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Congressman and former admiral to challenge Specter for Democratic nod for Senate
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Springfield Township, enjoyed a long military career, retiring after 31 years from the Navy, where he attained the rank of 3-star admiral. Now, he feels it's time to give back.That's one reason he's running for the U.S. Senate in next spring's primary against U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Philadelphia. During a stop at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette on Wednesday, Sestak, 58, was quick to remind its editorial board and Publisher Bernard A. Oravec that while he respects Specter, he, unlike the senator, was not one to follow former President Bush. It was Bush, he said, with the help of lawmakers such as Specter, who helped "derail" the economy. "He (Specter) voted consistently with policies that got us there," he said. Sestak said he decided on a Senate bid even before Specter decided to switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. In further addressing his reasons for making a Senate run, Sestak said, "The defining issue is being in it for others and not for yourself." Sestak said he thinks President Obama's stimulus plan is working for the nation. While unemployment has grown, it has not been to the extent it would have, had the president and Congress done nothing. He said he's in favor of reforming health care, but not through a single-payer system. And he'd favor a model like that of Massachusetts, with everyone insured. "Eventually, what you pay is less because you mandate others be insured," Sestak said. Increasing numbers of people would receive preventative care, helping further drive down costs, he explained. Sestak noted that just two insurers in the state control 70 percent of the health care plans. "That's a monopoly," he said. "I believe if you get fair competition, you get the best capitalism with the best medical system." Doing nothing with health care, he added, is simply not an option. Sestak said the U.S. military still is a great one, but must improve its readiness. The real mission in Afghanistan is that of eradicating al-Qaida from neighboring Pakistan. "We must transform our military," he said. On Social Security, Sestak said there could exist various means of keeping it solvent, including having the more affluent wage earners pay stiffer Social Security taxes. "There should be several ways to to solve this problem. What's the right way to be fairest to everyone?" He said Specter has voted five times for privatizing Social Security, a solution that he opposes. Posted by: Fred 2009-07-16 |
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