Civility | Democracy

In Memory of Sen. Arlen J. Specter, 1930-2012

Former Senator Arlen Specter passed away on Sunday, October 14th, at the age of 82.

He was one of the last great voices of self-determined political independence, and his career included time as a Democrat and a Republican, serving as both hero and opposition to both U.S. political parties.

No matter which party he was aligned with at any given time, however, Specter could be relied upon to engage with members of the opposition – a quality in short supply in today’s hyper-partisan political climate.

As someone willing to engage even those who disagreed with him on issues, Senator Specter was an example of the ideals and mission of The Common Good.

He will be missed.

FROM THE NEWS:

Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Senator, Is Dead at 82

NYT, Sheryl Gay Stolberg - Mr. Specter was at the center of many of the Senate’s most divisive legal battles, only to lose his seat in 2010 after quitting the Republican Party to become a Democrat. [more]

Former Sen. Arlen Specter Dies at 82

WSJ, Kris Maher -  Arlen Specter was a five-term U.S. senator representing Pennsylvania, first as a Republican and then as a Democrat, who won admirers and critics for his independence and willingness to cross party lines. [more]

Arlen Specter — ‘one of the few truly wild cards’ — dead at 82

CNN, Joe Sterling – Former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, who embodied a vanishing breed of liberal Republicanism before switching to the Democratic Party at the twilight of his political career, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer, his family announced.  Specter died of complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at his home in Philadelphia, his family said.  [more]