Arlen Specter Quotes

I think it's scandalous that we haven't done more to cure cancer.

Neither this nation nor this party can afford a candidate so captive to the demands of the intolerant right that we end up re-electing a president of the incompetent left.

Lawyers advocate more so than state their own positions.

There's nothing more important than our good health - that's our principal capital asset.

When the students are occupied, they're not juvenile delinquents. I believe that education is a capital investment.

When I'm asked about legacy, I say it's too early to talk about legacy.

I must say I am not pleased to have to arrange the Senate schedule around the availability of Senators who are running for President.

We don't need holy wars. What we need is tolerance and brotherhood and simple humanity.

I do come from a strong family.

Do you believe today that the right to privacy does exist in the Constitution?

Americans' addiction to sports, with the NFL at the top, is based on the excitement generated by the potential for the unexpected great play which can only happen with honest competition from great athletes.

The best way to reduce the cost of medical care is to reduce the illness.

Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy's statement that sometimes party asks too much.

Effective security measures do not come cheap.

As I think through the issue of funding the rebuilding of Iraq, I think about the analogy of a bankruptcy proceeding. There is no doubt that Iraq as a country is bankrupt.

I just was not going to subject my record to the bleak prospects of a primary election.

I am very much opposed to abortion personally. But I don't think it is the government's rule.

It's been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania.

I am opposed to anybody making a decision for you or me or anybody else about what health care plan we should have.

I knew people were going to see me see deteriorate before their eyes.

I don't expect people to agree with all my votes.

If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine.

There are conspiracies all over the Senate floor on any day!

'Never give in' was my mindset.

The essence of a democracy is a free electorate.

My definition of winning at squash is playing and surviving, and I've never lost a match.

You know, a statesman is a dead politician.

I have not taken a position on that nuclear option. My view is I'm not going to do anything until I come to that bridge. I'm not going to jump off the bridge until I come to it

If enough people would come out the right wing, the extremists couldn't dominate.

The solicitor general is sometimes referred to as the 10th Supreme Court justice - a pretty important position.

I think my independence was a big help to getting Judges Roberts and Alito confirmed, and I think that's recognized.

How many members of Congress go face the people in a town meeting and are prepared to answer questions from the floor. That to me is the real litmus test.

I beat a brain tumor.

It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the deciding vote.

Pennsylvania is a very tough state; people don't last long in Pennsylvania politics.

We are not utilizing the Iraqi oil for U.S. purposes. We are not asking that the Iraqi oil be used to pay our military expenses. We are asking only that the Iraqi oil be used to rebuild Iraq - that is, to rebuild Iraq for the Iraqi people.

We have people there who do have substantial wisdom and substantial experience. And if they were confident enough to express their own views, that they wouldn't be bushwhacked by the party for casting a single vote like Bob Bennett was or like I was, they'd be willing to speak up and they'd be willing to speak their consciences and put their ideas on the line. But right now, there is timidity, there is fear that if they do that a single votes gonna cost them their job and they're not willing to make that kind of a sacrifice and they're not enough with the people.

As a matter of traditional and sound constitutional doctrine, an amendment to the Constitution should be the last resort when all other measures have proved inadequate.

When the president acts in absence of a congressional grant of authority, he can rely only upon his own independent powers. When the president takes measures incompatible with the express or implied will of Congress, his power is at its lowest ebb.

I think a public official ought to follow his conscience as to what is in the public interest, not what will protect his job.

I've been in a lot of elections.

The Republican Party has moved so far to the right, you can't recognize Mitt Romney. What Mitt Romney will appear in October? Mitt Romney has changed positions more often than a pornographic movie queen.

Look, the president can discharge all 93 U.S. attorneys for no reason at all, but not for a bad reason.

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer; cancer, the number 2 killer, not far behind. The tragic aspect of these deadly diseases is that they could all be cured, I do believe, if we had sufficient funding.

What I would ask the leaders to do is to better understand the American people. I would insist that the leaders have town meetings and meet the people and listen to them and find out what is on their minds.

I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

I'd make - before I'd elect somebody - I'd make him do town meetings and face the people and then I would insist that the person not run on a platform of no compromising. The meaningful thing that the leaders could do would be to be dedicated to a discussion across the isle, to vote their consciences and not to follow the strict party line. I think that would lead to sensible decisions.

If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which is what has made our country strong.