Sen. Arlen Specter never answered my question.
So, I decided to ask him again. This time, I wanted to hear what he would say in his own environment, among his own ilk and without the eyes of the nation bearing down on him.
About two weeks ago, I ordered a pair of tickets for a local Democratic fund-raiser featuring Sen. Specter as the guest of honor. The Democratic chairman called me a few days later and was very nice, so I fully anticipated it to be a cordial affair -- a place where I could ask my question and finally get an answer. I didn't know if the senator would remember me, but frankly, I didn't care.
Into the Fire
At the check-in area, I gave the attendant my name and that of my husband, Sam. She immediately refused to let one of us in, alleging that we hadn't paid for two tickets. I knew we had, and was prepared to argue this point, but rather than cause a scene, my husband graciously bowed out. The attendant allowed me to enter, but not before casting an icy stare in my direction. I was alone in hostile territory.
Inside, I chatted with a few people, who thankfully didn't recognize me. Throughout the room, however, I would catch people covering their mouths as they whispered to a friend while looking directly at me. Before long, thankfully, the Senator arrived. I attempted to speak with him in private, but his handlers told me he was running late and needed to begin his speech.
The Second Question
Specter, who had switched political parties in the spring, began by telling the group how he had always a Democrat in spirit even though he had been a Republican for five 6-year terms. After his speech, he opened the floor to five questions. I raised my hand to be one of the questioners, and people around the room chuckled. Specter nevertheless chose me to be one of the five, and their laughter died away quickly.
When he got to me (I was the final one to ask a question), I thanked him for being there and I thanked those folks who had welcomed me. Then I asked my question:
"With the health care reform that's going on, I feel like everybody is missing the big picture," I said. "The Constitution says we're supposed to promote the general welfare, not provide it. Why are we even questioning this? Why are we doing this? Why don't we leave this up to the people in our own communities to take care of people in the community? Why is this a federal government thing? The Constitution is supposed to bind the federal government, and you guys are spreading it out all over the place!"
Before the Senator could answer, a woman to my left told Specter, "She's not one of us; don't worry about her."
"I'm American, and you're American, too," I said to the woman. "It's about your liberty and my liberty. I used to be a Democrat, too, OK?"
"We don't need you here," she said.
To his credit, Specter acknowledged the fairness of my question ... but never really answered it. Instead, he went off on the national deficit and the stimulus package. This was as close as he got:
Specter's "Answer"
"So, why is the government in the picture?" he asked. "We faced this hurdle back in the Roosevelt administration when we passed the Social Security and the Johnson administration when we passed Medicare … The lady puts her finger on the spot, we have a federal system, a central government of limited power and it's the general welfare clause, which she cites, that it used the word "promote" instead of provide, but the Supreme Court of the United States has said that the general welfare clause is important, and we have come to believe that in terms of morality and in terms of humanitarian principals that people are entitled to Social Security. They pay for it, they worked hard."
The Democrats applauded loudly, and the Senator continued.
"… At the same time, [we're] very sensitive to the point that the young lady is making about the deficit and the national debt," he said, and then addressed a question about the deficit that I never asked.
The Final Confrontation
After his Q&A, dinner was served. Since I had gotten the direct response I was after from my Senator, I prepared to leave. At the door, I was confronted by several angry Democrats, who attempted to corner me with angry questions. At first I indulged them, but as they began to show visible signs of aggression, I slipped out as fast as I could with them yelling at me as I went.
Once I was out of the fire hall, I ran straight to my husband. I am not ashamed to admit it: I cried in his arms as the full weight of what I had just experienced hit me. I know it wasn't me the Democrats were yelling at. They were just expressing their anger toward this movement. They don't understand those of us who no longer believe what the powerful politicians - politicians like Arlen Specter - are telling us. We don't trust the government because of what they're doing to this country. We are no longer delineated by party lines, nor do we care about them.
Lessons Learned
My feelings have gone from anxiety to empowerment and from fear to sadness. I am stronger for the experience, but I know we've got a battle on our hands -- a battle for our country and for our liberty. I refuse to stand aside as my children's future is bound in chains. After attending that dinner, I felt sickened, sad and dirty. I just wanted to go home and take a shower.
During Specter's speech, people clapped when he said he supported abortion and they clapped when he said he supported entitlement programs. I couldn't help but think that each round of applause was taking us one step closer to socialism.
Sam Abram (with video camera) and his wife, Katy, listen to Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania as he holds a town hall meeting on Aug. 11, 2009 in Lebanon, Pa.
Chris Gardner/Getty Images
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Katy Abram Commentary
US Conservative Politics
Posted: Knowledge Creates Power and the Daily Thought Pad
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