Specter vs. Sestak: Engaging the readers

Four days and counting.

And the Specter-Sestak is being called a dead heat, depending on which poll you happen to be reading.

Yesterday I decided to experiment a little with our new “news ecology”

and the technology we continue to explore.

Since we were offering the newspaper’s endorsement – for Congressman Sestak – I thought, why not let the readers in on the fun?

Se we did just that. I set up our online ‘Question of the Day’ with a call for readers to chime in, either agree or disagree, and even write an endorsement of their own.

As usual, the readers didn’t disappoint.

We got close to 40 responses, most of them well-reasoned. Some took issue with our decision; others backed our choice.

The important thing is that they got involved. Look for us to be doing more and more of exactly this kind of reader involvement in the way we cover the news here in Delaware County.

We are inviting people to join us as bloggers and community journalists.

Soon we will be asking readers to take part in the decisions we make every day as to which stories we should cover, and what questions we should be asking.

Thanks for taking part in the conversation. I can see only good things coming out of this grand experiment. We – by that I meant the newspaper

- have always had a voice in these things. Now you have one too. On our website.

Here’s a sampling of what readers had to say:

" Our family agrees with your call --Sestak is our guy. He has been an excellent public servant, honorable, honest and works for the citizens. We appreciate his dignified campaign on problems and issues, without the sleaze ads that the opposition has produced. "

- Fewwords

" Yes! It is PAST TIME for Specter to go. Pennsylvania needs a younger senator who will more ably represent our interests. Arlen has flipped his last time. I'd respect him more if he ran as an independent. Who's to say he won't switch after election day (if he wins)? Sestak served this country honorably in the Navy and better reflects the ideals and values as he is part of the younger generation! "

- gvfamily5

" I do support your decision in Sestak,I think it's time for a younger more attuned and definatley more aware individual than Specter to take that office.Then again in my opinion Specter should rest his neck,and enjoy the rest of his life with his family.Specter made his mark over many years,now don;t go away mad just go away. "

- steve8084

" I see no reason for any newspapers to endorse any candidates. The readers points here are diversified. Whats the point of saying Im against Specter? Frankly I think we can do better than both of them, but my opinion is my own. Why shove your opinion down our throats, Daily Times? In a time of crooked politics, one has to wonder why. "

- amazed33

" Sestak has not lived in Pennsylvania since he left for Annapolis. He does not know the needs of Pennsylvanians. When he has been present for voting in Congress he has shown no fiscal responsibility by voting to increase the National Debt. He has wasted money on fancy mailings to the public. I cannot support him. "

- marci10

" Specter is old and tired, yea I said it. It is time pass the baton, I'm just sick and tired of these "don't want to give it up politicians" that think they are the only ones who can get the job done. I'm all for term limits. Don't think for one minute the Toomey has it in the bag "

- BABS

" To the Delco Ed Board: Sestak admitted to Larry Kane he was bribed by Dems not to run.This is a serious crime (18 USC Sec 211). Sestak needs to come clean about the details Who? What? When? Why? Sestak Is covering up a crime. HOLD your endosement till Sestak reveals the facts.The White House denied this. Who is the liar? "

- truth2power

" YES! Now where is that cup of JOE!!!!! "

- joe clark

" Would everyone here think newspapers should endorse candidates if Specter was endorsed instead? I have a hard time with newspapers or any special interest groups entrenched with politicians. Our whole political process is a mess that needs to be adressed "

- amazed33

" It always amazes me how newspapers are supposed to be objective and non-biased and yet they come out in support for a specific elected official. How about you just do your job, provide the facts on all the candidates, inform your readers and let us make the wise choice for ourselves. That would be a novel idea??

Anyone who has even a basic understanding of economics would be appalled at either of these two guys. Both have voted for tax and spend big government which has further entrenched our economy in the basement. Even if you believe the irresponsible news reporting that the economy is improving (for which I do not) this recession has been happening since 2007 with no tangeable signs of getting better, mostly due to the policies enacted since the Democrats took over Congress in 2006. D's have had 4 years to turn things around. Pat Toomey will replace Specter and then it's on to the other Senator in hiding Bob Casey. "

- diver66

" Joe is scrupulously honest about where he stands on an issue; he has a track record in government above and beyond his Navy service which consumned over half his lifetime; he was chosen as the Rear Admiral to command a battle group into Afghanistan, that in itself means a great deal, i.e., he was the best naval commander to lead men and strategize for the job, bar none; he worked at the highest level of government in the White House on very sensitive matters of national security and also for the Department of Defense on national security issues as well as forthe Department the Navy on naval economizing. There is no doubt Joe is the best man from Pennsylvania to be elected to the U.S. Senate where his presence and debating skills will benefit both the state and the nation. "

- ALEO

" Of course I agree with your endorsement. It's pretty obvious why Specter switched parties, to atleast have a chance to win. And even if he didn't switch I wouldn't vote for Specter anymore. They need to put an age restriction on these polititians. Just look at the supreme court judge who is 90 something. I mean let's get serious with this crap. Sestak got rid of one idiot already in Weldon now let's hope he gets rid of another crook!!! GO JOE!!!! "

- mhtaxpayer

" Of course you endorsed Sestak, he is your favorite boy that;s for sure. He does no wrong!

Personally, I hope Specter wins the primary. Its definitely time for him to go, he is old and he is the epitome of what is wrong in Washington today. However, I would love to see Toomey and Specter match up in the general election since Pat Toomey is the reason Specter changed parties in the first place, knowing he couldn't beat him in a primary.

It would be such poetic justice to see him lose to Pat Toomey anyway! "

- Sharon H.

" I'm with Specter. All things considered, the Bush years could have been even worse if he hadn't chaired the Judiciary Committee and at least toned down the Patriot Act a little bit.

I'm not a fan of Specter, but I consider Sestak extremely dangerous. I don't trust retired military brass, especially those of flag rank, who are wa-a-a-ay too tied to the Military-Congressional-Industrial complex, and with a Senate seat Sestak could make a try for the presidency, which would be horrible.

At least Specter's of an age where he's not going to be making a shot for the White House. I'm not a big Specter fan, but Sestak with his military background has just way to much potential to turn into a "man on the white horse" type. "

- CurrerBell

" "Sestak had made the decision to bail on the seat it took Democrats two decades to wrest from the ironclad grip of Republican Curt Weldon in order to challenge the Republican Specter." for his own person ego..nice public servant...just over two years and now he's qualified for the Senate? not to mention all the time he's spent away from his job to run for his next job. No thanks Joe. DelcoTimes you must be in his pocket. "

- cheesed4real

" To be honest, the Delco Times endorsement is a relic of the past days when there were competing newspapers (in days gone by when newspapers were paper) and they respectively had different political philosophies. So some of the comments above are relevant as regards why the DCDT endorsement matters. More important than Specter vs. Sestak is the reality of the November election. In a piece posted in the Wall Street Journal, Karl Rove stated: " The president's harsh attacks on the Arizona immigration law are part of this strategy." ...with "this strategy" being to mobolize the electorate to move toward the Democratic candidates. Stop and think, please: The President of the United States is making harsh attacks about the adoption of a law in one of the fifty States that attempts to uphold the border laws of the United States. Which logic leads one to believe that the President of the United States is opposed to protection of our borders from illegal entry. That speaks much more about what November will hold than whether Senator Specter or Mr. Sestak is the nominee of their party to be a candidate for the office of United States Senator. "

- davee

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