Changes

}}

}}

'''Arlen Specter''' (February 12, 1930 – October 14, 2012) was the former Democratic senior [[United States]] Senator from [[Pennsylvania]]. He was first elected in 1980, and was subsequently reelected five times since then. He had moderate to liberal viewpoints - particularly when it came to economic and social issues. He supported Obama's massive stimulus bill in 2009 and opposed attempts to overturn [[Roe v. Wade]].

'''Arlen Specter''' (February 12, 1930 – October 14, 2012) was the former [[Democrat]] senior [[United States]] senator from [[Pennsylvania]]. He was first elected in 1980, and was subsequently reelected five times since then. He had moderate to liberal viewpoints - particularly when it came to economic and social issues. He supported Obama's massive stimulus bill in 2009 and opposed attempts to overturn [[Roe v. Wade]].

Before defecting to the [[Democratic Party]] (see below), Senator Specter was a [[RINO]], disagreeing with the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] Administration on numerous issues. He was one of three Republicans who supported Obama's stimulus bill in 2009. Threatened with a [[conservative]] [[primary]] challenger for his seat in 2010, on April 28, 2009, he announced he was switching to the Democratic party. Once [[Al Franken]] was declared the victor in the [[Minnesota]] Senate race, Specter's vote provided the crucial 60th vote needed for the Democrats (and the two independents) to stop GOP [[filibusters]]. However, that filibuster-proof majority ended when [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Scott Brown]] won the [[Massachusetts]] special Senate election in January 2010.

Before defecting to the [[Democratic Party]] (see below), Senator Specter was a [[RINO]], disagreeing with the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] Administration on numerous issues. He was one of three Republicans who supported Obama's stimulus bill in 2009. Threatened with a [[conservative]] [[primary]] challenger for his seat in 2010, on April 28, 2009, he announced he was switching to the Democratic party. Once [[Al Franken]] was declared the victor in the [[Minnesota]] Senate race, Specter's vote provided the crucial 60th vote needed for the Democrats (and the two independents) to stop GOP [[filibusters]]. However, that filibuster-proof majority ended when [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Scott Brown]] won the [[Massachusetts]] special Senate election in January 2010.

==References==

==References==

==See also==

==See also==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Specter, Arlen}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Specter, Arlen}}

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:111th United States Congress]]

[[Category:111th United States Congress]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Reagan Era]]

[[Category:Reagan Era]]

[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]

[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]

[[Category:American Jews]]

[[Category:American Jews]]

[[Category:Abortion Advocates]]

[[Category:Abortion Advocates]]