Arlen Specter

My tenure in the Senate was really as an independent and whichever, regardless of party label.

Arlen Specter

I'm ordinarily pretty correct in what I say.

Arlen Specter

I've made a career of being precise.

Arlen Specter

Lawyers advocate more so than state their own positions.

Arlen Specter

I think my independence was a big help to getting Judges Roberts and Alito confirmed, and I think that's recognized.

Arlen Specter

It's a rarity when someone takes a political risk in Washington today in the public interest.

Arlen Specter

As a matter of traditional and sound constitutional doctrine, an amendment to the Constitution should be the last resort when all other measures have proved inadequate.

Arlen Specter

We are not utilizing the Iraqi oil for U.S. purposes. We are not asking that the Iraqi oil be used to pay our military expenses. We are asking only that the Iraqi oil be used to rebuild Iraq - that is, to rebuild Iraq for the Iraqi people.

Arlen Specter

As the Republican Party has moved farther and farther to the right, I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party.

Arlen Specter

The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation.

Arlen Specter

Pennsylvania is a very tough state; people don't last long in Pennsylvania politics.

Arlen Specter

My mother, Lillie Specter, was an angel and totally uninterested in politics.

Arlen Specter

Separation of power says the judiciary committee is supposed to confirm qualified judges and then what the Supreme Court does, that is their function, not my function.

Arlen Specter

The Supreme Court has a very light backlog. They leave a lot of splits among the circuits, a lot of uncertainty. And I think they ought to work a lot harder.

Arlen Specter

American credibility in the war on terrorism depends on a strong stand against all terrorist acts, whether committed by foe or friend.

Arlen Specter

If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine.

Arlen Specter

Author Bio

  • NameArlen Specter
  • DescriptionAmerican politician; former United States Senator from Pennsylvania
  • BornFebruary 12, 1930
  • DiedOctober 14, 2012
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionPolitician; Officer; Lawyer