Specter Cites Colleagues for Lack of Courage

Retiring Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, who turned Democrat last year, bolting the Republican Party to avoid defeat in its primary, singles out his Senate colleagues for lacking the political courage to make unpopular decisions, The Hill reports.

Specter says senators have turned scared after seeing their colleagues pay for various votes in this year’s elections. In particular, he cites Sen. Robert Bennett's defeat in the Utah Republican primary after voting for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout package and Sen. Lisa Murksowki’s loss in the Alaska Republican primary.

“Senators today are shying away from casting controversial votes on the proposition of any single vote can lead to their defeat,” Specter tells The Hill.