Forensic Math
by Holden Watch
The Sunday October 25, 2009 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette contained an article entitled "Specter: Still an 'independent streak'" in which we learn that, since his official (as opposed to his former de facto) defection to the dark side, Arlen Specter has voted with the Democrats 94.2 percent of the time, the same as his senatorial colleague, Pennsylvania Democrat Bobby Casey Jr. The Post-Gazette seems to take that voting record as a sign of independence.
But, wait!
The article also informs us that since Congressman Joe Sestak joined the senatorial race in late May, Specter has voted even more consistently with his party at a 96.4 percent rate. Sestak's votes-with-party rating in the House is 97.7 percent.
Clearly Specter and Sestak are in a high speed race to the left prior to the 2010 primary to impress a liberal Democratic base, their most reliable voters.
Though more traditional party members, those once known as Reagan Democrats, may be uncomfortable with the hard left turn in the Pennsylvania Democratic senatorial race, the candidates' dash to the left makes sense in the context of party realities.
But what are we to make of the voting records of other Democratic congressional politicians like Tim Holden who represent conservative districts containing only a small liberal constituency and who have no primary opponent to drive them leftward?
Specter's race to the left has yielded a 96.4 percent party unity rating since his more liberal opponent entered the race. As of the close of business in the House on October 23, 2009, Holden has voted with Nancy Pelosi the same 96.4 percent of the time - only for the entire session. And that number is consistent with Holden's Pelosi-meter results for each session since the first of two times Tim Holden voted to elect Pelosi Speaker.
If, as the Post-Gazette suggests, Specter's 96.4 percent is not independent, than Tim Holden has no claim to independence in the House and no claim to conservatism in the district.
The fact that Timmy incessantly tells district voters he is independent and conservative are but two manifestations of his affliction with the Holden Truth Inversion Syndrome we have covered here with some regularity.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, no one's conservative rag, Holden's voting record mathematically disproves both claims.
District voters are no longer indifferent to what goes on in Washington. Only their inattention keeps Timmy in Congress.
That is changing, too.