Sestak criticizes Specter for compromising on health care bill

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak used his visit to campus yesterday to criticize Sen. Arlen Specter, his… U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak used his visit to campus yesterday to criticize Sen. Arlen Specter, his opponent in the race for a Democratic Senate seat, for “flipping positions” and showing “lack of leadership.”

Sestak spoke in front of more than 20 students in the William Pitt Union as part of an event hosted by the College Democrats. He spent about an hour answering students’ questions about his policy positions, campaign and opponent.

Sestak, who mentioned that he has worked on health care subcommittees while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, called Specter’s work on the health care reform bill “inadequate” and said that a “real leader” would have campaigned more actively to shape the bill, rather than compromise. Sestak did not elaborate on Specter’s compromises.

Representatives for Specter’s campaign had not returned phone calls as of press time.

Sestak criticized Specter for switching parties, saying, “We need leadership that is less worried about keeping their jobs.”

Specter switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party at the end of April, amid concerns that he might lose to Republican challenger Pat Toomey in a primary race.

A Rasmussen poll of Republican voters, which was released in April, showed Toomey with a 20 percent lead over Specter among likely Republican voters.

Sestak said that since switching parties, Specter has reversed many of the positions the veteran senator held during almost 30 years in the Senate.

Specter’s website provides links to two other websites, one called “Noshowjoe.org” and another called “Sestak Corrected.” The sites attack the congressman’s congressional attendance record and campaign.

Apart from the negative campaigning, the candidates are currently competing for endorsements.

Sestak’s campaign announced yesterday that it received endorsements from five local Democrats: State Senator Jim Ferlo, Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb, City Councilman Bruce Kraus and City Council President Doug Shields and 14th Ward and Squirrel Hill Democratic Committee Chair Barbara Daly Danko.

Specter’s campaign announced on its websites that the senator received endorsements from 28 local Democrats yesterday. Among those endorsing Specter were former Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff, former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer, Allegheny County Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty and Pennsylvania Democratic Party Vice Chair Jean Milko.

Andrew Sabo, president of the College Democrats, said his group sponsored Sestak’s visit after the congressman’s campaign contacted them. He said the College Democrats tried to organize a similar event with Specter.

The College Democrats have not endorsed either candidate, he said.

“We don’t want to burn any bridges,” he said. “The focus is on getting a Democrat in Congress in November.”