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Guest Commentary: May 26, 2001
Dissent Does Not Mean Disloyalty
The Honorable Arlen Specter
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I am very disappointed, but I can understand Senator Jeffords' reasoning. I would have hoped he would have given the Republican Party a shot across the bow, but instead, it's a shot in the bow. I believe that there is very positive reasons now for the Republican Caucus in the Senate and others to reevaluate positions on very fundamental questions.
I think that we lost key seats last year because of positions on health issues like the Patient's Bill of Rights, and on education issues and environmental issues. I think it is very important to include Moderates and the Centrists in the Party's positions and in the Party's activities. What Senator Jeffords has done is dynamite. I hope it will produce some changes in our party.
I would not say that Conservatives in the party drove Senator Jeffords out. I do not think it is useful to do any finger pointing. The Conservatives in the party have very strongly held views. But they are different than the views of the Moderates, and there -- candidly -- has not been an accommodation, which is understandable. There were five of us that would meet for lunch on Wednesdays: Jim Jeffords, Olympia Snow, Susan Collins, Lincoln Chaffee and myself. When you have five people out of a 50 person caucus, that is a fairly small minority. The dominant forces of the party went the other way. ...The Conservatives expressed their views, but there was not an accommodation - an allowance - for other views.
There is no doubt that this will have a significant impact on the President's agenda. When you don't have Senator Lott setting the agenda for the Senate, and you have the Democrats setting the agenda, they are going to be looking at policies counter to what the President has in mind. So, it's a very serious setback for the Administration and it's a fundamental change of governance for America to have the United States Senate change control. It's a big, big, big matter.
When Senator Jeffords said it was an emotional meeting, it was an understatement -- very, very emotional. One of our Senators broke down a little. All of us were feeling very, very bad. It was sort of like a death in the family - a death of a close family member. Today was the burial. Its quite an impact. Having worked with Jim Jeffords for the last twelve years - having greatly respected him -- I repeat -- I understand what he was saying. He's still my friend. ...
The waves will ripple out. You will see a lot of ripple effect, not only today or tomorrow, but for a long time in the future. ...The Democrats will now control the Senate, so when the President sends over a bill, it won't receive the kind of attention and priority and strategic impact as if Senator Lott was running the Senate. The concern I have is that there will be many moderates across America who will say that if the Party is not for Jim Jeffords - will raise a question as whether if the Party is for them. I think that a number of us Olympia, Susan and Linc, Ted Stevens and Pete Domenici and I will have to stand up and say that there is a place for moderates in the Republican Party. But I think the caucus and the party will have to respond to back us up on that.
We talked yesterday about a place in leadership for a moderate. I think that is step one. I think they will have to understand that dissent does not mean disloyalty. And I think there will have to be a greater accommodation for some of the principles we stand for. ...
I do not think there will be a shake-up in the Senate Republican leadership. I do not think that Senator Lott is at fault here. I think he did every thing he could. I think he consulted with Senator Jeffords consistently over the course of time and has been a good leader for the Party. ...
The Republican Caucus, like politics generally is a game of contact sports. There are a lot of sharp elbows - a lot of strong views. I can see from my own personal experience that he might of been treated a little roughly, but I think that's part of the process. I think there has to be a give and take. I don't think anyone in the Republican Caucus intended to malign Jim Jeffords.
Note: This column has been adapted from a statement Sen. Specter issued on May 24, 2001.
 How to contact Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania)
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