Steele: Specter ‘flipped the bird’ at Republicans

RNC Chairman Michael Steele says Arlen Specter has “flipped the bird” at the Senate Republican leadership, which had supported his re-election as a Republican.

“Senator Cornyn went out on the line for this man,” Steele said on CNN, referring to the Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign. “And for the senator to effectively flip the bird back to Senator Cornyn and the Republican Senate leadership, the team that stood by him, who went to the bat for him in 2004 to save his hide, to me is not only disrespectful. It’s just downright rude. I’m sure his mama didn’t raise him this way. And it’s a shame that he’s behaving this way today.”

Steele expects a Democrat to challenge Specter in the primary. (Rep. Joe Sestak has left the door open.) Even if Specter makes it to the general election, Steele says he’ll lose.

“[I]f Senator Specter survives into the fall, get ready to go to the mat, baby, because we’re coming after you and we’re taking you out.” On the possibility of a Democratic primary, Steele quipped, “I love it.”

Steele said Specter’s positions on economic policy made him unwelcome in the party.

“Well, if spending the hard-earned dollars of the American people and redistributing their wealth and moving towards a collectivist socialist approach to government, if that helps you realize you’re a Democrat, then, you know good riddance,” Steele said.

Steele added that Specter did not give him any advance warning of the switch, which he considers a sign of disrespect.

“I mean, you know, at least give me a call or give the party leadership a call and let us know, this is what I’m thinking, this is where I’m going, so that, you know, it can be repaired,” Steele said.