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Party switcher Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pennsylvania) is now attempting to exploit the death of former Rep. Jack Kemp (R-New York) from cancer by using falsehoods in order to chastise fiscal conservatives.

He told “Face the Nation” on Sunday that, “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.”

Of course, it’s one thing to seize on a news event to make a point, but as Michelle Malkin (see above link) points out, Specter’s facts about cancer research funding are wrong:

During Republican control of Congress, federal spending on health research and regulation increased 46% after inflation, from $49 billion a year to $72 billion a year, or about 7% increase each year. That’s almost the same rate of increase as Defense spending got in the same period (48%), when we actually had a real war on our hands, and not a political contrivance for excusing federal spending.

And Specter wonders why he can’t get within 20 points of Pat Toomey in a primary race?

View all comments (51) |

Pete| 5.4.09 @ 12:58PM

He is fitting in great! But can you blame him for this, really? As a Democrat, he knows he can just make shit up whenever he pleases, history and facts be damned!

NavyBrat| 5.4.09 @ 1:15PM

I wonder, if Arlen's cancer comes back, who he'll blame it on. Funny how both he & Kemp have the same health plan, which is better than most others in the country, yet this is a political issue? Arlen & all other vultures who would seek to aggrandize themselves at the expense of Mr. Kemp's passing, you people are the lowest scum on the face of the earth. HOW DARE YOU!!!!

Pingback| 5.4.09 @ 1:16PM

Wacky Spin Doctoring: Specter Says He Saved an Entire Generation of Scientists & Coul links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Kemp, 1935-2009 and Arlen Specter makes it official; Flashback: Specter’s denial Frugal Café Blog Zone: You’re Kidding, Arlen Specter Was a Republican? News to Me… The American Spectator: A New Low, Even for Specter and The Importance of Jack Kemp Personal Liberty Digest: Senator Arlen Specter flips the aisle Heartland Pinstripes: Jack Kemp, Bills QB and Congressman, Dead at 73 NewsBusters: AP’s Kemp…

Pingback| 5.4.09 @ 1:20PM

A New Low, Even for Specter | But As For Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

A New Low, Even for Specter | But As For Me JOIN US ON TWITTER. But As For

Pingback| 5.4.09 @ 1:42PM

Turncoat Arlen Specter fits into the democrat party perfectly now! Exploits Jack Kemp links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

RSS Turncoat Arlen Specter fits into the democrat party perfectly now! Exploits Jack Kemp’s death If Arlen Specter was the kind of “moderate Republican” that the Republican party needs in order to “win in blue states” then you know what? Let the states stay blue for all I care. Specter told “Face the Nation” yesterday: “If we had pursued what President Nixon declared…

Dale| 5.4.09 @ 2:22PM

Very curious and pretty low that Rush Limbaugh did not even mention Jack's passing on his show today; classless, Rush.

Dale

hmm_contrib| 5.4.09 @ 2:31PM

"federal spending on health research and regulation"
Regulation? How much did the GOP Congresss spend on regulation that you had to include it in this stat to make it sound impressive?

USpace | 5.4.09 @ 4:08PM

.
This dishonesty just illustrates one more reason why Spector is just one more example for the argument in favor of Congressional term limits.
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
there is no good or evil

every thing's relative
don't judge a Democrat
.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
.

Becky| 5.4.09 @ 4:58PM

I don't know if Kemp made a similar statement, that he regretted government not curing cancer.

Those type of statements are so asinine that they provide valuable insight into how politicians veiw the complexity of the world. Like maybe the only way for Jack Kemp to die would have been cancer, not a heart attack, car accident, stroke, etc.

Arlan, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas.

By the way, isn't Spector a cancer survivor, and Kennedy hope to be using the best care in the world that other country national health care would not cover for men of their age?

sestamibi| 5.4.09 @ 5:36PM

As my grandmother used to say, "a shonde for the goyim!"

tonypal| 5.4.09 @ 7:34PM

Dale:

Yeah, he must have done that purposely. No doubt, because as a daily listener of his show, I can vouch for his endless hatred of all things Kemp.

Eric Damon| 5.5.09 @ 8:13AM

Umm, why is it Rush Limbaugh's place to talk about Jack Kemp's passing on his radio show? I didn't know that he had a responsibility to anyone to do obits during the show. Besides, what would be the point when every conservative news and opinion outlet was covering the death as if Kemp had been the savior of the GOP and conservatism? I guess Rush decided not to be a hypocrite and start praising Kemp in death when he so adamantly opposed him in life.

Roy Hogue| 5.5.09 @ 11:05AM

Specter was never much of a Republican. He'll soon enough be a disappointment to the Democrats as well. Go to bed with a dog, get up with fleas.

Tom Price| 5.5.09 @ 3:24PM

It is time for Specter to also change his name to better reflect his Dimocrat party affiliation. How about a name change to Anal Sphincter.

Pingback| 5.6.09 @ 3:11PM

Trouble on Dem ‘Fantasy Island’: Specter Is Freaking Everyone Out « Frugal Café Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Specter is Blaming Republicans for Cancer? Politico: After Specter switch: buyer’s remorse? Hot Air: Video: Specter says he would have cured Kemp if GOP had listened The American Spectator: A New Low, Even for Specter Michelle Malkin: How to file an FEC complaint against “Specter for the Cure” and Another Arlen “Human Ipecac” Specter moment and Arlen Specter: Human Ipecac and Breaking news: Arlen Specter acts…

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More Blog Posts by Matthew Vadum

http://spectator.org/blog/2009/05/04/a-new-low-even-for-specter

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