Specter to get Judiciary subcmte chair

Posted: Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:09 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Congress, Republicans

From NBC's Ken Strickland

In an apparent effort to to ease the tension over Arlen Specter's bumpy transition into the Senate Democratic caucus, Sen. Dick Durbin is willing to voluntarily relinquish his chairmanship on a Judiciary subcommittee to Specter, sources tell NBC News.

Specter will become the Chairman of the Crime and Drug Subcommittee. The committee is an important one, as it has substantial oversight over the Department of Justice. The vaunted Crime Bill was written in that committee.

As for Durbin, he will become chairman of a reconstituted subcommittee called Human Rights and the Law.

"I have offered the gavel of the Crime and Drugs Subcommittee to Senator Specter who has been a leader on criminal justice issues for decades," Durbin said in a written statement. He added that over the past few days Democratic leaders "have had a number of conversations about ways to best utilize Senator Specter's talents and experience in our Caucus."

Earlier this week, Majority Leader Harry Reid stripped Specter of all of his seniority within the committees. Reid has previously said that Specter's seniority would not allow him to leapfrog over others to claim a chairmanship post unless someone voluntarily stepped down.

*** UPDATE *** This post has been updated with Durbin's statement and context.

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Comments

Specter is little more than an afterthought, and of his own doing.

Pablo (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:17 AM)

To Big to Fail...

Sounds more like testosterone based than a clear challenge to be for the little guy ...

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:17 AM)

Specter will become the Chairman of the Crime and Drug Subcommittee. The committee is an important one, as it has substantial oversight over the Department of Justice. The vaunted Crime Bill was written in that committee.

I see it comming.... When you want to house tain a dog, every time it craps off the paper, you stick his nose in it. Well now Arlen, let's see how you handel this babble that's been given you.

Are you Democrat, or Republican.....this is rich.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:19 AM)

Dick Durbin is doing his part to keep the peace; he's a good senator. Maybe Specter will be more careful in the future before saying he's not a loyal democrat and hopes Coleman wins. This probably would not have happened to him if he hadn't spoken out over the weekend and made the democrats a bit angry especially after his two recent votes.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:19 AM)

Oh goody, that oughtta keep the little bugger quiet until he is defeated in the next election. Thanks Mr. Durbin, a noble gesture indeed.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:21 AM)

What? Human rights and the law RECONSTITUTED?

That's nice, of course, but someone needs to answer this big question ~ exactly when was it UNconstituted ... and WHY?

Anna Molly (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:23 AM)

"Specter will become the Chairman of the Crime and Drug Subcommittee. The committee is an important one, as it has substantial oversight over the Department of Justice. The vaunted Crime Bill was written in that committee".

Strong word, OVERSIGHT, over the DOJ...Get real!

Good place for Spector.....SUBcommittee HA, HA!

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:24 AM)

Ahh, isn't that cute? It looks like an Affirmative Action program for Democratic Senators.

Lisa Myers, CA (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:28 AM)

Did Durbin take a tissue and dry Arlen's eyes for him too?

Cry Baby Arlen (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:28 AM)

Jody Iowa: [Dick Durbin is doing his part to keep the peace; he's a good senator. ]

Yeah, he's real good alright. Apparently you've forgotten the Blagojevich/Roland_Burris problem where Dick was on the wrong side of every issue every step of the way.

Cal Lawton, Wheaton IL (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:31 AM)

Thanks but no thanks on that Senator to Nowhere.

We've fought to hard to bet everything on this idiot (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:32 AM)

I am a lot more cynical and after all this is politics. I find it extremely interesting that Specter was given Durbin's seat on the very committee that will tackle the issue of the Bush Administration's "crime bill". As i've said, this is rich indeed.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:32 AM)

{Dick Durbin is doing his part to keep the peace; he's a good senator. }

Isn't Durbin the Senator that compared our troops in Iraq to nazi's several years ago?

Kathy S., Southern Indiana (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:32 AM)

Spector is too ego driven to see what is clearly in front of him-Democrats will say anything they need to get you on their side, with absolutely no intention of living up to their promises. Durban is smart enough to realize that the national attention drawn to Spector's defection shines a spotlight on this, so he will do what is necessary to shut Spector up.

Good luck with that.

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:32 AM)

Oh, and Brian, you move a lot.
no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:12 AM)
================================================
No joe, I enjoy this blog and I have fun posting. Maybe I missed something, but what do you mean by that?

Brian, Girard, OH (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:37 AM)

Jody, Iowa: '...Dick Durbin is doing his part to keep the peace; he's a good senator...'

Jody, Couldn't AGREE MORE
Durbin also pushed the Bankruptcy bill with Cram Downs in it
It failed, but not due to anything Durbin did
I'm really getting to like this guy
(Unlike his replacement on the Subcommittee)

'...Maybe Specter will be more careful in the future before saying he's not a loyal democrat and hopes Coleman wins. This probably would not have happened to him if he hadn't spoken out over the weekend and made the democrats a bit angry especially after his two recent votes...'

If he doesn't come around on Card Check and Health Insurance reform, I predict the SEIU will support a challenger in the primary

I hope thye do
If they can just find a progressive
(I hear Sestak is practically a Blue Dog)

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:49 AM)

DEMOCRATS ARE DOUBLE-CROSSERS.

SPECTER TRUSTED THE SLIME-O-CRATS ! ... HA. (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:51 AM)

Why? Isn't Specter the one that allowed members of the Bush Administration to testify to congress without being under oath? That was a joke then...and I for one do not believe he knows the meaning of honesty...and truth

Geraldine Martin (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:03 AM)

Political inside game here. Durbin is showing leadership. If Specter does not begin to vote Dems on important issues, his consituents will show him the door in 2010.

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:06 AM)

There were plenty of folks who were duped in the Blago/Burris situation. Durbin didn't want Blago to appoint anyone but he did anyway and the State certified it. As for Nazi comparison, I don't recall that but if he said it, he shouldn't have; however, I would want to know the whole quote and explanation before passing judgement on him since too often bits of statements are taken out of context and it happens to both republicans and democrats. Appreciate the information but from an Iowa perspective, I still think Durbin is a good senator; since I can't vote for him, your opinions are what counts in Illinois.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:13 AM)

Specter’s prayer –

Now I lay me down to sleep
Obama’s plan I pledge to keep
But if it fails before I wake
I’ll switch parties again for my own sake

Tom, Anchorage AK (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:14 AM)

I guess there's no 'magic bullet' in senate seniority like the one he invented for the Warren Commission investigation on the assination of President Kennedy. Now that he's not a loyal Democrat, how do you think that'll work for him in the upcoming Pennsylvania Senate primaries? I'd bet on Sestak in that one!

daveNJ (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:19 AM)

To Kathy S, who asks:

"Isn't Durbin the Senator that compared our troops in Iraq to nazi's several years ago?"
------------------------------------------------------
No, Kathy. Sen. Durbin was commenting on an FBI report detailing the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo. Here's the quote from the Wasshington Post:

"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control," he said, "you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings."

30 seconds of research, people. Seriously. Pull a quote before you go interpreting it for others, okay? Thanks.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:24 AM)

Kathy S ~

Senator Durbin was talking about American treatment of prisoners in Abu Ghraib.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqIlXfkylD4

As the facts have long since borne out, he was probably right ... much to our shame.

Anna Molly (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:25 AM)

So what is he gonna do when he figures out he cant win a democratic primary either?

austin, boyertown pa (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:30 AM)

So what is he gonna do when he figures out he cant win a democratic primary either?
austin, boyertown pa (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:30 AM)

Arlen will then get appointed to be SecOfDefense in the Obama administration. How'd you like to see Arlen running the military?

Fun Times (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:40 AM)

I still don't think the people of PA are stupid enough to fall for this. Specter is a dino...he voted with the bushies far more than any other democrat...he voted for torture and a foolish war in iraq

Rojer, PA (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:40 AM)

Ignoring his abilities would be stupid and say nothing good about the capacity of the party to be open to new membership. Would we ignore the neighborhood guy who switched party but had great skills just because he was new on the block? Hope not.

mexed, san antonio, texas (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:52 AM)

Isn't Durbin the Senator that compared our troops in Iraq to nazi's several years ago?
Kathy S., Southern Indiana (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:32 AM)

Kathy - what are you talking about? I try to pay attention to Illinois politicians & I definitely think I'd remember something like that. That doesn't sound like him at all.

Sharon IL (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:54 AM)

Oooops. My apologies. I heard Durbin speak the words and just assumed he was talking about Abu Ghraib. But here's the thing: How sad is it that there may be many more places than two where we performed these unspeakable acts?

Anna Molly (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 11:58 AM)

I see it comming.... When you want to house tain a dog, every time it craps off the paper, you stick his nose in it.
Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:19 AM)

Anita, I always enjoy and appreciate your comments. However, please don't perpetuate the awful myth that this is how you housetrain a dog...

Jay Jones (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 12:06 PM)

DEMOCRATS ARE DOUBLE-CROSSERS.

SPECTER TRUSTED THE SLIME-O-CRATS ! ... HA. (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:51 AM)

Thank you for the insightful, well-thought out and supported statement. BTW, that was sarcasm.

Just go away (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 12:09 PM)

What I don't get is why there is not an outrage over your Dem Party allowing a man to come in and overstep the members who have always been loyal to the party.Spector just wants to slide into the Dem Party for his own political gain....doesn't care about any of you.If this doesn't work for him, he will flip again and again and again.

Susie, Kinston NC (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 12:18 PM)

Glad to know what the Durbin quote was, thanks. I knew I did not remember him comparing troops to Nazi's, and really couldn't imagine him ever saying anything like that.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 1:18 PM)

"Oooops. My apologies. I heard Durbin speak the words and just assumed he was talking about Abu Ghraib."
------------------------------------------------------
Anna Molly, I automatically thought the same thing, and was surprised to see the original quote was indeed about Guantanamo. And I agree with you- it's sad that there is more than one location to choose from. It's also a shame that it has taken this long for many of us to catch up to Senator Durbin's initial assessment- but his words sure don't seem so outrageous, now.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, May 07, 2009 1:44 PM)

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