Arlen Specter Meltdown: Radio Host Describes Former Senator’s Odd Interview
- Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:58am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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At 11:30 pm last night, a story popped up about a meltdown of sorts by former Sen. Arlen Specter (R&D-PA) during a Friday radio interview. And now, the host of that show is telling what happened.
First, here’s the audio, which features an angry Specter tearing into the host, syndicated radio personality Jason Lewis, for keeping him waiting during commercial breaks and asking question not related to Specter’s new book:
Read the transcript in case you missed any of the audio:
“Jason, I have one final comment,” Specter said.
“I gave you 10 minutes. You’ve been over every subject except for my book. I’ve listened to two rounds of your commercials. I think it’s insulting. I’ve been in a lot of interviews in the course of the past 30 years and you are absolutely insulting!”
Specter’s on-air tirade didn’t stop there. “This is no way to run an interview!” he said.
“Listen, I’m talking about somebody who’s civilized!” Specter added.
“I told you the last time around I wasn’t looking to sit around and listen to your commercials, and I didn’t want to hang up on you. But I want to tell you this is no way for anybody to run an interview. I’m as experienced as you are, if not more so. And that’s all I have to tell you, so goodbye!”
“I think the love has gone out of our relationship,” Lewis said. He then described that he did spend several minutes talking about the Trayvon Martin shooting and hate crimes legislation given Specter’s extensive law background.
“Every other topic I brought up was referenced in the book,” Lewis explained, later adding, “He didn’t want to talk about issues, he wanted to call his opponents extremists, and I wasn’t going to let it happen.”
Lewis then went on to call out Specter’s odd behavior for getting upset about commercials, saying that Specter is “out of touch” for coming on a commercial radio show and not expecting there to be, well, commercials.
“He’s almost a poster child for why the Tea Party rose,” Lewis concluded.
The meltdown isn‘t out of character given Specter’s recent media tour. Last week, he misconstrued past comments by Rick Santorum, saying Santorum compared homosexuality to “man on dog”:
He even brought up a Ronald Reagan condom joke:
Those comments and more led Glenn Beck and his radio crew to unleash an epic, and hilarious, takedown of the book last Friday:
We‘ve reached out to Specter’s publicist for comment but have not heard back.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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Comments (100)
elosogrande
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 12:22pmOnce a shmuck, always a shmuck. Specter is living proof of how American public schools have “dumbed down” the electorate. It looks like the people of Pennsylvania are probably even more stupid than the voters in rest of the country.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:46pmNow I know what The Who meant when they said “hope I die before I get old”……
Report Post »fightinggranny
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:50pmExcuse me; I live in PA and never voted for this fool. They removed too much of his brain during his two brain operations. If you want to thank someone, thank Philadelphia and Pittsburg. (This is why we will never get rid of Chukka Fattah.)
Report Post »Freedom from liberals
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:24pmThis guy has to be one of the biggest morons around. Remember when we wanted to call a congressional hearing on the New England Patriots because they taped an upcoming opponents practice. The f ing country is imploding and he wants to take on the Patriots. What an imp. Republican, Democrat it don‘t matter cause it’s all about me.
Report Post »runningamok
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:51amIsn’t Arlen Specter the defense attorney who got the vicious murderer Ira Einhorn out on bail. And didn’t Einhorn flee to France for a couple of decades hiding from American Justice. And didn’t Specter deny any of this?
Report Post »Seede
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:24pmAlso – He was the assistant counselor of the Warren Commission who pushed the magic bullet theory in the JFK assassination. Dip stick Ford hired him and the two dipsticks made it the rule. After 44 years as a republican he turned coat and joined the DC commies.
Report Post »jujubeebee
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:49amWhy would ANY radio or media person give this man FREE advertising for his book after his ungrateful and self-centered rudeness?
Report Post »Let‘s hope he doesn’t sell any books and his fame fades. What a JERK!
AvengerK
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:55amSpectre’s been a little more loopy than usual lately. Either he‘s very bitter about his political career ending in such a dismal way or he’s becoming senile.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 12:48pmI’m going with senile. We are, however, left with the image of what happens to the mind, body and soul of progs as they hit end-of-life. It is becoming clear why lefties want euthanasia. They want someone to have mercy on them and put them out of their lifelong misery before they get to this state.
Report Post »drago
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:41amThis old dust rag is still around?……
Report Post »HumbleMan
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:40pmYeah … I thought James Bond put him out of business decades ago.
Report Post »thetommyhawk
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:38amMay he rest in peace along with Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. The are all senile and illusions in their own minds!
Report Post »T-2
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:37amthe 4th hour guys would have a great time with this. too bad they’re on vacation
Report Post »TruthPolice60
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:36amArlen SPHINCTER. Good riddance to you, Mike Castle, Lincoln Chafed, Olympia Snowjob, Bob Bennett and every other RINO who’s already gone or is soon to be gone. The TEA PARTY has risen !
The country was not founded by moderates. This republic will not be saved by moderates.
Report Post »Pat Magroin
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:36amJason wasn’t acting very lady like, I guess.
Report Post »fightinggranny
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:52pmGood one. Forgot about Michele Bachmann.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:36amThe specter of his irrelevance haunts the pathetic old man.
Report Post »namron019
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:25amHe doesn’t want to wait. Yeah neither do we for our government cheese. LOL
Report Post »kfogs1957
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:22amHe is a child, and I personally witnessed his pompouss attitude at the old airport in Scranton Pa. I was waiting for an outbound flight and his commercial flight landed while I was waiting. I watched him pick up his bags and walk across the Tarmac with a line of people following him. He walked in the door and stopped right inside the door and dropped his bags for whoever was picking him up to carry. All them people behind him had to wait while the guy came over to get his bags because they couldn’t get by Spector or his bags. He couldn’t walk 5 steps further to get out of the way, he was entitled to have his bags carried. I can;t believe he was once a RINO. Not a good guy the way he treated the guy picking him up or all the people behind him.
Report Post »MarcusFL
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:22amThe guy has lost his mind.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:34amHe is still tring to find South Park’Wants to build
Report Post »them a new Airport
Rayblue
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:20amMichael Berry had Spector on KTRH this morning.
Report Post »The interview must have lasted two minutes. And it was a dilly.
MommyNeedsMoreCoffee
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:20amI’m a very goal oriented person; particularly when it comes to behavior. My question is always, “what is this person trying to achieve?” Clearly, Mr Specter is on the program to sell books. It is strange that he thinks he will win over listeners of Jason Lewis’ program and sell more books by berating the host publicly. You would think after his 5 terms (30 YEARS) as a U.S. Senator he would be A.) in better control of his emotions and B.) better at making a cost/benefit analysis on the fly. Just further affirmation that it was time for him to move on and that he’s wildly out of touch…
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:18amJust another arrogant politico .. are we supposed to be surprised .. look what is in the White House.
OMG 2012!
Report Post »BigDog2372
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:17amWeird, a progressive proclaimed to know more about running a business than the person who is actually in the business. They do this whether it is broadcasting a radio show, refining oil, or selling goods to consumers. They know best, you are stupid, and they need to run every aspect of everything.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 8:46amCareer politicians like Specter feel like they are above everone else. They have spent so many years making laws that they are excused from obeying and having the rosy re rectums kissed by lobbyists and the toadys they hire to follow them around (on the taxpayers dime.) that they have lost touch with reality.
OMG 2012
Report Post »t
ginger100
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:15amThese people in govt. should be worshiped, loved and adored. They deserve more from us meager peons. In fact they should have an unlimited account to our taxes. I would rather walk than fill up my car with gas to give to the govt just so these people have the ability to rule us.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:15amI saw this on Fox earlier this morning. It really cracked me up especially when the host explained his side of the story. He stated that Arlen did actually speak on a number of things that were in his book, but since they were not current the host did try to move the discussion to more relevant topics. Now, I think that Arlen has shot his book sales in the foot.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:15amI think this is a gimmick to sell books and I think he sets it up with radio hosts. When Rusty Humphries interviewed him, Rusty repeated several times before and after the interview, “Don’t buy his book.”. It seemed to me that Rusty was over-doing it a bit.
Either that or the radio hosts have gotten together and agreed to give him a hard time.
Report Post »Prepare for the 2nd Coming
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:13amWhat a pompous ASS!
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:12amSounds like a spoiled child having a tantrum if they don’t get their way or blames someone else. Oh, yes he is a democrat how.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:21amcorr—– how should be now
Report Post »UKiddingMe
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 7:00pmSpecter actually sounds like Santorum, no wonder Rick endorsed him, birds of a feather!
Report Post »Infidel49
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:09amDiva comes to mind. Time to get rid of these self-serving career politicos.
Report Post »crazyoz
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:06amWho the hell would want his stupid book!
Report Post »floridacockleburr
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:04amYou gave him 10 minutes? I think he gave you 10 minutes to pimp your stupid book. What a nutjob.
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:03amWho cares?
Report Post »AllAmericanG
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:11amExactly
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