Memory Fail: Pennsylvania Unions Endorse Specter,

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO voted to endorse Senator Arlen Specter for re-election today, David Dayen reports at our News Desk. The state chapter of the AFL-CIO joins SEIU’s Pennsylvania State Council in supporting Specter.

Arlen Specter, the Republican-turned-Democrat now running for re-election, has received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO in his primary campaign against Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak.

Specter has received plenty of labor endorsements before, even when he ran as a Republican (they backed him in 2004 over Democrat Joe Hoeffel). But considering that Specter vocally opposed the Employee Free Choice Act last year, his return to the good graces of labor is a bit surprising. Specter had to win over 2/3 of the members present at the state federation meeting.

“In our opinion Senator Arlen Specter is the strongest advocate and supporter for good jobs, fair trade policies, workers’ rights and quality affordable health care for all,” said Bill George, president of the umbrella group, which represents 900,000 workers statewide.

Arlen Specter didn’t vocally oppose the Employee Free Choice Act. He single-handedly killed the entire bill.