By Cenk Uygur
We interviewed Rep. Joe Sestak on Thursday night on
. Two things seemed to be clear from the interview. 1. He's almost definitely running against Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary. 2. And he's really annoyed at the Democratic leadership in Washington, including the President, Vice President and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
You can watch the interview below (we also talked about the stress test at the end):
You can read the transcript Link:www.theyoungturks.com/story/2009/5/8/34630/42857/Enough/Rep-Sestak-Talks-About-Running-Against-Specter|here].
It's important to note that my conclusions in the first paragraph are what I take away from Rep. Sestak's comments. As you can see from the transcripts, he stops short of saying that he will definitely run. But here's what he does say:
Sestak: But at the end of the time, I know that this wonderful President said, "Look Arlen, we don't mind a difference of opinion at times." So he will not mind a difference of opinion in a Democrat, because I'll tell ya, that budget of his, when I was over in the White House five or six weeks ago in a group meeting with him, and he said it, and I believe it, that this is the year to retool our economy in terms of health reform and education, and energy. And then have an individual voting against it who has crossed the lines, doesn't set it up well for saying, "No we don't need someone else." Because I'm, you know, we're close to a decision here.
It wasn't just this comment by itself. He kept saying over and over that Specter has voted the wrong way consistently since switching over. He pointed out five key policy issues that he would look to in making a decision on whether he wanted to run. Rep. Sestak said Specter failed on almost all of those issues. That doesn't appear to leave him much choice.
He also said that he was "annoyed," which he later switched to "disappointed," by the decision of the top Democrats in Washington to back Specter.
Uygur: Finally, on this issue Congressman, you have said now at least three times, that you were annoyed by the way it was handled in Washington and that it created more of a fire in your belly over it. Who were you annoyed by, and why?
Sestak: Let me just say, it's not annoyed. I think the better word, if you don't mind, is disappointed. Look we all came from the president, to me, to come down here to change the establishment. And then you had Senators and individuals in the White House that decided that this is our guy, and we're all lining up behind him. No. Pennsylvanians decide that, so I respect their opinion, but I was kind of disappointed that all of a sudden, almost over night, that the one establishment, it appeared, said to another establishment, "Look I know that he hasn't worked in the GOP establishment. Come on over, join us, and we'll tell the Democrats up there in Pennsylvania that we've anointed someone..."
(NOTE: To read the rest of this piece, click the blog title at the top of the page)
UPDATE: Progressive Change Campaign Committee also has an important on their website. People are paying attention to the results.
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