Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Washington Blade - November 12, 2004
Joe Crea
Specter, who won a fourth term by defeating Congressman Joseph Hoeffel, is a co-sponsor of federal hate crimes legislation; he opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment, backs the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and has been a strong supporter of increasing HIV/AIDS funding.
But it was Specter's July vote to send the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Senate floor that HRC cited as a key reason he did not win the group's support, officials said.
Cheryl Jacques, executive director of HRC, said she had "no regrets" about not supporting Specter during the campaign.
"You don't get to play Monday morning quarterback," Jacques said. "We stand by a solid commitment to records and equality.
"Those who support discrimination into the Constitution don't deserve our support. I expect that if Sen. Specter becomes the chair of the Judiciary Committee, we will work with him. I hope he is focused on a fair-minded judiciary and policy for this country, and I hope that he comes to regret his vote [on the FMA]."
Specter has publicly said that he would have voted against the FMA had it come up for a vote, a stance that put him at odds with the White House and Republican leaders, including the junior senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum (R), one of the strongest proponents of the FMA. His vote on the procedural issue of bringing up the FMA for consideration was a matter of party loyalty, he has said.
Calls to Specter's campaign and Capitol Hill office seeking comment were not returned by press time.
Pro-gay record The Log Cabin Republicans, a gay GOP political group, endorsed Specter, noting he nearly lost his primary race this spring to conservative Rep. Patrick Toomey, in part because of his support for gay rights issues.
Patrick Guerriero, executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, said gay voters cannot continue to abandon gay-friendly Republicans simply because they do not support every single gay issue.
"If we continue to abandon Republicans, why would the next U.S. senator stick with us in the toughest moments when we aren't there for him?" Guerriero asked. "Most of the Democrats endorsed by other groups weren't always great on the issues either."
Specter is set to chair the Judiciary Committee due to his seniority. He came under fire from conservatives last week for cautioning President Bush not to put forth any Supreme Court nominee who wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
Specter told CNN on Tuesday that he was not "warning" the president but simply noting that 60 votes are needed for cloture on a potential court nomination and the GOP only has 55 Senate seats.
Specter has voted for each of President Bush's judicial nominees. But he helped lead the fight against Robert Bork, who was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.
HRC gave Specter a 50 percent overall rating in its most recent annual Congressional Scorecard. He received lower marks for allowing the vote on the FMA to proceed to the Senate floor.
Specter's ranking with HRC was also lowered because he did not co-sponsor the Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2003, which would expand Medicaid to people living with HIV and for not adopting a voluntary, written policy adding gender identity to sexual orientation as a non-factor in employment decisions in his Senate office.
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