Arlen Specter Pub Quotations

But I think that it is important to elevate the public consciousness as to what is going on. The four hearings we have had and the way the matter is drifting, in my view, is insufficient to safeguard civil liberties.

What I'm referring to are all of the forces which are at work out here commanding media attention and commanding public attention, ... There's been more controversy before this nominee has uttered a formal word than I have ever heard.

Bill Weld has gotten tremendous national exposure, and there are a number of people within the Republican Party who may disagree philosophically with Senator Helms, and (Weld) may be rallying a lot of people to his cause.

so much of this has already been in the public domain, and I think that the American people need to know what happened here.

Because of enormous public importance of the upcoming mayoral election, the Department of Justice should release all information concerning the issue related to the bugging of Mayor Street's office, so long as no potential defendant's rights are compromised and no harm will come to any pending investigation.

You can't open up the paper or turn on the TV without hearing (about) public concern about the Patriot Act,

People in government and public life are being kicked around at a high rate of speed.

And that's why I believe -- and I have seen with my experience in the Senate the value of public hearings -- when FBI Director Mueller has to answer these questions, when CIA Director Tenet has to answer why the president wasn't warned in the August 6 briefing about the tall buildings being in jeopardy, the White House and the CIA headquarters.

The more I see of this, the more it becomes apparent that there is no solid reason for that secrecy, ... It is in the context of public disclosure and media attention that we really figure out what is going on.

It naturally raises cynicism when you have so many 5-4 decisions from our Supreme Court and 4-3 decisions out of the Florida Supreme Court and that is not healthy, ... But our republic will survive.

The sooner we get into a hearing room where there's a stenographer and public record, the better off the process is,

The whole confirmation process is in her hands. If she does well (in her public testimony) she will be confirmed. It's up to her as to how well she does.

I think it would have been smarter had the attorney general, looking at the many years of Starr's involvement and the public perception, which is adverse to Starr ... let someone else come in, ... Fox News Sunday.

open and honest public conversation with the nominee...is an important part of this process.

There is no doubt about the value of investigative reporting to the public interests in exposing corruption, malfeasance, misconduct, waste ... there are weighty considerations on law enforcement, on their point of view, and national security interests. All of those factors have to be taken into account.

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party.

A good part of what I'm talking about as chaotic is not the White House, ... What I'm referring to are all of the forces which are at work out here commanding media attention and commanding public attention.

all reports, memoranda or policy statements prepared, produced with your participation, or produced under your guidance during the time in which you served in any public office, including ... any of your positions in the White House.

This has been a pattern which goes back many years . . . Of all the issues of concern that the United States has with the People's Republic of China, that is the most significant,

I believe it is important and timely for you to make a full public response on the propriety of your ruling on cases involving Vanguard and Smith Barney, Inc., at times when you had money invested in Vanguard Mutual Funds and Smith Barney, Inc., was your brokerage firm.