Statement from RNC Chairman Michael Steele on Pennsylvania's Primary Elections and Obama's Attempted Bribe

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement regarding Pennsylvania's primary elections:

Arlen Specter’s defeat [Tuesday night] is yet another blow to President Obama and his vaunted political operation. Like fellow Democrats before him, Arlen Specter’s loss should strike fear in the hearts of Congressional Democrats who choose to embrace the President’s reckless liberal agenda despite the clear objections of their constituents because they thought the White House could bail them out.

Now as he attempts to introduce himself to general election voters, Joe Sestak will have to bear the tremendous weight of having supported President Obama’s failed $862 billion stimulus and a massive government takeover of health care. Time after time, Joe Sestak has been a reliable vote for his Democrat bosses in Congress while his constituents at home are left without a voice.

Pennsylvanians are seeking a candidate who will work on their behalf to restore fiscal discipline and create jobs. Republican nominee Pat Toomey has spent much of the past year speaking directly to Pennsylvanians about the core economic issues near and dear to their hearts. When voters head to the polls this November, they will have a clear choice between someone who abetted the reckless spending in Washington and a candidate willing to stand up against it.

Michael Steele then went on to discuss the reported deal Obama tried to make with Joe Sestak in order to get him to drop out of the race against Arlen Specter:

Now that DNC Chair Tim Kaine has made it clear that Joe Sestak has been a strong supporter of the Obama Administration, voters deserve to know the truth. It has been close to three months and the American public is still looking for a straight answer from the White House on whether a job offer was made to bait Joe Sestak out of the Pennsylvania Senate race and, if so, whether it still stands. It is unacceptable for an administration that touts itself as the "most transparent" in history to continue to stonewall a significant and potentially devastating accusation of political corruption. And, until a thorough and public investigation has been conducted and the air is cleared, this matter will continue to cloud the President each time he steps foot in Pennsylvania to place the establishment mantle on Joe Sestak between now and November.