Don’t blame them one bit:
Several Democrats are furious with Reid for agreeing to let Specter keep the seniority accrued over more than 28 years as a Republican senator. That could allow him to leap past senior Democrats on powerful panels – including the Appropriations and Judiciary committees.
One senior Democratic lawmaker told The Hill that the Democratic Conference will vote against giving the longtime Pennsylvania Republican seniority over lawmakers such as Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) when they hold their organizational meeting after the 2010 election.
Specter was elected in 1980, and under his deal with Reid would jump ahead of all but a few Democrats when it comes time to dole out committee chairmanships and assignments.
“That’s his deal and not the caucus’s,” the lawmaker said of Reid’s agreement with Specter.
As far as many Democrats see it, they did Specter a favor by allowing him into the fold thereby allowing him to keep power because he was going to get his ass handed to him if he ran as a Republican.
Those who may lose spots include Tom Harkin and the one spot which might really set off a fight is the Appropriations spot since that spot is gold to those addicted to pork. He could get that spot if Pat Leahy doesn’t take it…..BUT if he does take the Appropiations then Spector may even take his old slot on the Judiciary Committee which would set off a fight also.
Gotta tell ya, this brought a smile to my face. The Republicans don’t want him and now the Democrats are not too thrilled either.
Poetic justice for a selfish nimrod.
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