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But he fielded questions on a host of other hot topics as well — the crisis in Iran, health care and his loyalty to the Democrats now that they hold a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate.
About his 2010 re-election campaign, and news that he would face a primary challenge from U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, the 79-year-old Democrat was plain-spoken: "I'm ready, willing and able to take on all comers."
Here's a question-and-answer with Specter:
Q: The president has proposed a public health care option, which some lawmakers oppose. Where do you stand?
A: "I support President Obama's health-care initiative … I think we need to cover the 47 million Americans who are now not covered, and we need to bring down the cost. The cost of health care is too high.
"On the public option, I think there ought to be one. I think that Senator (Charles) Schumer has the right idea on having a public option, which will be competitive with the private sector. Many people want to keep the insurance that they have now, and I think people ought to be able to keep what they have when they like it.
"President Obama, I think, is on the right track, saying there ought to be a public option to, as some people put it, keep the private sector honest so we know what the real costs are.
"And I think that is a balanced approach, to maintain competitiveness — that's the American way — and have the government fill in in areas where there is no coverage and to provide the choice between the public option and the private sector."
Q: The last time you were in town, you were a Republican. Now you're a Democrat who will face an opponent in the Democratic primary. Pennsylvania voters, in the last election, supported Obama because they were looking for a change. So why should they support you?
A: "Because of my seniority in the Senate. Because of my ability to bring money like the stimulus package today. Talking about economic development in downtown Lancaster of some $50 million, $17 (million) of it was provided by the federal government through the efforts that I have brought.
"My voting record has been more in line with the Democratic approach than Republicans, and I'd been urged for many years by (Vice President) Joe Biden and (Gov.) Ed Rendell to become a Democrat. And after my vote on the stimulus package I had a lot of Republicans urging me to become a Democrat. It feels very comfortable and I have the support of the president and the vice president and the governor.
"But I did not ask them to clear the field. I'm ready, willing and able to take on all comers. I've been in a lot of primaries and been in a lot of elections."
Q: Al Franken has been officially declared the winner of his Senate race, giving Democrats the 60 votes needed to overcome any Republican filibuster on legislation. Can Democrats count on you to be a reliable 60th vote?
A: "Well, I have supported President Obama on the stimulus, on child health care, on equality for women, and I expect to support him on this health care program. And that is part of the reason I joined, is to make the 60th vote to move the president's agenda ahead."
Q: President Obama has been cautious in his approach to the Iranian situation. How do you read his reaction?
"I believe that President Obama struck the right note. Initially, he did not want to intervene to give the impression that somebody might say we were putting the insurgents up to it. When the brutality became very pronounced, he spoke out in very strong, condemnatory language. I like his idea to maintain a dialogue, something I have advocated for years.
"I think the president is right not to engage Iran bilaterally in light of what is happening right now, but to approach it multilaterally on the discussion with Iran, which involves China, Russia and the European countries.
"I believe in the adage that you make peace with your enemies, not with your friends, and having worked with (Libyan leader Moammar) Gadhafi, arguably the worst terrorist in the history of the world, I think dialogue is a good approach, that it has to be tempered in the multilateral talks, at least for the time being."
E-mail: tmurse@lnpnews.com
Specter at RRTA
