Arlen Specter Begs Utah Residents to Vote for Orrin Hatch... by Calling GOP Voters 'Cannibals

It seems like just yesterday former Sen. Arlen Specter was detailing his bathtub rendezvous with the late Ted Kennedy. And now he's back with some other colorful commentary, calling GOP voters who reject establishment candidates "cannibals."

Politico explains:

Arlen Specter, the former Pennsylvania moderate most recently used as a cudgel against Rick Santorum in the GOP presidential primary, made the case for Sen. Orrin Hatch in his primary challenge from Dan Liljenquist yesterday on MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry" show.

He suggests Dick Lugar was "cannibalized" and adds, "The cannibals are devouring senators."

And after host Melissa Harris-Perry asked if it happens on both sides, and brushed off Specter's answer that he has seen some of it on the left, the two concluded that it's really Republicans who are controlling the party with extremists.

Even Politico concludes: "In this climate, getting identified as someone facing the wrath of 'cannibals' may not be a boon to an incumbent."

The title MSNBC gave the video might say it all: "Moderate lawmakers removed by party extremes."

See for yourself:

But here's where Specter is off: he believes that Senators such as Luger are being thrown out because they're not voting the "party line" enough. But many "Tea Party" conservatives feel it's the opposite: it's that establishment Republicans are just that "establishment Republicans" and they're toeing the party line a little too closely instead of voting with conservative conviction.