White House Offered Sestak a Job to Derail a Specter Primary Challenge  

I don't think this is illegal because they were not explicitly offering him a reward for something. It is more like they are offering him a job because then they know he won't run. this sounds like business as usual. I suppose you could call it a conspiracy.

That being said, if this is business as usual that is kind of disturbing. I don't like the idea of the government trying to "stack" elections because it interferes with true democracy.

This happens a lot more than you think, and sometimes there is a motive, and other times it just makes sense. If you have someone who would do a great job in helping to keep this country safe, than doesn't you want that person keeping us safe, or do you think that politics should win? Don't we want more bipartisanship in Washington?

Rep. Sestak most certainly didn't say "the White House had attempted to bribe him", he said he'd been offered a job in July. In the article you linked to it says Sesztak was asked if it was the Department of the Navy and he wouldn't confirm that. I recall there being rumors that he'd been or was about to be offered that position last summer, before he'd made up his mind about running for the Senate. He certainly is qualified for that position as a retired Admiral and veteran of over 30 years. I really don't see how the President, regardless of which party he's from, appointing or offering positions to those he considers to be the best people for the respective jobs should be considered "backroom deals" or "bribery". Regarding Sestak, according to the article he had said the person who offered him the job said, "I knew you'd say that" after he'd turned it down and apparently that was the end of it.

I happen to like and respect both Sestak and Specter and I'm still undecided about my own primary vote. I intend to do as much research as I can before making up my mind. I don't see either of them or anyone from the Obama Administration as being "villains" in this. The Republicans hate Specter now saying it's for changing parties, but they were already going to try to defeat him in the primary if he'd remained in the GOP because he'd dared to go against the party on the stimulus. I can tell you that throughout all of Senator Specter's career in the Senate he'd gotten a great deal of support from Democrats and Independents as well as Republicans. His changing from one party to the other will make a difference int he general election to only the most die-hard party loyalists.

Annie

I don't believe the White House has any right to interfere in our elections and there should be criminal charges of attempting to bribe public officials! The longer we have this administration the more corrupt we find it. When the government sways the elections, we the people have lost what little power we have--which is next to nothing right now.