Specter would ‘consider’ congressional hearings on Dems’ disputed delegates

Apparently U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter is thinking of jumping into the fray over the Democratic Party's refusal to seat delegations from Michigan and Florida, with the Pennsylvania Republican telling a columnist "it may be worthwhile" to hold Congressional hearings on the matter.

"It's certainly something I want to consider," said Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"The essence of democracy is the right to vote," he added. He said he would wait for things to play out, but if the delegations ended up not being seated, Congress must act "very promptly."

It's unclear what impact, if any, Congress could realistically have on the dispute that has embroiled the Democratic Party. Legal action in court, analysts agree, is more likely. The party's rules committee is meeting in Washington this weekend to consider the fate of primaries that both states held in violation of party rules.

Florida and Michigan each moved up their primaries to an earlier date than allowed by the party, prompting officials to bar their delegates from voting at the Democratic convention in August. But with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) pushing to have the delegations seated in the hopes of padding her popular vote total against Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), supporters of the struggling candidate have pledged to descend on Washington this weekend to pressure the rules committee to change course.

Considering the Democrats' angst over the Florida recount in the 2000 general election, Specter told TownHall.com columnist and Philadelphia Republican ward leader Peter Wirs, "They are preaching one thing and practicing another."