The Wild Man's Journal

Conservatives Make Good On Their Threat

By Tom Walsh 

In the April 2004 Republican Primary, Pat Toomey challenged Arlen Spector, for the U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Pat had a 97% Conservative Rating, while Spector was the most liberal, pro-death senator in the Republican Party. Pat had put together a good campaign, had the momentum and was closing in fast on this vulnerable liberal.  But, when “pro-life” Rick Santorum started stumping for Snarlen Arlen Conservatives were shocked.  The Bush / Santorum tag-team defeated Pat Toomey in the primary and the betrayal was complete.

Arlen Spector not only went on to be re-elected to the U.S. Senate but he retained his seat on the judiciary committee, where he was well positioned to vote against Pro-life judges nominated for the Supreme Court.

Conservatives of all stripes vowed Rick would pay for his disloyalty the next time he ran for office.  Party officials discounted the public outcry as just angry rhetoric that would blow over, but they were so wrong.  In November of 2006 pro-life Democrat Bob Casey defeated Rick Santorum, because the conservative base abstained, voted for Casey, or did what I did and placed a write-in vote for Pat Toomey.

Pat Toomey