Specter Foes Unite for Health Care Town Hall

ALLENTOWN -- Two men vying to replace Arlen Specter in the U.S. Senate couldn't hold more opposite views on health care -- and probably everything else -- but that didn't mean they couldn't get together to hold a joint town hall forum on health care Wednesday night.

Pat Toomey, a former Republican congressman, and Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak even planned to go for a beer afterward.

"It is different, isn't it?" Sestak said before the town hall meeting. "It's great."

As for facing off before either candidate is even nominated, the two agreed it was an unusual move but decided that it was the best opportunity for Pennsylvanians to hear both sides of an important debate.

"This is a great opportunity early on to see these two diametrically opposed ideas. ... I think it's just an early showing of the final decision that Pennsylvania is going to have to make," Sestak said, noting that a two-person debate during town halls is an old American tradition.

Specter is not in the picture Wednesday night, though he has held several notable town halls this summer where he faced many voters hostile about health care reform, as well as his decision to switch parties.

The five-term senator joined the Democrats in April after polling showed him behind Toomey in a Republican primary.

"I am not prepared to have my 29 years' record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate," Specter said at the time.

Sestak and Toomey two candidates disagree on almost every aspect of the health care debate. Sestak supports government-run insurance provisions. Toomey advocates medical malpractice reform and tax incentives for citizens who buy private insurance.

"The problems are mostly cost. Costs are rising too rapidly," Toomey said before Wednesday night's event. "And it's access for some people. That's a small universe and it's important that we do things to help those folks, but it's really important that we not turn the whole system upside down and let the tail wag the dog."

He suggested opening up the market to let in more competition so one or two insurance carriers aren't the only providers available in any one location.

"This isn't good for America, this isn't good for Pennsylvanians," he said.

But Sestak said the problem isn't with allowing a government-run health insurance option -- it's with Democrats in Washington selling it badly.

"Health reform requires this public option. Without it, we'll cover everyone but we're not going to reduce the cost for them, and that's essential for our economy ... because ultimately you have a strong military, a strong health system, a strong education system, you can have a strong economy," Sestak said.

Soon after Specter switched parties, Sestak decided to challenge the incumbent in the Democratic primary.

Toomey and Sestak lead polling for their parties' respective nominations in next year's primary, perhaps in part because voters appear to agree with their views of the senator.

"He's doing things for political calculation. If there is ever a time for leadership that is principled and accountable, where you're in it for others and not your own job, this is one of those moments in American history," Sestak said.

"(Specter's) position on any issue is entirely a function of his political calculus of the moment," Toomey said.

But although they both say they respect the senator, they acknowledge they're never going to meet in the middle on the issues.

"The left wing of the Democratic Party represented in part by Joe Sestak wants to take us in very much the wrong direction," Toomey said.

"I'll show you the light, Pat," Sestak said.