Best 77 quotes of Arlen Specter on MyQuotes

American credibility in the war on terrorism depends on a strong stand against all terrorist acts, whether committed by foe or friend.

Americans' addiction to sports, with the NFL at the top, is based on the excitement generated by the potential for the unexpected great play which can only happen with honest competition from great athletes.

As a matter of traditional and sound constitutional doctrine, an amendment to the Constitution should be the last resort when all other measures have proved inadequate.

As I think through the issue of funding the rebuilding of Iraq, I think about the analogy of a bankruptcy proceeding. There is no doubt that Iraq as a country is bankrupt.

As the Republican Party has moved farther and farther to the right, I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party.

Beating the tea party gang is more important than who does the beating.

Big money is ruining the political system.

But one way or another, judges perform a very vital function in our society. They have a risky job and they are entitled to security.

Cannibals are devouring senators.

Do you believe today that the right to privacy does exist in the Constitution?

Effective security measures do not come cheap.

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer; cancer, the number 2 killer, not far behind. The tragic aspect of these deadly diseases is that they could all be cured, I do believe, if we had sufficient funding.

I am very much opposed to abortion personally. But I don't think it is the government's rule.

I am opposed to anybody making a decision for you or me or anybody else about what health care plan we should have.

I beat a brain tumor.

I'd make - before I'd elect somebody - I'd make him do town meetings and face the people and then I would insist that the person not run on a platform of no compromising. The meaningful thing that the leaders could do would be to be dedicated to a discussion across the isle, to vote their consciences and not to follow the strict party line. I think that would lead to sensible decisions.

I do come from a strong family.

If enough people would come out the right wing, the extremists couldn't dominate.

If Romney wants to make me responsible for ObamaCare, I've said I would be proud to be responsible for it.

If we had pursued the war on cancer which President Nixon declared in 1970, Jack Kemp might be alive today.

If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine.

If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which is what has made our country strong.

I have not taken a position on that nuclear option. My view is I'm not going to do anything until I come to that bridge. I'm not going to jump off the bridge until I come to it

I just was not going to subject my record to the bleak prospects of a primary election.

I must say I am not pleased to have to arrange the Senate schedule around the availability of Senators who are running for President.

I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

I served as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee. Let me tell you, it's tough to find out what the CIA is doing. They led us astray on the weapons of mass destruction that they said Saddam Hussein found. We sent out Collin Powell, Secretary of State, former National Security Counselor, chief of staff, four star general, couldn't find it out. I'd be reluctant to cut into term limits. I think if the voters would become informed and aroused, they could impose the proper limits on the guys who ought to be out.

It costs about $27 million to win a seat in the United States Senate, so when you win one, you like to sit down.

It has been my experience that the hearings are really, in effect, a subtle minuet, with the nominee answering as many questions as he thinks necessary in order to be confirmed.

I think a public official ought to follow his conscience as to what is in the public interest, not what will protect his job.

I think it's scandalous that we haven't done more to cure cancer.

It is with unwelcome frequency that I find myself the deciding vote.

It's a rarity when someone takes a political risk in Washington today in the public interest.

It's been a great privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania.

I've never walked out of a room and had a disagreement as to what was said.

I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider. The decider is a shared and joint responsibility.

Lawyers advocate more so than state their own positions.

Look, the president can discharge all 93 U.S. attorneys for no reason at all, but not for a bad reason.

My definition of winning at squash is playing and surviving, and I've never lost a match.

My father was an immigrant who literally walked across Europe to get out of Russia. He fought in World War I. He was wounded in action. My father was a great success even though he never had money. He was a very determined man, a great role model.

My tenure in the Senate was really as an independent and whichever, regardless of party label.

Neither this nation nor this party can afford a candidate so captive to the demands of the intolerant right that we end up re-electing a president of the incompetent left.

'Never give in' was my mindset.

No senator's vote, except for the declaration of war or the authorization for the use of force, is more important than the confirmation of a nominee for the Supreme Court for a lifetime appointment.

Pennsylvania is a very tough state; people don't last long in Pennsylvania politics.

Resolutions are flying like snowflakes around here.

Separation of power says the judiciary committee is supposed to confirm qualified judges and then what the Supreme Court does, that is their function, not my function.

The best way to reduce the cost of medical care is to reduce the illness.

The essence of a democracy is a free electorate.

The extremists took over the primary process.